Luggage Rack

[WCM]

Taking a Poll:

Just curious how you feel about the luggage rack. My 81 has one, but I feel it takes away the beauty of the back end. I will be having the car repainted this winter and I think the rack will come off.......

Please feel free to comment...........

WCM

[dimitridodys]

Agreed!

[courtenay]

LOL - I like mine. But it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If you don't think it looks good - take it off.

[joelittel]

My wife loves it.

I would like to take it off and see what we think...

[RRoller123]

It is kind of a nostalgia play, isn't it? Wicker picnic basket on the rack, beautiful wife in the passenger seat, drives out in the country. Very British, and also very Italian! But not so much use sitting out on the SE Expressway anytime after 1 in the afternoon....

[TwinFast]

I get my Spider 2 years ago. After cleaning the engine bay, rebuilding the gearbox and before the paint job, i decided to keep the luggage rack and i really dont have any regret. I love the luggage rack with it's very special and vintage look.

For the moment, i'm looking for a good solution for a boot bag or picnic set.

If someone here have any idea, fell free to post a photo ...

[Texsardo]

Took mine off because PO had it on caddywhompus . Plus didnt have correct angled feet. So rusted around feet. But I think the look is vintage and liked that. With our vintage steepeled picnic basket, it looked good. But don't want to pay for new one, sold mine, try to find accurate feet to mount and get it drilled and mounted accurately.
But, yes, I like the look.

[SanJoseSteve]

When our kids were really small, I found that rack indispensable. Soft luggage bags lashed to it, a pair of stacked tricycles...... (under extreme duress!) Even took it camping once and needed the rack. Today the rack is only handy to keep my magnetic CB antenna from flying off at speed on long club drives. (70mph and they usually take flight!) I place mine butted up against the rack and have never had a problem.'

I think they compliment the early all chrome bumper cars...... After 20 years with it on, it would look funny to me without. -Steve

[Jeeptechfred]

I personally like to leave things original if possible (-:

[GeorgeT]

"I personally like to leave things original if possible (-:"

Luggage racks weren't original to the car.

[redcars]

My 82 has a rack and my 81 dosn't. I like them both.

[geospider]

Sometimes they are very useful when your Ford needs a little help.



got a few looks driving home with this.

Geo

[Don]

My `77 came to me with the luggage rack, but it still had the 13 inch steel wheels.

I never concerned myself with the "originality" of either. Simple fact is I liked the rack and disliked the wheels.






Part of that is that "growing up" sports cars were either Italian or British. And that is when my love for them began.

Yes, each had some unique characteristics. Wire wheels, hard to erect tops and tonneau early on for the Brit models. Steel wheels a true flip down tops for the Italian models.

My rally style Panasport wheels are in truth rather British too.

None of that stopped my car from winning many trophies at the Larz Anderson shows of years past. 'Tis what it is. An I (and others) simply love it.

And yes, we have used that rack -- just as Brit owners did in times past. For a wicker basket full of yummy edibles.

-don

[courtenay]

I personally like to leave things original if possible (-:

Luggage racks were a custom made accessory and were a “dealer add-on”.
Same as radios. The cars didn’t come from the factory with them either.

[DieselSpider]

I personally like to leave things original if possible (-:

Luggage racks were a custom made accessory and were a “dealer add-on”.
Same as radios. The cars didn’t come from the factory with them either.

Mine had a rack on it that had 5 strips with 2 mounting holes each on the trunk lid. Previous owner removed it without patching the holes leaving them open so I had to spoon weld them and fair them out. Don't have it in me to drill new holes to put a more conventional luggage rack on now.

Much easier to wash and wax without the rack in the way.