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TONNEAU
& TOP BOOT INFO
How DO
you pronouce it? I've always used "TAW-NUH". I think the
correct way is "TOO-NO". I've had people ask for a
"TOO-NOW", TAW-NO, TON-EE, and my favorite, a request for a
"TONTO TOP". (Must have been an old Lone Ranger fan,but I
don't see the connection). However you pronouce it they
cover up the seats, dash and "back seat" area, with a zipper
down the middle so you can leave just an opening for a
driver on those cold days. They are designed to be used only
with the original seats. If you have replaced the seats with
some other seat that does not extend higher than the door
(no headrest portion) then it doesn't matter. If you have
seats that have different then stock headrests, a
built-to-stock-specs tonneau will not fit
properly.
ORIGINAL
TONNEAU'S (NOS)
The
"NOS" Tonneau is the exact same item that came with every
roadster. It has the rear bar that slides under the rear
deck "teardrops" already sewn into it. This is a rather
complicated tapered item with 3 curves. The grommets for the
"twistys" and "postys" are already installed in the tonneau,
to exactly match your year car as it left the factory.
Material is completely original. They originally were
available with or without headrest pockets, depending on the
particular car's equipment. There were also versions made
that were already modified to fit around the original
rollbar. The supply of the original tonneaus is shrinking
and not all of them are available. Original tonneaus for 67
1/2 and older cars is the original canvas cloth material. In
1968-70 Nissan changed to a more conventional vinyl covered
canvas.
CONDITION NOTE: These are NOS (New-Old-Stock). New in
that they have never been in use; but old in that they were
made back closer to when the cars were made. Nissan stored
them in plastic bags but many were unsealed on one end.
Fortunately the tonneaus were stored inside out; as they
usually have signs of that exposure on the open end; dirt or
light staining. It is on the underside only; but in case you
were hoping for a 40 year old part that looks like it was
wrapped yesterday; it isn't going to be the case; at least
on the underside. I'm hesitant to try to clean them as I'm
not knowledgeable in what works and what doesn't and using
the wrong product can make things far worse.
When
ordering an OEM tonneau you should acknowledge this info to
us otherwise we would hold order while we send it to you.
Thanks
REPRODUCTION
TONNEAU'S & TOP BOOTS
Unless
specified otherwise, these are manufactured by Robbins (like
our tops). They are manufactured to be of the highest
quality possible. We have been using Robbins since 1973 when
my 1st roadster needed a top. As a user Robbins' products
have been great, and we've had a happy and trouble free 24
years selling them. These do not come with a rear bar
installed, you can use your old one, or make one, or
purchase a used one from us. Actually most if not all of the
tonneaus & boots the last few years have come with two
short pieces of metal in each side which work to hold the
tonneau down. They come with the appropriate bag of snaps
and grommets which you should have a qualified upholsterer
install to match YOUR car, so the part is not too tight, or
too loose, so it looks good and lasts.
TONNEAU'S
AND ROLLBARS
Some of the original tonneaus were pre-manufactured for
cars that came with the optional Nissan rollbar. About 99.9%
of the time this not the rollbar you have seen in a
roadster. It is a very unusual multi-piece device made out
of very small diameter tubing. The position of that bar in
the car is different as well. There are a few different
manufacturers that have made rollbars for the roadster in
addition to scads of homemade "designs". If you have a
rollbar, it's no big deal, most upholsterers can make the
necessary holes, trim them out nicely with a slot with snaps
or a zipper to the side of the car.
THE
OLD DAYS.
Many many years ago, late 70's I think, an excited fellow
wanted to sell me scads of the cut-for-original-rollbar
tonneaus, he thought he had hit the mother lode of roadster
parts. I bought some but no where near the amount that he
had hoped. If I hadn't already discovered the original
rollbar was such a rare item I would have had to use them
for shed roofing. It took forever to peddle the ones I did
buy, and I think 90% of them went to Canadian customers. The
original bar seems to be more common "north of the border".
Must be all those ice racers, eh?
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