Leather Straps

Decide what you want and measure, then go to a local tack shop (horse supplies, saddles) and they'll make them for you. There isn't any source of pre-made leather straps for the frunk on a replica or real 356 as far as I know. You can find pre-made leather straps for the rear luggage compartment (behind the seats) and for a rear luggage rack, but they will cost close to $200 from somewhere like Stoddard. You'll pay a ton less at a tack shop.

@Bobby D posted:

Hey Guy

I am thinking about adding some straps inside the frunk to stop things from banging around.  Some classic looking leather straps would be cool.  Anyone know a good sources for this?

@Troy Sloan 's wife Sally is making leather straps for our cars now. Try bought her a nice leather sewing rig and she has been making luggage straps and hood straps. I'm sure he has a Speedster or two he could measure off of and make you some leather straps for the frunk interior. He's on vacation but he might check in here.

Dusty Johnson, a Speedster owner and a world famous saddle maker had been making high quality straps for Speedsters for many years.  Unfortunately, he passed away suddenly a year or so ago.

I struggled to find a new source until Sally stepped up to the challenge and she has become very good at it.

As Robert said, we are on vacation and will be back on September 3rd.  Give us a call.

Our contact information is on my website, www.replicaspeedsters.com

Troy

I'm considering hood straps for my speedster.  Love the look, but unsure if I want to deal with unbuckling every time I fill up with gas. 

@Troy Sloan I will also reach out after you are back from vacation to see what you have that would match up with my colors. 

@MarylandGuy posted:

I'm considering hood straps for my speedster.  Love the look, but unsure if I want to deal with unbuckling every time I fill up with gas.

Pull up to gas pump.  Turn off car.  Get out.  Close driver's door.  Walk to front of car. Undo straps.  Walk back to driver's door.  Reach back under dash.  Pull/open frunk cable.  Walk to front of car.  Lift frunk lid.  Open gas cap.  Start gas pump. Insert hose. Fill up.  Remove hose. Stop gas pump. Close gas cap.  Pay for gas at pump.  Get receipt.  Walk back to driver's door.  Reach back under dash.  Push/close frunk cable.  Walk to front of car.  Close frunk lid.  Do up straps.  Walk to back to driver's door.  Open driver's door.  Get in.  Start car.  Drive off.

Start to wonder if you have missed a step...

Thanks Troy, I wiil contact you next month some time.

I find the straps to be an absolute PIA on the Spyder I'm working on that has them on both the frunk and the clamshell.

The frunk you don't need to mess with often, the fuel filler pokes through the hood.

But the clamshell is a tougher nut to crack. The clamshell has two catches(VW hood catches) so you have to latch both sides by gently pressing down over the latch. With the straps you end up doubling your trips around the car to get the straps off. When you close the clamshell, you have to first pick the straps up so they don't get crimped between the two body parts.

It certainly looks much easier to manage on a Speedster/356 frunk.

@Bob: IM S6 you straps look amazing on the car and that is the darker brown color I'm looking for to complement my baseball glove color interior. 

I was thinking it would be nice to have a version of the straps that has the buckles and everything, but on the hood part has snaps underneath similar to the softtop snaps.  Then it would be a very simple unsnap/snap when opening the frunk, but still having the look.  Wouldn't be functional, but most of our hoods have dual locking latches so these are really just cosmetic. 

Straps on a Spyder frunk are totally ridiculous. They are a bit of a PITA on the clamshell, but I can reach both of mine from one side.

I don't totally trust the catches to hold the clamshell down on the roads around here. It is much better now that I remade part of them and the right side hasn't popped loose since, but I still don't trust them.

@MarylandGuy posted:

@Bob: IM S6 you straps look amazing on the car and that is the darker brown color I'm looking for to complement my baseball glove color interior.

I was thinking it would be nice to have a version of the straps that has the buckles and everything, but on the hood part has snaps underneath similar to the softtop snaps.  Then it would be a very simple unsnap/snap when opening the frunk, but still having the look.  Wouldn't be functional, but most of our hoods have dual locking latches so these are really just cosmetic.

The straps are a little of a hassle, but I like them.  You quickly get a routine of how to open the frunk, and it becomes second nature after a while.  It sometimes raises a little interest in others as to what the heck I am doing, and that can lead to good discussions about the car, etc.  Of course, most have never seen anyone put fuel into the 'normal' engine bay.

As far as being a safety feature, they probably don't do much for my car.  They have darkened somewhat over time, and I apply a good leather treatment once in a while.  I think mine were something of a burgundy/dark brown colour originally, but have changed over five years of driving.

If I recall, they were sourced from Dusty Johnston, who was mentioned above by Troy.  If Troy's wife can make them as well as Dusty did, they will be a good product.

At least @Bob: IM S6 gets lots of additional exercise walking back and forth, car to pump, when filling up.  That's always good at our age.  

Knowing myself, I would probably leave my credit card in the pump and have to drive back to get it.    

Just my opinion.  I think the straps look too old and archaic on cars like Speedsters and Spyders. The lines of both cars are very smooth, curvy,  such that when your eyes are following those curves, they are disrupted by big old honkin horse saddle straps that look like an afterthought to fix a problem.  Yes, I know they are part of the original equipment and if one wants that "original look", that's fine.  I just don't care for them.

Currently I am adapting a set of aircraft inspection panel latches made by Hartwell to use instead of straps on the Spyder clamshell.  Greg at VMC was kind enough to give me a piece of the front of a clamshell to cut and modify to allow me to use these latches. In the process I have made up an installation template to allow repetition of this installation if anyone wishes to borrow it when I'm finished and I know it works..........Bruce

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