Re: Alfa cup holders source & comments

[Bernie & Diana Bennett <bennetts@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rodney:

We've been using a cup holder that we got at a Texas outfit called the
container store.
First design was cheap and would deteriorate, collapsing at potentially
awkward times.
Newer design is better constructed; but has not been carried for a few
years.

It consists of a thin flexible metal band 1/2  inch wide which inserts
between window and
the rubber? window seal.  It also has a plastic frame which uses a rubber
band to keep it
closed when not in use, thiscollapsable  frame has four spring metal self
adjusting guides to
work with a variety of different sized drink containers. It will hold a
koozie with can or a
32 oz. cup.  The frame can be mounted (is drilled for screws) without the
metal window hook.
The rubber band is a maintenence item every two years or so.

Recently, at the AROC National Convention and Annual Meeting this year in
Santa
Fe,  we saw a device such as you describe below:

Rodney Tidwell wrote:

> I have cup holders in my '87 milano Gold.  I bought the car from the
> original owner.  When I first saw them in the car, they looked so good I
>
> thought they might have been a dealer option.  Actually, they were
> bought at Sears many years ago.
>
> There is one mounted on each door panel.  They are black plastic and
> when not in use appear as a black square about the size of a 3.5" floppy
>
> disk and a little thicker than a CD case -  picture a black CD case (but
>
> only 3.5" x 3.5") mounted flat against the door panel.

Ours mounts (hooks) on a flexible plastic (rubber?) 3"x5" that goes between
thewindow and the rubber seal as above**(see note below)

> There is also a
> subtle and neat emblem of a cup on the holder.

Ours has the trade name in a stylish font Collaps-A-Caddy.

> Like the CD case, the
> cup holder opens.  The cover folds down and stops when horizonal to form
> a sort of table for the cup, etc. to sit on.  Then there is a big ring
> that fold up and stops when horizontal to keep the cup, etc. from
> spilling - neat.

Our ring is adjustable; but don't slam the car door with a drink in it;
inertia
will force the drink past the ring as it "adjusts" according to the
un-intended
acceleration (I presume the manufacturer did not test this).

> I've not seen anything similar for sale.  If anyone else has, let me
> know - I would like to have some more.

The Texas Alfa Drivers who had a set told us to check Pep Boys and
we did find these at the Santa Fe Pep Boys on Cerillos.

** Caveat Emptor:  In our 164L and LS, both types of over the window
rubber attachment do not stay in place after putting the window all the way
down (e.g. paying tolls; paying the car hop at Sonic (cup holder was being
used to transport drink without it falling over and spilling on carpet).*
On the (recently sold) Milano this problem never exhibited itself with the
metal hanger.

(*By the way, you should see the mess you can make with a Sonic
pineapple-orange milkshake when you notice the cupholder is
rising and you reach for it an pierce the styrofoam cup with your index
and middle finger.)  (Car was parked, not in gear, food purchases were
being arranged for transport)

As you can see there are safety issues with add on cup holders
(especially temporary ones); but, on the highway; the ability to keep
from getting dehydrated & make a drink last a couple or three hours
and not have to stop and find a drink source or to gulp down a whole
12 oz. can at once is a blessing.  On my recent solo trip from NJ to TX
I ran 2-3 hrs alternating between a food and gas stop and in the mean-
time took occasional sips from an iced down 32oz drink.  Made it in 2.5
days comfortable and not dehydrated.

Best Wishes
Bernie Bennett
Brenham, TX USA

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