S1/S2 Hood and cantrail alignment

[CG901]

velcro on the flap

front side of flap

Hood left rear

I bought an original (I was told) S2 hood in quite good condition for its age. However, the driver's side cantrail fasterner (studs) are 1/2" off in alignment with the buttons on the hood. (the passenger side lines up fine).
In addition, my cantrails have two fasterners on the rear side (vertical portion) but the hood only has a 'flap' with velcro. I am wondering if this hood is actually for an S3, or later cap, or is, in fact, not an original.
(the cantrails are going to be painted, and the drip rails and weather strips attached)
Here are a few photos. Thanks for your suggestions.

[Quart Meg Miles]

It's not an S3 hood but would fit an S2 if the drip rails are left off, as you have found. My car is an early S2 and hoods ordered for it clipped on behind the doors window but I modified one to be like your new one as I thought the drip rails were noisy.

You can easily modify the hood to use drip rails, cutting off the Velcro tab and adding buttons, though I would advise modifying the driver's side cant rail clip positions to match the hood rather than modifying the hood.

I have a handmade hood which dispenses with the drip rails and wraps the hood material around the back of the cant rail to fix onto Velcro to give a smoother line than your stick-out flaps; It's also got rain gutters built into the hood which you can see below.

[Geoffers71]

I need a new hood for my S2 and would be interested in one that dispensed with the drip tray on the cant rail. One that had a built in drip "catcher" might be a good idea. May I ask where you got it from? If I bought one from one of the usual suppliers, which one would people recommend? I've heard Sue Miller does a nice one. And Paul Matty and SJ both do them. Any advice/experiences very welcome

[Quart Meg Miles]

Unfortunately, Geoff, it was made locally by an upholsterer who retired ten years ago so I'm not sure where to go when this one expires. I don't seem to have his first hood that I could have sent you as a pattern so perhaps he used it himself .

Just adding Velcro tabs to a normal hood, to secure it behind the window, can give door closing problems unless you stitch it to the inside of the hood. Here's a picture of one I modified earlier.

Rod Little described some dealings with Don Hoods mainly to do with slotting into the windscreen but both he and I have found their workmanship good, they made and modified a tonneau cover for me last year. I detractor of theirs appeared to have had a communication problem but I didn't.

[CG901]

Thank you, Meg. I was trying to keep the car as original as possible and wanted to use the drip rails from Paul Matty. Not too concerned about rain as we here in California have no rain to speak of anymore. So, I could use this hood with the rain gutters built in, but would cut off the velcro flaps and add the missing buttons.
Will have to check the fit with the drip rails fitted to see how the hood sits over them.
This seems the best compromise. Again, thank you.

[Quart Meg Miles]

I hadn't noticed your drain gutters in the hood. With climate change you may need them and Matty's drip rails! Best of luck.