I've been a bit frustrated with how the Spitfire's top folded into the back seat when down – it always seems a bit cumbersome and janky. I've tried a few times to put the "parade boot" over the folded top but could never get it to fit right. Heck, it never even came close to fitting right. My frustration won recently, forcing me to resign to the misguided belief that the leather had shrunk over time and it just wasn't going to fit on the car again.
Last night my faith in the Brits (surely they came up with something better than this!) had me wandering the web to figure this out.
And I did! This YouTube video explains the proper way to fold and store a Spitfire convertible top in great detail.
Turns out, there's a trick to it.
Perhaps not surprisingly, a convertible top designed in the 1960s operates a bit differently from more contemporary tops. In a not-so-obvious twist, you need to detach the top from the upper frame, on the inside of the car, while it's up and then pull the soft top back as the frame is folded back. This allows the bare frame to neatly and compactly drop into the back seat. With that properly stowed, the top can then be brought forward and folded over the frame.
I put my new found knowledge to work this morning before heading down to the office. It took a few minutes but was fairly easy.
And now the boot fits perfectly!
