Targa Panels

[XK140]

The targa panels are a bit tatty on the outside and need re-covering (the folding rear section was done some time ago and is still OK) so I am off to ask a local trimmer in Sheffield for a price.
Can anyone who has had theirs done kindly let me know what the cost was and where,so I have some idea what to expect and can try elsewhere if the Sheffield price is too high.
Thanks,
John..

[v8s4me]

If it's just the targa's then you could guesstimate the cost as follows:-

2m Mohair hood fabric @ £135.00
2m vinyl @ £27.00
Seals @ say £20.00 + glue etc @ £15.00
Labour: say 5 hours @ £50.00ph = £250.00

Making a total of circa £450.00

Factor in VAT and discount for cash etc and that's probably your ball-park.

[greymrj]

I think Joe's estimate would be over the top, my whole hood including lining was done for £660 inclusive. However he is right to point out that it might well be more than you might expect. Good quality hood material is expensive and I doubt very much that the outside could be done without doing the lining as well. However your trimmer will advise on that, some of the experienced guys can save more than I would have expected.

I did however want to mention a couple of other issues;
1. If the inside of the Targa's does have to be done then the first issue is whether, and if so where from, the material can be bought. Many TVR's were done in a material called Ambla which was Jaguars faux leather finish. Your trimmer will have contacts but it is getting more difficult to source and could delay the job. If it is going to need the inside doing then make sure you get the material before you put the car in for trimming or it could be away longer than you want.
2. Have the targa tangs been renewed? If not you need to study them carefully before having any other work done. The tang is a metal strip encased in plastic, the plastic gets damaged and water gets in, the metal rusts and both expands and crumbles. If the tangs have swelled or can easily be deformed then they are failing. It wouldn't be sensible to retrim any of the targa without fixing that first. Check and let us know?
3. What state are the seal strips in? If the targas are tatty I guess they are too. In which case your trimmer will probably advise to change them. Again the question is source, particularly the ones over the doors.

I suppose overall what I am saying is that there are a number of interlinked issues here, you need to deal with them logically or you will be wasting your money and time.

[XK140]

Thanks for the replies.
Happily the tangs seem in sound condition as do the rubber seals and the interior lining so I hope it is just the exterior mohair that needs to be done.It's possible that they have been redone before during the last 25 years but it does seem that the exterior is the most vulnerable because the panels are a bit awkward to remove/refit and are easily dropped or knocked in the process.
TBH I was thinking £300 ish.

[Darkcat]

Do those latch things have any practical use? (front inside edge above the sun visors)

As far as i can gather they do nothing at all of use other than get in the way....

[Alan461]

Many comments on previous ( now inaccessible) theads.
Depends on how tight the hoop shuts on the targas, bit of an inferior back up plan I think.
I've just got one on the o/s which would keep the n/s captive.
Some swear by them, others aren't bothered.

[Darkcat]

Yeah the hoop on mine is fully tight, just like it was on my 2x previous chimaeras.

I think i'll just take them off and put them in the "for the next owner" box :-)

However my hoop struts are really, REALLY crap, they look like a GCSE metal work project gone wrong.

[greymrj]

Yes, there was a lot of discussion about this at one time. I am just going to add a tiny bit more. I had the original southco type plastic latches but they were so slack I didnt think they had any chance of working and I didnt like the idea of head contact with them! They were apparently fitted by TVR to satisfy some requirement to retain the panels in an accident. When I sorted the tangs on my targa panels I looked at how and where the latches were attached to the targa panel. At the point of attachment I measured the thickness of the g.r.p. at 0.7mm! Seriously! It was eggshell thin. The targa panel has a thick strong outer and a thin inner designed only, it appears, to provide a smooth form for the head lining. From any sort of engineering point of view a couple of self tappers into g.r.p.that thin is not going to retain anything.

If the hood is adjusted right there should be over 10mm engagement of the targa tangs front and back and the panels should be tight. That is what holds the panels in.