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Car · New convertible top
Lancia Flavia convertible Vignale
A Lancia Flavia convertible bodied by Vignale, from France, ivory with a red interior: a new top in black fabric, developed from a calico test fit on the car, then cut, stitched and fitted in the workshop.
- Model
- Lancia Flavia convertible
- Coachwork
- Vignale
- Origin
- France, French-registered
- Era
- 1960s
- Colour
- Ivory, red interior, black top
- Work
- Survey, pattern, cutting, stitching and fitting of the top
- Restoration
- New top
The story
The Flavia is the 1960s Lancia with a flat-four engine and front-wheel drive. Alongside the saloon and the coupé there was the convertible, an open two-door bodied by Vignale: the V badge is still on its flank.
The job was the top. It started from the old cover and the frame: measurements, calico test fit, pattern, cutting of the fabric and test fits on the car. After final stitching the rear window, seals and trim were fitted, for a tight and weatherproof top.
The restoration step by step
A top made to measure
- Step 1 of 5
The calico test fit
White calico is stretched over the top frame and held with masking tape. Seams, edges and the rear window position are drawn on it, piece by piece.
the white calico test fit on the top frame 
the calico test fit at the rear 
the calico test fit by the pillar - Step 2 of 5
From pattern to fabric
The test pieces become patterns. They are laid on the black fabric, marked out in chalk and cut; some lines are transferred directly on the car.
the pieces marked out in chalk 
the black fabric laid out on the table 
a pattern laid on the fabric 
lines transferred onto the fabric directly on the car - Step 3 of 5
The front rail
The frame is trimmed: the front rail, the one that latches above the windscreen, gets its padding and reinforcements.
the front rail being worked on 
the trimmed front rail, seen from inside - Step 4 of 5
Stitching and rear window
The pieces are sewn together, the clear rear window is set in and the piping prepared. Stitching is done on an industrial machine for heavy fabrics.
the top on the cutting table 
the clear rear window sewn into the fabric 
stitching on the industrial machine 
the piping prepared on the table - Step 5 of 5
Test fits and fitting
The top is tried on the car several times, tensioned on the frame and fixed along the edge. Then come trims, seals and press studs.
the top tensioned on the frame 
one of the test fits on the car 
the top from inside, with frame and trims 
the finished top and rear window
As it is today
Some photos have been digitally cleaned up (light, colour, grain), without changing their content.
Does your convertible need a new top?
Mimmo makes made-to-measure tops for classic convertibles and spiders, starting from a test fit on the car. At the workshop in Villanova Mondovì, including for clients in Switzerland.
More restorations
This is only a small selection: over the years Mimmo has restored many more cars and trucks, and we'll keep adding them from the workshop's photo books.
