Leather hood straps on a 7?

[subtlez28]

Forgive the potentially noob question, but are there many people running leather hood straps on their sevens?

 

I like how they look on old 30's hot rods, and they seem to be an old school sports car staple. They seem like they would be a good match for the simplistic seven.

 

My searching has come up empty so far.

 

Thoughts?

[Toyotus 7]

I have a Canadian built Fejer 7 with leather bonnet straps. I think it was a fejer 'thing' to do. It's depicted in an early magazine review of his cars with several photos of the test car with bonnet straps. For some reason, the Fejer cars have the straps right over the front and rear of the bonnet seam (where it joins the nose and the cowl). In my mind, a single strap, midway up the bonnet would look better or, alternatively, short straps at the bottom corners of the bonnet like on an old XK120 or porsche speedster.

[ihckb2]

Leather straps on the bonnet is quite common on the Morgan cars as well.

My brother has had 3 Morgans and all have had the 1 leather strap about the midway point. His latest Morgan is brand new, the strap was an option.

My Fejer(84) did not have a strap(s)when I purchased it, they were probably taken off somewhere along its life.

I have an original photo from a newspaper clip from 1984 on the Fejers and it shows the 2 straps, both placed on the seams.

[Kitcat]

Does the Morgan have an aluminum "bonnet", like the se7en? The single strap in the middle mite warp a se7en bonnet.

 

I have seen plenty of se7ens, mine included, where owner forgot to secure all the hood latches before headed to the street/track, so the leather strap wld be a nice safety redundancy.

[ihckb2]

Morgan bonnets are aluminum. The strap is not cinched tight like a saddle. The bonnet is also hinged down the centre which gives some centre line strength.

All the straps I have seen are backed with natural sheep skin which will give under tension and prevent rub marks from forming on the paint. Not great for dirty areas.

The morgans bonnets are held down mechanically, the strap is just a look of the past, or as previously mentioned a secondary saftey lock for the bonnet.

[turboeric]

https://www.europaspares.com/product/0/13071/Quality_Leather_Bonnet_Straps___Brown___lcsbrl_.html

[The Stig]

A seven with bonnet straps just seems weird to me. I cannot say I have even seen one.

 

As suggested, it works on a Morgan but the unsupported Alumunium bonnet on a Seven is so light it would just cave it in and the vibration would ruin it.

 

My suggestion would be don't do it.

[BruceBowker]

100M Healeys also have a strap.

[slomove]

Wouldn'd that ruin the delicate aerodynamics of a Seven :rofl:

 

I must admit such a strap on a Seven would look odd, maybe 2 or 3 decades off the era of usefulness. Other than Morgan and similar British oddities I don't think people did that in the 50s anymore.

 

But on the other hand, a few years back it might have saved me some trouble. Losing the bonnet was not so bad. It looked quite O.K. on the pavement until 2 trucks ran over it.

Edited February 13, 2013 by slomove

[Toyotus 7]

If you look at the photo I posted a few weeks ago under "Another Fejer" in the member rides, you'll see that the yellow car still has it's leather bonnet straps on the seams, as discussed. If you search the Internet, you'll find examples of cars with them in the middle of the bonnet. I actually doubt that they would cave in a bonnet if they are placed in the middle, but again, the short little straps (i.e. 5 inches) like on a Porsche or old jag would probably look better in my opinion.

[Alaskossie]

Slomove -- OUCH!!

[Toyotus 7]

Here's a vintage shot of the Fejer style of hood straps.

[tio pancho]

I used a leather strap on mine in conjunction with latches. I liked the look with the Brookland screens.

[Toyotus 7]

That looks good, tio poncho.

[scannon]

With latches and a strap you are in a classic "belt and suspenders" mode.

[escondidoron]

My '62 Super Seven has a pair of "baby" leather hood straps:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6153/6142568074_2b49277805_b.jpg

[Toyotus 7]

I like the "baby straps" very much. That's what I'd like to do with my 83 Fejer.

[Automoda]

Wow those baby straps-- Great idea for those going for an old school classic look!

[ihckb2]

Check this Fejer out, has 1 strap, nice looking unit

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LOTUS-SUPER-SEVEN-REPRODUCTION-1576-miles-BRAND-NEW-/221188702468?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=

[Toyotus 7]

By the way, escondidoron, where did you get those side mirrors for your Series 2? I love them.