Weather equipment is an essential aspect of TD and TF ownership, these are open cars with folding hoods and detachable sidescreens. The hood frame changed during TD production from two-bow to three-bow, and the TF has its own hood and sidescreen patterns owing to the steeper windscreen rake, chassis number and model must be established before ordering. This section groups hoods, frames, tonneau covers and fixings; sidescreens; hood care; car covers; and the wiper installation.
Hood Specifications
Three hood specifications exist: TD two-bow (to TD/20695 RHD or TD/20373 LHD), TD three-bow (from TD/20696 RHD or TD/20374 LHD), and TF three-bow. Each is available in superior-quality Double Duck canvas, heavier than the original single duck, or heavy-duty vinyl. Both come in biscuit (tan) or factory-optional black.
The original was always biscuit single duck with frame painted light tan; black frames are usually replacement.
Hood Frames
Three hood frame assemblies match the three hood specifications: TD two-bow (TC-style), TD three-bow, and TF three-bow. The change occurred at chassis TD/20374 (LHD, September 1952) and TD/20696 (RHD, October 1952). The TF three-bow is a separate part due to different windscreen rake. A wooden header rail with two sockets and two wing bolts secures the front; a three-piece top finisher kit (TD or TF) secures the rear.
Frame webbing dresses the bows; a two-piece sidescreen-to-hood buffer cushions the sidescreens.
Sidescreens
The two-bow to three-bow change also changed the sidescreen pattern: the early front sloped down toward the rear, while with the three-bow the celluloid top and bottom became parallel and the rear top angle changed. TF sidescreens differ again owing to the steeper windscreen rake. Covers come in Double Duck or vinyl, tan or black. New frames are catalogued as complete sets of four per specification, with individual frames available.
A 16-piece chrome strip kit dresses the celluloid. Mounting hardware is under Body and Door Fittings.
Tonneau Covers
Both full-length and half tonneau covers are catalogued for both models in Double Duck or vinyl, tan or black. The half tonneau (standard TD fitment) tucks over the tonneau rail behind the seats. The full tonneau extends over the entire cockpit including the seats and requires additional Lift-the-Dot fasteners on the rear quarter panels, doors, and scuttle. The tonneau rail arrangement differs significantly: the TD uses a single tonneau rail across the back of the bench-style seat, painted black per the original specification; the TF uses two individual rails, one on each individual bucket seat back, painted tan.
Sidescreen Compartment
The TD stored its sidescreens in a vertical compartment at the back of the tonneau (continuing the TC arrangement), whilst the TF's sidescreens were stored in a horizontal compartment in the floor of the tonneau, lined with black felt and with a Rexine-covered hinged lid. This is a fundamental TD-vs-TF difference affecting the body construction in this area.
Hood Care
Renovo hood care products maintain canvas and vinyl hoods. The complete kit includes ultraproofer, shampoo, cleaner, colour reviver, protector, and window polish. Individual products, fabric and vinyl protectors, cleaners, shampoo, colour reviver, window polish (50 ml and 100 ml), and clear silicone waterproofer, are catalogued separately. Tan aerosol allows hood frame touch-up.
Detailed care is covered under Hood Care.
Tonneau and Sidescreen Fasteners
Lift-the-Dot socket assemblies and studs are catalogued in machine-screw and self-tapping versions. Durable Dot fasteners (male and female) provide the snap-fit closures used in sidescreen-to-cover and tonneau-to-body interfaces, with a dedicated fixing tool for the male studs. Tan paint aerosol allows touch-up of deteriorated sidescreen frames.
Car Covers
A range of car covers is catalogued, from tailored breathable allweather covers (with optional cable and lock set) to lightweight indoor dust covers, plus a storm cockpit cover for cockpit-only protection and the Carcoon storage system for long-term enclosed storage. Detailed car cover options are covered under the Car Covers sub-section.
Ordering Considerations
Hood and sidescreen specifications are determined by chassis number for TDs (two-bow or three-bow) and by model. Material and colour are customer choices. The TD has one tonneau rail, the TF two. Tonneau cover is by model.
Hood care and car covers are model-independent. Confirm chassis number and drive side when ordering.