On 12/5/2023, Mark Wellard wrote:
"I have been chasing parts for my VDP rebuild and have a few observations that might help others restoring VDP hardtops.

In my search for information about the original sealing at the windscreen, I was looking for examples of the corner seals (AHH5671 and AHH5672) which are handed. So far, I have yet to determine how they are different to make them handed. I wrote to many people and posted to the fora without much information returning. Many people replied that getting a water-tight seal was very difficult.


The SPL drawing shows a rectangular section with a lip. Gio Delicio in Germany kindly sent me a section of original seal from one of his hardtops. You can see that the rectangular section is felt, which was glued to the front lip of the top.

The front header rail seal supplied by McGregor is incorrect (it may work), despite being sold as original . It has a rectangular profile, whereas the sample and the SPL drawing show a smaller rectangular section with a curved lip.
The attached pictures show a sample of the original seal with a felt base (rectangular section in the SPL drawings) that was affixed to the front lip of the aluminium. I think the Ramsey seal sold by Woolies in the UK is a better approximation and I will be using this it is also about 1/5th the price.

Your pages describe making a holder for the rear seal from a piece of aluminium tubing. An easier and more original seal can be made from lengths of MGB header seal holder which is the same shape. The MGB header seal could also be used as a rear seal if an original is not available.


As for the coupe, the original basket weave patterned headlining material can be found in pale grey. This can be recoloured, if required, to be exactly the same as the original.

Photos and notes compliments of Mark Wellard.

On 7/13/2024, Mark Wellard wrote:
Three more pictures attached relating to the VDP hardtop.

1. - The original rear deck seal had a string cast into it (brown spot).
2. - The rear window seal profile.
3. - The woollies profile I think will work as a header rail seal, which has a profile more like the original than what is supplied by others. www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1281-ramsey-sponge SKU# 263