re: Caribou tops

[hugh shawcross <shawcros@domain.elided>]

Brad;
I just put a canvas caribou top on my ' 74 spider and am very happy with
it. I can't make any comparisons other than to the worn out vinyl Robbins
top that was on it and that wouldn't really be fair considering its well
aged condition.
It certainly was a learning experience too as this was my first top
replacement. It wouldn't surprise me if working time totalled something
like 24 hours by the time I finished (ultra cautious). I used the top
installation book from Centerline as well as the instructions provided by
Caribou. Neither were exactly right for my situation but both got me close
enough to develop the understanding I needed to ad lib a bit in places.
It seems to me that Godfrey (excuse me if I've mistaken you for someone
else) made some observations about a Caribou top some months ago that
didn't look too good to him. I can certainly see where it'd be easy to make
a good top look bad if things didn't go well during an installation, though. 
Regarding the boot cover, I found that the one supplied to me fits very
well except that the hold down straps were too short. Perhaps they are
designed to the specs of a later model spider. In any case I took it to a
local upholstery shop and had a couple of longer  ones put on. Since then
I've been pondering seriously about whether to add a third centre strap
just to cut down on the buffeting effect the first two endure when at speed.

Good luck in your decision making and installation regardless of how you go.

Hugh
' 74 Spider
Medicine Hat, Alberta

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