Soft top revival
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:55 am
As well as Lotus' own service to refurb your S1 roof with new stitching, header rail and tail tensioner (if required) - click here for details - don't forget the importance of maintaining the fabric itself (which Lotus don't do).
Apart from occasional washing with relatively pure soap (eg the stuff you put goretex jackets through in the w-machine before re-proofing them) and waterproofing with a UV-resistor to reduce fade, you can try out the following which I've just finished using:
http://www.renovointernational.com/
I got a kit from Eliseparts for less than £40 with half litre bottles of cleaner, reviver (colour) and ultra-proofer. Did one stage per night over the last 3 nights, allowing the whole day for each to dry before proceeding. The reviver stage is most nerve-wracking as you are essentially re-colouring the roof with dye (although if yours is black then less to worry about...mine is blue, but was worrying what shade it would turn out!!). Need to ensure even coverage to avoid streaking. They do green as well, not sure about red though. I applied the reviver to the edge seams and gutters etc first, using a 5mm art paintbrush. Painstaking but ensured what was often the most worn / faded area was treated thoroughly. All other applications are with a 50mm paintbrush, with the roof on the car (masking off bodywork etc during the reviver stage, although it wipes off OK in the main). Note, you'll need Hamerite Thinners or similar to clean the dye off the brush when done, white spirit doesn't work.
All in all, a very very worthwhile effort, my roof is 9 years old and although generally well cared for and not exposed to much UV or bird goo (as it's garaged), it does have some wear marks and blemishes.
It now literally looks brand new. And the cleaner has shifted the mildly foostie smell that had developed after I put the roof away wet (first time ever) after last summer's Kippford Campaganza. Sadly I don't have before and after pics, quite poor at that sort of thing!
So, even if the rest of my car is looking its age at KH this Sunday, at least those in the know will think I've bought a nice new roof for it!
Campbell
Apart from occasional washing with relatively pure soap (eg the stuff you put goretex jackets through in the w-machine before re-proofing them) and waterproofing with a UV-resistor to reduce fade, you can try out the following which I've just finished using:
http://www.renovointernational.com/
I got a kit from Eliseparts for less than £40 with half litre bottles of cleaner, reviver (colour) and ultra-proofer. Did one stage per night over the last 3 nights, allowing the whole day for each to dry before proceeding. The reviver stage is most nerve-wracking as you are essentially re-colouring the roof with dye (although if yours is black then less to worry about...mine is blue, but was worrying what shade it would turn out!!). Need to ensure even coverage to avoid streaking. They do green as well, not sure about red though. I applied the reviver to the edge seams and gutters etc first, using a 5mm art paintbrush. Painstaking but ensured what was often the most worn / faded area was treated thoroughly. All other applications are with a 50mm paintbrush, with the roof on the car (masking off bodywork etc during the reviver stage, although it wipes off OK in the main). Note, you'll need Hamerite Thinners or similar to clean the dye off the brush when done, white spirit doesn't work.
All in all, a very very worthwhile effort, my roof is 9 years old and although generally well cared for and not exposed to much UV or bird goo (as it's garaged), it does have some wear marks and blemishes.
It now literally looks brand new. And the cleaner has shifted the mildly foostie smell that had developed after I put the roof away wet (first time ever) after last summer's Kippford Campaganza. Sadly I don't have before and after pics, quite poor at that sort of thing!
So, even if the rest of my car is looking its age at KH this Sunday, at least those in the know will think I've bought a nice new roof for it!
Campbell
my 9 year old not garaged soft top is lookin just a bit faded! But thankfully I'll not need it on Sunday as it'll be a scorcher because Tut says so 
...mines in a bad way. Its faded and most of the stitching has burst.