Since we seem to have a new thread going on luggage racks, I'm forwarding a
message which I wrote some time ago in hope that maybe some one new (or old
) on the list can help.
In a message dated 96-03-26 23:22:07 EST, ArthurK101 writes:
> I'm looking for a luggage rack which can be put on or taken off very
quickly
> and which requires NO modifications to the trunk(boot) lid - i.e. a rack to
> use only when actually carrying luggage. One did exist in the '60's -see
> story below.
>
> Back in the '60's when my TR4 was new and was the family car, I bought a
> simple, cheap aluminum luggage rack from Sears (I think). It was strictly
> utilitarian and was composed of two hollow tubular aluminum side pieces (
> shaped like flattened "C"s) and four or five tubular aluminum cross pieces
> which fitted between the side pieces and were held to them with aluminum
> screws. There was another piece, also shaped like a flattened "C", which
> connected (so it formed a vertical plane) across the back and prevented any
> luggage from sliding off. The rack was big enough to hold a Samsonite
3-suiter
> tied on with bungy(Sp) cords. When assembled the rack looked like most of
the
> racks you see in the catalogues except it was neither fancy nor pretty.
But, it
> could be taken completely apart in less that 5 minutes so all that you had
were a
> handful of hollow tubes which could be stored in the trunk (boot). (Or
under
> a bed or in the corner of a closet if you had no space inside the car for
the
> assembled rack.)
>
> But even better than the above -- the rack required no mounting bolts or
> holes or suction cups ( a friend of mine tore a nice suction cup sized
paint
> chip from his MG trunk lid by using a luggage rack with suction cups). The
> rack which I had was held on by flat nylon straps running through plastic
> encased metal clips (which looked like your fingers if you curl them at the
> second knuckle). These clips hooked over the front and rear lips of the
> trunk(boot) lid. The rack just sat on the lid ( I put foam rubber feet on
> the side pieces where they contacted the lid) and was held down by the four
> straps and the hooks. This meant that you could put the rack on or take it
> off in a minute and never even know it had been used.
>
> I sold the car in 1976 and the rack sat around in my garage for about 10
> years. We had a garage sale at that time and my other half insisted that I
"
> sell that damned thing which is just taking up room and not being used".
So,
> you got it, I sold it for 5 bucks. Since my car returned to me in 1991, I
can't
> find a rack like that anywhere. BTW - this rack could be used for any TR
> 2-8 or Spitfire since the straps are adjustable. As I said it was strictly
a
> utility rack - nothing fancy and very cheap and only used it when I had
> luggage to haul - otherwise it was not on the car.
>
> SO - does anyone have an idea about whether that kind of rack is still
> around and where I could obtain one. Again the criteria is that it be
> Quickly removeable and require NO modifications to the car itself nor any
> tools to mount it.
>
> If not, does anyone know of a metal shop which might be interested in
> fabricating such a rack. And - BTW - maybe some other people on the list
might
> be interested in obtaining one.
>
> Art Kelly '64 TR4 CT 33118L (Original owner)
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