SA cargo cover
I'm sure not many here have seen a cargo cover for the SA. They seem to be
more common down under but even there they look different than the one I had. You see when I first bought my car out of college, it had a cargoe cover that draped over an installed rail above the area where the floor starts for the back cargo area. It snapped in using snaps on the floor, rail, and the rear. It also had elastic hooks that fastened it to the hatch so it opened when the hatch opened. It was very 80s and I always liked it. In 2007 I moved to NC and realized I lost it in the move. For 9 years I have been on the look out for one of these covers. I couldn't even post a picture of what I was looking for, I've never seen any and I didn't have any. Then I got a visitor message from someone on the site asking if I was interested in a cover. Imagine my surprise. User mazdamikes sent me this vistor message: mazdamikes Awhile back weren't you looking for a soft cargo cover for a 1st gen? I believe I have one just need a picture if you have one cover: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JA...800-rw-no?.jpg I saw that picture and I recognized exactly what it was. It looked in amazing shape and Mike is asking if I want it, you bet! It took a few weeks because of the holidays (tday) but we struck a deal and he shipped it to me. This is what the rotary community is all about. Out of the blue Mike had somehow heard I was looking for this. We may have met at an OGTA meet or DGRR, neither of us could remember any details. What matters is Mike knew I was looking for this and offered it to me before going public with it. Thank you Mike! Now that I had the cover in my hands, it spawned not only a project to rejuvenate the cover and remount it in my car but also made me repaint the rear plastic trim. Well you can't have a cover this nice looking and then have bleached white/gray black trim under it, now can you. Ah the life of an SA owner. The rolling restoration never ends. So looking at the cover I could see it needed some work to look like new. The snaps in areas where kind of corroded and had lost their shine, the hooks on the elastic fasteners were also pretty rusty as well. The cover had hard plastic reinforement inserted on the wings and across the rear whcih had crumbled into a pile of plastic shards in the cover, I could feel them in there. The back of the cover was the canvas backing of the vinyl that made up the cover and it was various shades of brown and green, likely sun and moisture damage from being stored for years. So I had my work cut out for me. These are some of the pics I have showing the cover before I attacked it. The hooks and cords to attach to the hatch glass. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/md...800-rw-no?.jpg The underside of the cover. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Kd...800-rw-no?.jpg The next post I will go through the details of restoring the cover. |
Restoration of the cover
First I cleaned the cover with warm soapy water on the bottom side and covered it
with Goop hand cleaner on the top side. I used a soft bristle brush and some water to scrub and rinse both sides. Then let it dry for a week or so in my garage while I collected what I needed to do the rest. I decided I would replace all the snaps and got 2 of these snap kits at Lowes that are meant for repairing boat covers and such. It contains tools to install the female part of the snap in the canvas and a male snap piece with a sheet metal screw to allow for easy installation. These are almost identical as the old ones I removed from my car when I realized I had lost the cover. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Cu...800-rw-no?.jpg I also got some stainless steel S hooks of the right size to replace the 3 hooks at the rear and I bought 2 cans of Duplicolor flat black vinyl paint to use on the bottom side. To fix the crumbled plastic reinforcement in the cover I picked up a sheet of plastic ceiling tile at Lowes. Heres the bottom side painted with the flat black. Makes a world of difference and will look nice when the hatch is opened. I had replaced the snaps at this poing as well. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wH...800-rw-no?.jpg Doing the snaps https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qh...800-rw-no?.jpg Slit open the wings and dumped out what was left of the reinforcing plastic. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IX...800-rw-no?.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1H...800-rw-no?.jpg I cut out the plastic sheet to fit the wings and inserted it into the wings using the slit I cut to empty it. I then slipped some duct tape upsidedown under slit to keep it closed. A more permanent solution will be to use some iron-on patches from a sewing store but I wasn't thrilled with the way the platsic worked out and will be replacing it with some thick vinyl sheet which won't crack or crumble when bent. |
Finish cover restoration
Heres the plastic being cut for the wings
