Correct way to fold down Roadster roof?

[David in San Antonio]

I folded down the Wretched Roadster’s roof and drove around for a few days. I think I was very careful to not allow the scissors to pinch the cloth. Upon raising it up again there are now a pair of deep abrasions on the rearmost section of the cloth roof which appear to line up with the shiny metal handles (look like boat cleats) that straddle the rumble seat.
What’s the correct way to fold down the roof? Pictures would be helpful.
Thanks everyone.

 

[Brian SATX]

Those shiny metal handles are really top rests. They are there for the top to sit on and not rest on the paint. They are sometimes incorrectly called grab handles. There should also be 4 rubber cone like pieces for the window frame to rest on.

 

[Werner]

David,


I secure the folding roof to the chrome handles using hooks attached to the leather straps. This prevents the roof from moving or chafing.

 

[mercman from oz]

 

[rotorwrench]

The straps with hooks are available. A person can place a pad on each prop before clinching up the strapps.

 

[David in San Antonio]

Thanks to all. The cloth top has a few worn areas especially at the front flap that snaps to the top of the windshield frame. I’m hoping to preserve it as long as I can. The prior owner said the current top dates to 1957, when he was a teenager.

 

[gdmn852]

Hello, mine 31 has a repro top frame , hard to fold , so l just remove the whole top , previous owner must have folded it as there are wear marks on valance panel from the rubber rest pads . Takes two people to wrestle it down, remove it and hope weather conditions stay dry .

 

[P.S.]

If you go about 3 minutes into this video, you will see that the roadster top never even touches those "grab rails" with original top irons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaGPZvI1qPU

In this video, Model A gal Tina Shinn goes through the entire process of putting a Model A roadster top down on her car. Besides being smoking hot herself, her car is pretty cute too.