|
And another thing, what about the army belt?
Okay, I'm a bit slow coming up with this photo which I took a decade ago (FYI: This is the original top for the '69 Spider I restored which is the US 1750 Spider in the book 'Original Alfa Romeo Spider').
You've always wondered what that bracket with a slit in it which is installed in the middle of the rubber handle on the top's header was for? You're seeing what it looks like. I will admit it 'might not' be the original belt, but bet it is. My clients bought the car new, made virtually no changes to it, and it had sat for over eighteen years when I got it. So we're talking 28 years ago.
There was absolutely no sign there had ever been a glued in piece of fabric to wrap around the floating bow. The adjustable belt pulled it into place (pretty much).
No, not a makeshift fix. ALL (at least 69's) came with the metal bracket and belt. Alfa/Pinninfarina didn't install brackets that weren't used. Poke around with a sharp pointer (needle). Find the center and move 1 1/8" to each side (I just measured the belt bracket from current client's top) and bet if you poke long enough the pointer will go through the header. That is where the bracket should be.
As I vaguely recall I cut a notch out of the canvas top's fabric wrap so I could wrap the bow but also pull it up with the belt. Not positive about that. I might not have wrapped it at all.
Comments?
Biba
|