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Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:37 am

I am sure this question has been asked before but does anyone have any information regarding the black/pink type floral fabric that is used on the Fuchsia colour Manx hard top in the early Manx advert - the one with the buggy with full weather gear going through water. Any info on the source, name of design or samples/scans, so that I could get it reproduced would be much appreciated. I will post the photo as soon as I can work out how to do it.

Thanks
laurie
UK

Wed Dec 31, 2014 8:57 am

Wed Dec 31, 2014 11:32 am

Thanks David, that's the one.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:53 pm

The picture above looks like the fabric has been placed over a Manx hardtop. You will not get the crisp lines from a
soft top. I looked for the fabric for 2+ years and never did find what I wanted. People have been looking for this
and other styles of 60s - 70s floral vinyl material. I know of no source being found.

I have seen some oilcloth type fabric and some lawn chair upholstery fabric, but none in the style you are looking for.

A couple of years ago, I was looking for a similar pattern in yellow, green color. I found some interesting choices
made by Mill Creek and Richloom. None of these were the paisley pattern.

You might look at their selections to see if there is one you might be able to use.

Here is a link: http://www.fabricguru.com/c-outdoor-fabric?gclid=CPvR7ZKY8cICFck-Mgodb2oAJg

Joe

Wed Dec 31, 2014 2:23 pm

Any cotton fabric can be laminated onto a fiberglass hard top. Cloth inlays have been done on surfboards since the 60's and the techniques would be very similar. I'd use UV stable polyester resin used in surfboard laminating, and do a layer of 4 oz fiberglass cloth on top of the cotton cloth. I would imagine something similar to the pattern used in the old Manx tops could be sourced.

Heaps of info on how to do it on Swaylocks, a surfboard building forum.

http://www.swaylocks.com/search/google/fabric%20in...itesearch=

Wed Dec 31, 2014 4:12 pm

You can get reproductions of Mopar Mod Top vynil...

http://www.mooresmopars.com/modmaterial.html

Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:04 pm

That "Moores mopars" place doesn't have anything in stock anymore. I've called them off and on for a few years now, and they keep saying they plan to make more in the future.

I've looked for that stuff for at least 20 years now (seriously), and have only found stuff to be similar, but not exact.

There are companies out there that will laminate fabric that you give them, so you could find some pretty boss, "mod" fabric, and have it made into vinyl.

good luck

Wed Dec 31, 2014 9:50 pm

have you tried those places that make cheap Hawaiian shirts ? or some shops in places like Florida that do the same stuff ?

Last resort I would just send a picture overs seas to Hong Kong etc they will copy anything you want off a picture usually.

Thu Jan 01, 2015 1:50 am

SMS Fabrics has stocked Mod Top reproduction materials...might try them..

Thu Jan 01, 2015 4:15 am

I have found myself wandering round department stores and being drawn to racks of floral print dresses that look like the may be close in design. There are quite a few digital fabric print companies here in the UK, may end up seeing if their graphics people can produce something similar from the photo but I guess that will be very expensive

Thu Jan 01, 2015 11:50 am

I aproached the Belgian company who custom printed the vynil for this top and they wanted 680 euro for 2 metres!

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Thu Jan 01, 2015 12:47 pm

Very cool, but I reckon there has to be a cheaper way? I'll make some enquiries over the next few weeks

Thu Jan 01, 2015 1:16 pm

Is that a solution ? Just get it done by a vehicle wrap place they just print the design ?

Thu Jan 01, 2015 2:08 pm

Iguana wrote: Is that a solution ? Just get it done by a vehicle wrap place they just print the design ?

I thought of that but it just wouldn't have the leather grain effect like 1970s vinyl roofs that I'd want.

Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:58 pm

manxdavid wrote: I aproached the Belgian company who custom printed the vynil for this top and they wanted 680 euro for 2 metres!

[/img]
Have you got anymore details on that Manx, David? Please note careful use of comma!

Thu Jan 01, 2015 5:59 pm

Ive been searching for about a year for this kind of stuff myself Ive called endless shops looking for it

Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:49 pm

Meets the highest level of approval!

Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:57 pm

Sat Jan 03, 2015 6:32 am

I had a PM re. the wheels and tires on the orange car so I dug the old magazine out of the loft and answered it, but if anyone else is interested..

8 1/2 and 6 by 15 American Racing Torque Thrust wheels with ancient L-60 x 15 BFG Bog Boppers on the rear and M/T Mini Mag E78 x 15 front.

The two cars were featured in the UK magazine 'Ultra VW' in the May 2008 issue.

The roof fabric was custom printed by Dam's Graphix in Belgium...

http://www.damsgrafix.be/