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a0...800-rw-no?.jpg Inserting the plastic in the wings https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Hb...800-rw-no?.jpg And sealing up the slits https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qw...800-rw-no?.jpg Next I took a look at the rear hatch attachment hooks and elastic bands. Each wing has an imbedded aluminium tube that had a long elastic cord that ran the length of the tube imbedded in the wing. These were fastened by being sewn into the back edgd of the wing as part of the assembly. Mr. Murphy struck and made these old elastic cords break loose. So I pulled the tubes out and cut the cords to a short length of good cord. I then crimped a loop on one end and inserted it into the tube and achored it with a screw run through the width of the tube. I then reinserted the tubes into the wings and replaced the 3 hooks with new stainless steel (this is the center hook): https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cT...800-rw-no?.jpg Ok, cleaned both sides and painted bottom of cover, replaced snaps, restored wing reinforcment, restored attaching cords and hooks. All thats left is installation. |
Installation of the cover
This cover and my old cover differed slightly in the number of mount snaps
on the bar and on the lower valance that drapped over the front of the bar. Original cover had 2 snaps on the bar and only 3 on the lower valance. This cover has 3 on the bar and 7 on the lower valance. The rear snaps were the same (oneon the end of each wing) but didn't line up exactly where the old holes were. So I got my drilled and proceeded to install all 12 snaps in the car. While doing this there was a lot of installing/deinstalling the cover to make sure I had good snap placement and tension once it was all installed. Theres a bit of glass glare but this is the installed cover https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/D4...800-rw-no?.jpg Heres a picture from the inside driver side door https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6R...800-rw-no?.jpg And when its opened https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ep...800-rw-no?.jpg I know the picture are kind of poor but I'll get some better ones later with a real camera instead of my cell phone. Of course its not complete. I want to redo the wings and rear reinforcement and I want to hit it with some pledge polish to make the vinyl shine like new. Most of all I want to thank Mike for contacting me and making this possible. My SA is whole again. |
What an awesome story and restoration job. I have never heard of the cargo cover let alone seen one. Seems to be part unicorn, and yours looks great. I assume it was a dealer option?
I too appreciate that this forum is a great place with lots of people willing to help each other out. I have a funny way of explaining it to people - when I first got my 79 from my Dad's barn, I had done a ton of research on here and dove in getting it road worthy and started a build thread. I was contacted by a forum member that was local to me and I tell people "I met a guy online"... :lol: |
3 Attachment(s)
congrats on the Find t_g_. Always fun when some rare bit get rediscovered - and bought! Maybe its my Browser, but unfortunately all your photos are just: [?] - so can't see your craftsmanship.
Presuming it is the US-aftermarket one you are describing? (red car photos) then even more kudos to your restoration. I recall these were, ah, "complex" (?) in their design! Pity Mazda USA didn't insist the factory make their version available here (green car shot). The standard-style roller type seems MUCH simpler and arguably more elegant in execution? I had one shipped over from the UK (yes, the NON-North AM FBs came standard with these), and have yet to actually mount the damn thing. Fun fact: if you look closely at the forward/leading surface of the hatch side-covers, over the wheel wells, you can see the impression where the plastic is "popped-out" to allow the rear seat-back retainer brackets to mount (the threaded holes are in the rear suspension metal underneath). It was to the rear seat-back that the OE cover roll is mounted. Of course, this lack of a rear seat in our Market made this style cover installation ....problematic. ;) Well done. Stu Aull 80GS Alaska |
Thanks for sharing the interesting story and a great how to write up. I was just thinking about a cover, as I live in NJ and target practice a lot. Our laws are tricky, so it is best that my items are out of sight ( not to mention out of reach of the driver).
Using your information, possibly I can now have a cover made? PS, I have never seen any cover for an RX before today! Thank you very much Rich |
I thought you all would appreciate the rarity of the cover. Stu thanks for the pics, I couldn't
even find one all these years as I went about looking for it. I had seen the OEM rollup and the hard Aussie covers but never this one. I bought the car as a 3 year old used vehicle and this cover was installed I assume by the dealer. At the time I didn't realize the rarity of it but it was always useful for hiding cargo in the car. If anyone wants measurements or a tracing of the cover let me know via PM and we can work it out. Anyone boat cover or convertible roof fabricator could probably reproduce this easily. |
I had one of those soft covers on my LE that I recently sold. It was quite a cool option.
Before buying the LE I had never seen one let alone even knew they where available. I guess it is one of those unicorn parts I can say I have or have had. |
Originally Posted by 7aull
(Post 12141494)
Maybe its my Browser, but unfortunately all your photos are just: [?] - so can't see your craftsmanship.
