Car Covers ... which one to get?

I've used California car covers, liked theirs a lot. I think Uro still has the cover I bought 5 yrs ago, and it's holding up well.

Also, Daniel at Ricambi has an excellent selection and great pricing, that's wher I got my new cover for the 360.

 

My very first "regular" job was with MG Mitten in Pasadena. Does anyone remember them? The lady who owned the company made the first tailored car cover (for an MG, of course), though by the time I got there in the late 70s, all their covers had long since been made by Covercraft in Chatsworth. Covercraft has since relocated to Oklahoma, but I think they still make the majority of car covers that are sold today.

Back then, we always told people that if they used one of the waterproof covers, never to leave it on the car after it rained because moisture in the air could become trapped under the cover and get absorbed into the paint, causing a permanent "clouding" effect. Shortly before I moved on, Covercraft introduced a "breathable" waterproof material (from 3M, as I recall) that worked well (did not trap moisture), but was very bulky. That was probably the "granddaddy" of the various waterproof materials that are available today.

Anyway, my main point is that car covers are kind of like car batteries (another phase of my career). Lots of different sellers and labels, but all made by just a few manufacturers.

 

MG Mitten! Wow, that is a name from the past!!! My father used to have a bunch of TD's and TC's when I was little, and I remember those covers. They were (although obviously textile technology has come a long way...) almost as heavy as the car itself. Very bulky and pretty painful to put onto the car. If they're still around, I'm sure their items have gotten better, like everyone's, simply through technological advances.

Indeed, we do carry the Coverking covers. http://www.ricambiamerica.com/index.php?cPath=100004

For me, I like them because the price is extremely competitive and they *don't* have a horse or Ferrari cavallino. It is a matter of preference I guess. (Actually, it is a matter of legality and copyright/trademark infringement for those printing the horse without license)

I will note however, the Coverking covers are substantially thicker/softer than the OEM Ferrari ones. I don't know who makes the OEM ones, but the fleecing on the inside gets pretty matted down over time, pills substantially, and just feels thin to the touch. Do the OE ones work? Sure. Are they as 'snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug'? I don't really care for them. The Coverking stretch satin is incredibly soft and very very thick. The Stormproof, although not fleecy on the inside, is a microfiber that (unless placed onto a filthy dirty car) will do a terrific job indoors and out.

 

Since the subject came up, I've always thought that putting a cover on a car that you've taken out would grind any dirt into the paint. Yes?No?
I guess if you use a duster before covering you might be OK, but covers always made me nervous.

 

I have been using covers called "Tan Flannel" by Covercraft; avalable through Griot's and the other usual car web- and catalogue places (Google Covercraft to find these). These are supposedly the best for dust resistance, which is mainly what you're looking for, since I take it as a given that your Dino is garaged. You are correct about grinding dust into the car if you cover it "dirty". I always hit mine with Meguiar's quick detailer before covering, to prevent this; sort of a hassle, but that's what I do.

 

Actually Daniels are 3/4 pound heavier than the same model OE satin covers, just weighed it. A very good value on a very nice car cover! Im sold on them and will in time have one for each of my cars.
If the Cavillino on the front makes a differance you can have it done locally quite cheap.

Dave

 

Coverking Satin Stretch Car Cover
Custom made for $248.95

http://www.autoanything.com/car-covers/60A2061A0A0A2506959.aspx

I added the shields -


Pietro
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Andrew,

To answer your question, I bought a car cover last year from Griots for my GT3. I found it made of a harder material than the ones I use (Noah and Weathershield) on my other cars and that the fit was a bit loose. I ordered another cover from Weathershield I recall, which I prefer.

Andy

 

MG Mitten, wasn't the lady that ran it named Marion Webber?

Their competitor was Vilem Haan.

They both put out great catalogs, with hood and tonneau material samples stuck in them and great pictures of very clean sports cars, chaps in driving gloves, Nardi wheels, the stuff of dreams. MG Mitten had sports-car-themed cartoons. I remember the cartoon for their car covers carried the line "keep your body covered, baby."

I lived then (as I do now) in Manila, as a teenager with a TR4 and little access to the actual products (no credit card transactions in those days) I cherished those catalogs. I still have them!

Andy

 

Andy:

There's a catalog from around 1980 that has my youthful picture in it. Yes, Marion Weber was the owner and founder. She was in her 70s when I worked there, so I strongly suspect that she's no longer with us, though I've never seen an obit (but I've been away from California for a long time).

When I was there (late 70s early 80s), I'd guess that car covers were still 20% or so of the business, but of course they had branched out into all sorts of automotive accessories. The catalog and ad cartoons were drawn by a guy named Dave Deal, who's still active.

The catalog came out every year. They had a huge mailing list, and everybody pitched in to get the catalogs zip code-sorted and bundled for bulk mail. Many orders came in by phone. I remember talking to Reggie Jackson once as he ordered 5 or 6 covers for his various cars. We were partly paid on commission, so it was pretty much the luck of the (phone) draw as to who got the big orders.

For a long time, Vilem B. Haan was the main competitor. Both companies advertised every month in Road & Track. By the time I was at MG Mitten, Haan had started to fade (I think Vilem's health was poor) and Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories came along.

At one point, we got our first computer system for inventory control. I remember how amazed we were that the retail store (which was all of 1/8 mile away) could be linked to the system with something called a "modem".

In 1981, I left MG Mitten for greener pastures (and a much larger company). From about that point on, I think they just kind of faded away. (Not that it had anything to do with my leaving.) I think the market trend was against them. Cars began to come with more features from the factory, and car dealerships started aggressively pursuing the aftermarket accessory business. BHMA was a very aggressive competitor and gained alot of market share, but the word on the street was that they never made money.

I hadn't thought about those days in a long time.

Dan

 

What pleasant memories that brings back. The ads in the back of Road and Track were the first read for me. Having owned Triumphs in the mid / late 70's, those catalogs were priceless fun to page through! This winter will see the first install of the Judson Supercharger on my fathers TR-3. I recently reviewed the file of data we collected on the Judson and found all of the ads once again. Now if I could only find a good Marvel Mystery Oiler we would be set to go ahead with the install....

 

+1. Coverking's products are great. I have one on my F355. Superior to any other cover I have personally seen or purchased. They also make excellent windshield screens.

 

+1 on Coverking, very well made and well fit..

Had one for many years, until the guard dogs at my Body Shop ate it one night..unfortunate incident, he took it off my invoice...

 

I have one on my TR, and it fits well!

I also have one on my Diablo that was sewn by a drunk, I assume. Extra material at the wing on one side and stretched seams while sewing, so when it un-stretches it gets bunched up. That cover is just acceptable, any worse and I would have sent it back............got lazy that day, so now I am stuck with it.

 

That sounds like a "defect " all right.........LOL!

 

Hi Daniel,

Are the Stormproof covers you carry soft and less liable to scracth the car? Are they a snug fit?

Many thanks,

Andy

 

Daniel,

By the way, I have a Weathershield cover for the Dino now. This is a very light cover that feels "plasticky" and is supposed to be breathable (but I can't blow through it, if that's any test). The material is quite thin, and I would have preferred a thicker material with some nap inside (similar to I think the Noah fabrics). I can't recall where I bought this from, but there is some looseness in the "sail" area behind the roof (I have a GT), and the reason may be the cover is intended to fit a GTS as well.

ANdy

 

The Stormproof covers are not soft and fleecy, but they do not seem to scratch the car at all. I use a Stormproof cover on my BLACK 348, and there seem to be no scratches as a result of the cover. The repel water extremely well.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200141