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Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:41 pm

Anyone ever put these on a ghia? I love the classic look.

Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:23 am

Shudder...just a personal opinion.

Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:37 am

I think they look great, but I imagine they are a bit like tattoo, you've got to be very sure you want to keep them before you drill the holes on the bonnet and nose of your pride & joy. 8)

Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:24 am

I kinda like it but I would probably not do it on my own car.

Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:40 am

I knew if I took these pics I'd have a chance to post them one day. Note the high quality materials and attention to detail. Shoulda seen the rest of this quality restoration! I think this guy was thinking the straps...or whatever would be a good idea :shock:

Wed Apr 09, 2014 5:30 pm

c21darrel wrote: I knew if I took these pics I'd have a chance to post them one day. Note the high quality materials and attention to detail. Shoulda seen the rest of this quality restoration! I think this guy was thinking the straps...or whatever would be a good idea :shock:

I believe that you are giving the owner FAR too much credit! :D

Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:21 pm

c21darrel wrote: I knew if I took these pics I'd have a chance to post them one day. Note the high quality materials and attention to detail. Shoulda seen the rest of this quality restoration! I think this guy was thinking the straps...or whatever would be a good idea :shock:

That is spectacular! :lol:

Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:58 pm

I have them on my C coupe and drilled no holes. You can order flat rare earth magnets and bond them to the underside of the straps. They hold really well, even at speed. I cut the threaded part of the screws off and bonded the tops into the caps so it looks like they are fastened to the car.

Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:22 am

Great idea Sebastian :-)

Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:21 am

carl4x4 wrote: Great idea Sebastian :-)

The only downside of them being removable is that I worry whenever I park it somewhere that they might go missing!

Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:06 am

They look nice, the use of the magnets is genius. Did any 356 come with these or is it more of an accessory?

Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:33 am

Sebastian Gaeta wrote: carl4x4 wrote: Great idea Sebastian :-)

The only downside of them being removable is that I worry whenever I park it somewhere that they might go missing!

As long as not too many people know the idea I don't think anyone would think to check!

Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:49 am

carl4x4 wrote: Sebastian Gaeta wrote: carl4x4 wrote: Great idea Sebastian :-)

The only downside of them being removable is that I worry whenever I park it somewhere that they might go missing!

As long as not too many people know the idea I don't think anyone wod think to check!

I'm not so sure...I think I would give them a tug to see if the owner had had the courage to drill the hood.

Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:54 am

John Moxon wrote:

I'm not so sure...I think I would give them a tug to see if the owner had had the courage to drill the hood.

8)

Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:57 am

c21darrel wrote: They look nice, the use of the magnets is genius. Did any 356 come with these or is it more of an accessory?

Factory race prepared cars did. You also saw them on private customer
race cars of the day, but those were obviously added later.

Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:10 am

Thanks for the replies. C21darrel, that is horrific LOL. If I did decide to get and use the straps. I would indeed drill holes for them. I like the magnet idea but at the same time, I dislike the people that use the hood pins when you still have to pop the hood from inside. Then again I'm not sure how these worked back in the day, did you have to pop the trunk or just undo the straps? I could see a possible security problem by just having to undo the straps to get into the trunk though.

Sun Apr 20, 2014 12:10 pm

1ghia wrote: I could see a possible security problem by just having to undo the straps to get into the trunk though.

Back in the day you just undid the pins or the straps, no hood release. The idea was to save weight, even if just a few ounces. The pins or straps weighed less than the hood release mechanisms so they saved a tiny bit there.

It would be cumbersome to have both and that is why I like the magnets, i pop the hood, go to the front and pull them off. Lots easier than unbuckling each time.

Thu Aug 14, 2025 1:28 pm

Many race cars also had home made aluminum or fiberglass hood and trunk panels. Too much hassle to install factory release mechanisms on a race car.

Thu Aug 14, 2025 6:13 pm

I seem to recall seeing the straps installed on a Ghia offered on Bring a Trailer.

I know the tread is old but if done right it could look very cool IMO.
Perhaps something could be fabricated using neodymium magnets.
Removable and no holes.

Hmmm..... Might have to play 8)

Mon Aug 18, 2025 3:55 pm

John Moxon wrote: Shudder...just a personal opinion.

agree. Same when i see it on a 356 or 356 replica. Not my thing but thats why these cars are so unique!