Same here Stu. It seems this just a recent development. |
I just want a cargo net to keep my weekly groceries in the cargo area. I want canvas web like what cargo jets use.
Seems like this one is quite effective. Also keeps curious eyes away from what you might be carrying the hatch area. Theft deterrent if you will. |
Originally Posted by Banzai
(Post 12141689)
Same here Stu. It seems this just a recent development.
https://goo.gl/photos/EQDyxB3CuC8EzpWeA https://goo.gl/photos/9tLNsGp13hYDW29n9 thanks again Tim! Stu Aull 80GS Alaska |
That's a great find and nice work getting the cover back into working order! You're super lucky to have come across one!
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For anyone having issues with the pics, heres a link to the google album containing them.
Thank google for this advanced imaging service. https://goo.gl/photos/EQDyxB3CuC8EzpWeA |
That is super cool, I know how long you have been on the lookout for that and to come across one is a real find.
One question, Does it diminish the beer cargo capacity? |
Originally Posted by rwatson5651
(Post 12142395)
That is super cool, I know how long you have been on the lookout for that and to come across one is a real find.
One question, Does it diminish the beer cargo capacity? :lol: :lol: :lol: |
It appears that this was not a USA option. Is that correct? If it was available outside the USA was it a factory option or a dealer installed option?
Do you think this would be difficult to make if a template was available? There are places that sell black automotive vinyl in various widths for a very reasonable price. I bet an automotive interior shop could create one if a template was available. I am not sure how expensive it would be, but probably 100 plus materials, maybe more. Like I said earlier, I think this is a great option to have!! Rich |
Originally Posted by redlightrich
(Post 12142401)
It appears that this was not a USA option. Is that correct? If it was available outside the USA was it a factory option or a dealer installed option?
Do you think this would be difficult to make if a template was available? There are places that sell black automotive vinyl in various widths for a very reasonable price. I bet an automotive interior shop could create one if a template was available. I am not sure how expensive it would be, but probably 100 plus materials, maybe more. Like I said earlier, I think this is a great option to have!! Rich Like I said, I'm willing to trace it or whatever so someone can duplicate it. I could easily do it on a large piece of brown craft paper using a sharpie. I'd have to get a roll of craft paper wide enough. |
Thats awesome! When I purchased my L.E. it came with the cargo bar/buttons still in the vehicle. I brought up the fact that it was missing the cover and I was in search of one. No one believed me that it existed until I found an old Mazda catalog showing the cover in a fully optioned L.E. Good to finally see one out there!
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Originally Posted by NISxMO
(Post 12143065)
Thats awesome! When I purchased my L.E. it came with the cargo bar/buttons still in the vehicle. I brought up the fact that it was missing the cover and I was in search of one. No one believed me that it existed until I found an old Mazda catalog showing the cover in a fully optioned L.E. Good to finally see one out there!
cover I just got is different from the one I had in the number of snaps to mount it and the way the hooks and reinforcements on the middle cover part. Is it a catalog already up on foxed.ca? Would you be willing to put it up there? |
I noticed that from the pictures. Your cover has far more snaps than the bar that came with my car. I just recently went through a move but I will try to locate it and post it with a pic of my hatch bar.
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Originally Posted by NISxMO
(Post 12143375)
I noticed that from the pictures. Your cover has far more snaps than the bar that came with my car. I just recently went through a move but I will try to locate it and post it with a pic of my hatch bar.
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That's pretty cool! I never brought it up but my 79' came with one in pristine condition. I've removed it completely and stored it away for now ;)
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TG, mine never came with the cover unfortunately just the bar. I did find the accessory catalog however and the one it shows looks remarkably like yours yet my bar still only contains 2 snaps. Anyway hope these work!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...4b17349181.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...938735c141.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...29da2cf881.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...de7da5e501.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...48a4d6d96d.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...3827abddf4.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...f65c490587.jpg |
Very cool brochure. It verifies that these were a dealer addon option along with louvers,
package bars, etc. Your bar looks exactly like mine. I took some steel wool to it to clean it up and make it shinier a few years ago. Its interesting how many folks are coming forward and have or had this setup. Its not one you run into very often. Would love to see pics of everyones covers. |
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