i have a mazda mx5 mk1 car and the mohair hood has a rip in it which has now turned into quite a big rip… i want to get a replacement hood for it but don’t want a vinyl one as i think they look cheap… the places i’ve looked at around bristol all say for supplied and fitted with a glass window £499 i have found one for £350 but that isn’t fitted.
My two questions are:
Does anyone know any cheap suppliers that deal in mohair soft top hoods in bristol? if so what price?
and which is better to have a glass window or PVC?
Jack Smith Trimmers in Swansea. He did me a beautiful red mohiar roof with a glass window last year for £280! Cheapest around by quite some margin and an excellent quality roof. Mohair was ordered from Germany. He fitted it while I waited. He has fitted hundreds of hoods, he could do it with his eyes shut. Can’t recommend him enough, google his name and you’ll see loads of recommendations. Defo get a glass window, miles better visibility and you can hook it up to have it heated when it is cold/wet. It is also more secure as it can’t be cut like a vinyl window.
Thanks for the comments it is a bit far to go but i may take a trip down there. do you have to phone up in advance and book a time or just turn up?? when i type it into google maps it comes up showing a house is that right??
It’s a very small workshop behind a row of houses, down a cobbled lane. I believe it has been there for donkeys years. I’d give him a ring and let him know what you’re after and arrange a suitable time, he may have to order the mohair and make the roof up before hand. It can’t be more than 80 miles from Bristol! I came across from Southampton to get mine done and some have come as far as Scotland according to Jack Smith! Well worth the trip. You can always pop into Swansea while the roof is being done.
Jack Smith charges about £260 fitted + half to three quaters a tank of fuel + approx 6 hours of your time, you will struggle to get better value than that even if you fit it yourself. Also the Heads of the Valleys Road if you come back the scenic route is well worth it.
Just to add to the above, you will have to factor in the cost of a glass window (ebay or breaker), they use the window from the previous customers in exchange for yours.
Another recommendation (from the Bristol area as well), I rang and ordered a green mohair with plastic window and agreed a Monday fitting, then booked a weekend break on the Gower and called in on the way back. Only £260 as mine isn’t a daily driver and I usually have the roof down so traded in my glass rear window. 3 hours fitting time whilst you wander round the shops in Swansea. Also on these the plastic window doesn’t have to be unzipped when lowering the roof, just make sure it folds properly.
For anybody still looking for a replacement hood I had mine replaced by Jack on Friday 10th May 2013. I drove down from Ludlow to Swansea, beautiful drive, with my Mk1 Eunos. The job took exactly four hours and I had a beautiful new mohair hood complete with glass panel for £260. It is only a small two man outfit but the quality of the workmanship is excellent and the price unbeatable. Due to all the publicity he has received on this and other websites he has a pretty long waiting list so dont expect to just turn up and get a new hood fitted. Telephone Jack on 01792461022 and make an appointment. He will discuss your requirement with you, give you the price and make an appointment.
Please note he does hoods for other makes of cars, can also do repairs and replace broken glass or plastic windows.
