Bugeye ragtop frame strap help please.

[ichthos]

I think this topic came up a while ago, but can someone tell me the width, length, thickness, and color of the two straps that hold the hood to the frame for stowage? I have the original drivers handbook which shows the two straps, but the photograph is not good enough to get any detail. Any help would greatly be appreciated.
Kevin

 

[jlaird]

one inch wide, 25 long to loop at buckle 1/8th thick. Has a metal end and a military buckle. In fact I was told it was military excess material.

 

[smaceng]

this is my understanding of what it looks like. One leather strap to hold the bows to the rear deck, and two fabric straps to hold the hood to the bows. Hank Leach made up a few of the leather straps, but the hood straps have not been produced by anyone recently. MacGregor does not have any of the straps as of late last year.

 

[jlaird]

I have an set from my first BE that I found a year or so in my tool box. no clue as to why.

Anyway I got new material as the old was all dry roted but no idea as yet as to how to take the old hard ware off and re fasten on new strap.

 

[ichthos]

I am confused. Are there three straps then, with one leather and two fabric straps? I appreciate the picture. Jack, I don't suppose you have a picture of the original cloth straps as well as the measurements? And how does the leather strap hold it to the rear deck?
Kevin

 

[smaceng]

Kevin, it was my picture.
Yes, it is my understanding, although could be wrong, but my research says that there was a leather strap for the bows and two cloth straps to secure the hood to the bows. The metal rib located behind the edge of the deck has a slotted hole in it for the leather strap to pass through.
Scott in CA.

 

[ichthos]

Sorry for not giving you credit for your pic, Scott. It was late and I was wiped out when I made my last post. Thanks for the pic. The only slot I found can't be more than a sixteenth inch thick. I don't see how I am going to get the leather strap through. Am I looking at the correct area?
Kevin

 

[Whitephrog]

www.spritespot.com/gallery/Whitephrog-off-to-the-stripper/Hood_straps001

www.spritespot.com/gallery/Whitephrog-off-to-the-stripper/Hood_straps002

Braided straps including buckle are 18 1/2" long and 1" wide.

Leather strap is 9" long and 1/2" wide.

 

[smaceng]

Ray, are the hood fabric straps original or did you have them made up? I would like to try to get a pair. Maybe Kevin would too.
Thanks,
Scott in CA

 

[ichthos]

I would definitely like to buy those straps. I would be extremely grateful if you could tell me where you purchased them.
Kevin

 

[Whitephrog]

I got them about five years ago. I'll try to find the name of the source. They were sold these on eBay at one time. I got the spare tire tie downs at about the same time. Might have been from the same source.

 

[Whitephrog]

I found the invoice from December 2004. The hood straps and the spare wheel tie down straps were purchased from Mike Lazarowicz. He had restored a red Bugeye to gold level concours rating. As I recall, he couldn't find straps that satisfied him so he had new ones made to original specs. Here's a link to his project. https://pdljmpr.tripod.com/hall2.htm

He may live in Port Clinton Ohio now.

 

[nomad]

The fabric top to top frame straps are, I believe, the same as the ones used to secure the top in the boot of the Mk 2 and 3 cars. They come up on e-bay fairly regular.

Kurt.

 

[jlaird]

I would also have a nice set of new cloth straps if someone finds a real source.