Hood for a Harry Rose 4 seater

[David Cocking]

After 8,000 miles of general running around and touring with no windscreen or hood and without getting wet, I truly believe I am on borrowed time so now considering what to fit to my Harry Rose bodied 1934 Derby B79CW. Initial questions that spring to mind:

Fold-down vs fixed windscreen? (fold-down currently preferred)
Wind-deflectors / side screens?
Best type of wiper arrangement?
Permanently installed fold-down hood and irons vs attach-when-needed?
Open sides vs totally enclosed hood?
Best material for rear window?
Recommenced specialists for such work?
Any particular challenges I may face?

I have included a picture of the car as-as and any experience or suggestions will be very much appreciated.

Many thanks, David

[John Murch]

My car has a full width windscreen, which does not fold flat but is hinged at the top, I have only used the facility during snow, when I found that partially opening it allowed excellent forward vision though the slot with no snow coming through.
I rarely use the hood as provided you are doing over 40mph one doesn't get wet. However on occasions I have raised the hood, but in 20yrs never attempted to put in the side screens, as no rain comes in. Perhaps if you have rear passengers they could be useful in reducing the discomfort.
The other problem is where you put the side screens when not in use.
I would have thought that permanently installed hood and irons preferable, it always seems to have been in mid trip that I have put my hood up.
best of luck.
John

[David Cocking]

Many thanks for this John, just the kind of practical feedback I am looking for. It has prompted me to think a bit more.

I do like driving with just the aero screens, and the prospect of being caught in rain doesn't really bother me. However, on the couple of occasions when I have been out in a bit of drizzle I have not been able to see very much through the aero screens, even with Rain-X, hence my consideration of installing a fold-down windscreen with wipers. I have never tried it, but to overcome the vision issue I guess I could also just go full vintage racer - drop the aero screen and go with goggles?

With a satisfactory solution in place for the wet weather vision - windscreen or goggles, then the hood may be a totally separate decision.

Thanks again for your help,
David

[John Murch]

Regarding vision in the rain, I use rain ex on the screen (it is not raked) and it works well, I very rarely turn on the wipers. I'm not so keen on the goggles option, water always seemed to go down my neck!

[David Cocking]

Sounds like I need to get out in some proper rain and give the Rain-X another shot!

Thanks again John.

[Iain Warner]

When wearing goggles in the rain behind aeroscreens I find that they invariably steam up on the inside as well as getting water drops on the outside of the glass.
My usual action is to raise the goggles and sit forward in the seat with my nose almost touching the aeroscreen in order to get the best view of the road, with frequent wiping of the aeroscreen with a suitably gloved hand.
Similarly when behind a windscreen and wearing specs I find they steam up so the same course of action needed, but at least the wipers work (after a fashion)
In torrential downpours I resort to pulling off the road and sit there with an umbrella up until the rain passes!
Iain

[Stephen Blakey]

David,

In more normal times you would be going round club gatherings looking for ideas. As you can't do that it's up to us to try and fill in the gaps. Here's my humble contribution;

I suggest you go for a permanent installation and don't bother with sidescreens.

You asked which wipers are best. That depends what you mean by best. The vintage arrangement is undoubtedly the prettiest. However, having had some pretty terrifying wet weather drives in both 8L and 4½, if it were me I'd go for triple wipers Morgan style with a modern wiper motor, and ignore the critics. It is a special after all.

Here's John Cobbing's 4½ during a rare hood-up moment in France. The hood makes a huge improvement to dryness in wet weather, particularly if you have to keep stopping. It's OK up to about 50 then the flapping gets pretty bad above that. You would think that it would go mouldy as it only gets an airing every year or two but that's not the case. Note vintage wipers mounted from the bottom up which seems to make them neither better nor worse.


Here it is in more clement weather showing the overhanging bustle of the hood, as well as the wooden hood sticks.

For those who can't get enough of specials, here's an early Racing Green MKVI which we parked next to at the Le Mans circuit, showing the metal hood sticks (and vintage style wipers). We chatted to the owner. He's got that and a 3L, and prefers the RG for long trips. It came past us at a fair old clip on the way home.

[David Cocking]

Iain, Stephen - yet more excellent input and sage words of experience. Very much appreciated!

[David Cocking]

Iain, Stephen - yet more excellent input and sage words of experience. Very much appreciated!

[Christopher Carnley]

The old Lancia Lambda looks really neat.

[David Cocking]

It certainly does Chris, many thanks.

[Robert Craven]

A consideration which may be relevant to what you do is the possible requirement to have a windscreen washer fitted.
As far as I've observed most WOs don't have washers (mine didn't), but exemption from the requirement for a washer (and wipers in fact) doesn't depend on the age of the car. In essence it depends on having an opening or fold-flat windscreen so that you can see out without having to look through the screen. If you don't have this facility you will have to fit a washer, though whether you'd ever get pulled up for this is unlikely.
The relevant legislation is paraphrased on the DfT website as:
"Every vehicle fitted with a windscreen must have one or more efficient automatic windscreen wipers, unless the driver can obtain an adequate view of the road to the front without looking through the windscreen.
Every vehicle required to have a windscreen wiper must also have a windscreen washer, unless it is: [some irrelevant exemptions are referred to]"

[David Cocking]

Thanks for the info Robert and good to have this in the thread. On this occasion I will definitely go with the fold-down approach.

[John Murch]

I have experience with both fold down windscreens (hinged at the bottom) and the fixed frame hinged at the top.
If you are competing the fold down has potentially significant advantages in wind resistance at speed, however in bad weather folded down.........
The hinged at the top version, when opened such that you can see through the slot, no rain or snow comes through and you can see.
Swings and roundabouts!

[Christopher Townsend]

Hi, I know I am late to this but I wanted to give a shout out for Alun Jones at Wessex Workshops. He made the folding screen and hood frame for my special. It and he are fantastic. I still cannot get over the fact that he made them without seeing the car. I have done approaching 20K miles now since finishing the car including some long distance stuff and in all weathers. It all works a treat (I have to attend to the wipers at times!)

[David Cocking]

Christopher, a great recommendation, and not far from me either! Many thanks indeed. Good photos, looks like a lot of fun!

[Christopher Townsend]

Thanks - I'm a bit knackered in the last photo at John O'Groats...It was over 24 hrs non stop!

Alun is the man for me - the process and end product faultless.

Hope you get it sorted.