Fit and Finish

I have been talking to Kirk about getting this same head rest fitted to my speedster but I'm not sure if I like the way it fits the car. Something about the snaps showing I don't like. I do however like the fit and finish of the thunder ranch cover. What are your thoughts.
MRDS

From an esthetic standpoint, the large gap is reminiscent of the panel gaps found in the first year of the Saturn's. Both design looks appealing, but the smooth transition to the rear of the Thunder Ranch car is much more desirable.

Kirk might have to overlap the cowl a few inches past the snaps in order to end it smoothly.

My 2

When you saw this Red Speedster at Knott's did the owner show you his license plate "retractor".

The rear license plate is mounted on guides that allow him to retract it under the rear of the car, from inside the cockpit.

Very Batman!

I vote for "Tom Almighty's" Version

it's not so much the snaps showing (which is not pretty) it's the big "wing of drivers head" that doesn't look right on a speedster.

well, at least not to me.

David, I like the "headrest" of your previously posted picture better, but that's because I'm a dirty old man.
John H.

The headrest thing looks like Speedster-turned-Batmobile. The Thunder Ranch cover argues a lot less with the lines of the car. Just one humble person's opinion.

At least the headrest option had a basis in real life. They used them in racing, pictures of them in some of the 356 books although the hard tonneau covered the passenger seat completly. The Thunder Ranch car is rather cartonish in my opinion, nothing I have ever seen resembles what they are doing. The three rows of lueovers,(sp?)on the trunk lid don't do it for me. As a replicar it ain't even close but thats me, others like it and that is cool too.

Bruce

UUUUUGGGGGGLLLLLYYYYYYY!!!
Ron

If the JPS headrest (the silver one) fit better, i.e. layed flat against the curve of the body- I'd buy one. It looks like a period racing piece.

The Thunder Ranch tonneau is actually a CMC 956 (sort of a 356/959 hybrid thing- pretty cool, but not a really a replica of anything) part- I don't know if Tom splashed a mold off the old CMC part or what... but it's definately the same. I'm not wild about it on a classic 356 replica. But I'm then again, at this point in my life, I'm not too "wild" about anything.

"Born to be mild" (with appologies to Steppenwolf)

Heck, looks like a pretty neat outlaw to me. Just shows how much you can do with these cars. Whatever floats your boat!

BD

I just found out from John L that the picture of the Turtleback headrest cover was not installed all the way when the above picture was taken, the finished product turned out really good. He even went so far as to send me a picture of it all finished and it does look great. However after talking to Tom over at Thunder Ranch I have decided to use his cover it ships this Friday.

David,
Can I assume I will get to see this on the wine run in 2 weeks....

I sure hope so. I will need to paint it first. I have a spray booth set up for this Wed.

Hay David, can you post some pics of what you saw from TR before yours is installed? Eddie

Hi Eddie.

I found out today that I would have to remove the snaps off my rear cowl before I insatall the TR two hump cover. This is not going to work. I will have to go with the unit from JPS. John is going to have it preped painted and install two Porsche badges "one on each side". After talking to a few people in the know they say this style of cover is vintage and will look much better on my car. I hate this stuff you never know what is going to look good or bad till it's to late.
MRDS.
Take a look at the picture John L sent me of the finished cover.

David,
That car in the pic is my friend Rick's car. If u are worried about how it is going to look dont because it looks great.John only does quality work. The car is in the June issue of Kit Car Builder. Check it out.
Jerry

David, I think you made the right move. If you look in the magazines from the 356 Regestry, or the Porsche 356 Club you will see many speedsters with the headrest like the one you're buying, usually race cars that are racing in vintage races. Great look! Eddie

That looks like the car that showed up at Carlisle. Nicely done!

BD

I thought David was getting one like the red car......

That is the car that was at Carlisle at the JPS display