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Question on Bugeye Tonneau Cover

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M

Mike

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I'm wanting to order a tonneau cover for my 58 Bugeye and notice that Victoria British offers two covers, a FACTORY style and a SHORT style while Moss Motors only offers one. Does anyone know what the difference in the offerings from the two companies as well as the difference in the Factory style and Short style?
Thanks,
Mike
 
The "long" tonneau cover attached to the mounting brackets where the top attaches at the back. The "short" tonneau attached to the sheet metal right behind the cockpit. If your car already has the snaps for the top, they the long one will fit without adding any new hardware to the car. If you have hardware already installed for the short tonneau, then should probably stick with the shorty. I have heard the long version can whip up and down in the wind and damage the paint behind the passenger space. I have not seen this in my car with the long version.
This tonneau is from AH Spares, special order color to match interior.
Scott in CA
 

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I think they (VB and Moss) are both selling units made by Robbins.
 
I like the looks of the small one!
 
I was always intending to get a long style for the Tunebug -- looks right to me and doesn't require any other hardware. Scott nailed it, get the one that fits the hardware you have on your car.
 
Like was stated earlier, I bought the longer version only because it matched the hardware currently on my bugeye. I am going to try and put my tonneau on when the weather heats up. Any tips from those that have installed one themselves? It will be a lot of money if I mess it up.
Kevin
 
I paid an expert $80 (roughly an hour but it took more like two) to do it. He had the experience to efficiently move through the process... marking with chalk and then using his special punches to get nice holes cut and then using a special tool to press the fittings on. Because it was a very cool day (though not bad in his garage), we used a heat gun to at least get it warmed up enough to stretch (which can be a major difficulty). We also pulled the windscreen off so-as to quickly drill and install 2 missing posts to either side of the mirror. I helped him do this because it's really a two person job (to get it stretched to measure and to install).

All this was for the "long" version. It was money well spent (especially given a tonneau at $220 or so at non-Moss suppliers). Incidentally, the so-called "book" time with Robbins is said to be about 3 hours (but I never found out if that included installing studs - it sounds too long for the basic install). Plan on a few hours (with helper). If you chicken out, go to the Robbins website and look for a list of authorized installers in your area; that's where I got the name of mine.
 
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