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MG MG Y Type - Original YT half tonneau cover picture.

I am interested in having a half tonneau cover made for my YT as per the original in the pic taken from LTBY’s. I have spoken to my upholsterer, it won’t be a problem making one. I’m curious to how the original fitted around the top of the front seats, my seats have the studs already fitted around the back for the cover straps to clip onto. If someone has a picture it would be very helpful to visualise when the cover is fitted how it looks.
I’m also going to ask my upholsterer about a cover for the front seats while the car is parked with the rear tonneau cover fitted. I don’t want to drill holes in the doors and scuttle to fit studs, was thinking either straps or strong magnets sown into the cover to hold it in place.


Steven Koster

Strong magnets would hold it on but they would slide easily over the surface and never keep it taught.
When you fit a tonneau you really have to pull it very hard to clip it on. A full tonneau will be far more useful and is easily folded back under to use as a half.
Peter Vielvoye

Steven

I have original quarter and half tonneaus somewhere in the garage .
I will dig them out and look at the back of my seats for you.

It will be a few days before I get to it.

cheers
Ian



Ian Prior

Thanks Ian.
Peter, I only want to do a half tonneau, as I said I don’t want to drill holes in the doors and scuttle for studs etc. Even if I wanted to do a full cover I couldn’t, I manage to purchase the last 2mtrs of Salt and Pepper hood material from a local supplier, apparently not being made again. Its 2mtr x 1.5mtrs, just enough for a half tonneau.
Steven
Steven Koster

Hi Again Steven
Sorry I couldn’t load all the photos
Here are more

Back in the early 70s I painted the Tonneau with a black hood paint as it was badly discoloured
Cheers
Ian






Ian Prior

Hi Steven
For some reason my first email didn’t go through

Tonneau Fixing
Apart from the lift a dot fixings around the back of the cabin there six other lift a dot fixings
There is one peg on the trim panel behind the each door 11 1/2 inches down from the top. A flap on each side of the Tonneau attaches to this
There are also two pegs to each seat, one each side 2 3/8 up from the bottom
The four straps attached to the Tonneau, each with three lift a dots fixings attach to these and depending on the position of the seat fire or aft you select which one to use

Interface of Tonneau and Seats
The Tonneau laps over the seats and actually your back rests on the profiled flap of the Tonneau
This flap sits in the slightly tapered recessed margin that goes around the side and top of the centre leather panel
Hope this is clear
There is a centre piece which goes between these profiled flaps to stop the wind entering between the seats

Attached more photos
Cheers
Ian





Ian Prior

Thanks Ian, very much appreciated. Your pictures and description will be a big help. If you were trying to email me my email address on here is missing dot au after dot com I have tried to change it but won’t allow me to for some reason. I have screen shot the description and pictures.
Regards Steven
Steven Koster

Hi Steven,
I wondered if you had seen the picture on the back of David Lawrences printed Supplement 1 to LTBY's?
It shows an empty car with the cover in place.
We still have copies for sale at the Shop - https://mgyregistershop.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_60&product_id=50
I am hoping I have attached a scan!

Regards, Mike.

Mike and Sue Silk
> MG Car Club - Y-Register
> Restoration Items, Publications and Regalia
https://mgyregistershop.co.uk/shop/
>
Mike Silk

Does not seem to like jpg's try this Pdf.
Mike.
Mike Silk

Thanks very much Mike, I saved a screen shot of your PDF. I will be placing an order for the supplement, I didn’t realise it was still available.
Regards
Steven
Steven Koster

Steven

You can also purchase the entire set - Let there be Ys, Supplement number 1 (as sold above) and supplement number 2 (only ever available in electronic format) on disc from us at https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/stores/yzpublications.shtml. The electronic version is fully linked so you can cross reference from the original book to either of the Supplements and look up in reverse too.

One limitation on the CD version though is that it only runs on Windows Operating Systems currently. When current inventory runs out we are looking to extend that to include MAC OS.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Mike I will be placing an order for the supplement 1 and a couple other parts, Paul I will be ordering the entire set on disk, save the book getting damaged.
Steven
Steven Koster

hello,
Still working on my YT (bought it 20 years ago)
Now looking to fit the small cover over the folded down hood.
Does anyone have a pattern for this item. (NTG don't list it, but are making some enquiries.)
regards Kevin Mills (South Australia)
K G Mills

Very interesting. I should've looked all that up in LTBYs before making my own half-tonneau 10 years ago! My car had 3 external dot posts on either side of the rear tub but no other clues as to how it worked. No internal posts as Ian has shown.

Hence my uninformed design was pretty much a rectangle that I was able to cut and sew myself with my long-suffering Janome sewing machine. I used black ute tonneau material which matched my existing rear hood tonneau. A hidden velcro strip along with a buckle joins the two. I could've just made a bigger one-piece tonneau. The leading edge corners are held down in the door jam, so no lower staps are needed, and the leading edge laps the top of the front seats. Not original but works well.

One valid non-original note to consider... do you have seat belts?

We have 3-point harnesses. The top strap runs back to a reinforced mount secured into the boot structure. Having a tonneau pulling down any seat belt or harness is uncomfortable. So I included shrouded slots in my tonneau that allow a comfortable belt angle without letting weather into the back seat. Depending on how your car is set-up, if you're having a tonneau made it's good to consider how it interfaces with any non-standards equipment, like seat belts.


R Ades

Hi Kevin,

I don't know if there's a pattern but it's a pretty simple shape. If you're up for a bit of DIY, I suggest you walk into Spotlight Fabrics and buy a cheap remnant of vinyl (any colour will do) and go on a cut & fit adventure. You can create a pattern in about 30 minutes with a pair of scissors and a hole punch. If you muck up, start again. It's a sacrificial pattern. When you're happy with the fit on your car, you can source the correct material and do it properly.

If you can run a sewing machine, these sort of simple shapes are pretty easy to hem. Just allow 1" extra material to your pattern so you have enough fold-over. Your pattern will also help you put the speed dots in the right place.

Regards,
Rob
R Ades

This thread was discussed between 10/12/2020 and 09/04/2026

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