On Wed, 29 Dec 1999, Jeff McNeal wrote:
>
> My first '67 Spitfire had a rather cool option that was originally installed
> by the San Francisco dealer when the car was first sold: A locking
> glovebox. Going from memory, it was basically a plywood section cut to fit
> the stock glovebox opening, with a rectangular shaped door, lock mechanism
> and it was painted black with a crinkle finish. Does anyone still have one
> of these? Or was it something exclusive to the dealership that my car came
> from? I found it a very handy option and enjoyed having it. I'm probably
> going to re-create one for the '67 Spitfire I just bought.
I've got one; sorry, but I'm not willing to sell it. (But I might be
persuaded to come up with a template from it; contact me privately.) It
was a dealer option, part number V363.
> Also, on my old Spitfire, the soft top latching mechanism was different than
> anything I've seen in all the recent catalogs. It was more of a "latch",
> almost like the sort you would see on a lunchpail or toolbox (in much larger
> scale, of course), rather than the paddle-type flipper mechanism of later
> Spitfires.
Right. The early Mk.3 used the same "over the center" latches as did all
Herald and Vitesse/Sports 6 convertibles.
> The car I just bought has the factory steel hardtop, but no soft
> top or frame (I'm not sure if it EVER had one) but the top rail on the
> windshield looks like it requires the type of fastener that I had, rather
> than the later style that seems to be readily available. Any idea where I
> might find the fittings and/or top frame that I need?
I can't help you there. It's quite possible that the car was built as a
hardtop only, although these are fairly rare (in my experience, anyway).
--Andy
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Andrew Mace, President and *
* 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
* Vintage Triumph Register <www.vtr.org> *
* amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
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