Allegro Club International

[chris m]

having acquired my first allegros since swapping my 1981 1.5hl for a rover p6 in 1988 (i still have that one), i notice many cars on ebay have drooping headlinings ,is there a cure ,do they just need regluing , before i buy an ebay bargain would welcome some info on whether this is a soluble problem
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i`ve got a vp but its got no floor

[steve williamson]

Hia,
headlining is a HUGE issue on the Vanden Plas, its badly designed, its that simple! On the Vanden Plas it’s the very expensive Daimler fabric glued to a backing fabric, that is then glued on to a fibber board, but it wont stick!!! Ive tried THREE different headlining in my VP, I’ve tried the proper woollies glue, that lasted maybe a month max? And ive tried spray on impact adisive, that lasted 30 mins! And I didn’t even get chance to pop the side panels up, so for the last two months ive had half my headlining in the garage and the other half rubbing on your head as you get in! lol, I think, the answer is to replace the fibreboard, that’s my next plan, to get a sheet of flex ply cut the same shape, cover it in the fabric then slot it in… bet money it wont work but im running out of options!

i don’t think it’s a problem on normal allegros, I think they use some sort of wire that goes side to side of the car, but im not sure about that.


steve

[Graham]

I just had a thought about this, how about brushing on a diluted PVA solution, like builders brush onto a wall before they plaster. This would soak into the fibre board and provide a substrate for any adhesive to fix to. I guess any glue sprayed onto the fibreboard is simply drying and falling off with just a minimal amount of fibre attached.
I think the best way to do it would be to remove the fibreboard but, having never owned a VP, I don't know how easy/difficult ths would be??
Brush a fairly weak solution on first, say 5:1 let it dry then brush on more PVA for the headlining to stick to, say 1:1???
Just a thought!
Graham

[steve williamson]

could work, i tried painting paint onto it to help it, that didnt realy work, it just made it messy, but i may try that idea, sounds good but tbh, its such an anoying job im just livivng with it! lol

thanks

steve

[Paul-V]

Well, at least this can't be blamed solely on British Leyland..........SAABs suffer from the same problem (at least, the old 99s and 900s do).

I think it is caused by the foam backing between the fabric and the fibreboard drying out and disintegrating with age. The only real answer is likely to be new material (£££££££££)
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But you'd better be quick. Because the Allegro Equipe is a Limited Edition that's going to move like its looks! Vroom, Vroom!

[Mike Dean]

I've been meaning to do something about Lavinia's headlining ever since we bought her. but I never seem to find the time to tackle it.
However, last spares day I found a solution to the problem of it rubbing on my hair (what's left of it), causing a distraction when driving, making my hair stand up with static and dirtying the headlining: - A club cap! It makes it so much easier for me to procrastinate until somebody else works out the best solution.
In case I get the urge to tackle it sooner, does anyone have any advice on the easiest way to remove the roof lining panel? I guess you must be a dab-hand at the task now Steve.

Mike (&K).

[steve williamson]

Yer… ive done once or twice!

If it’s a vp you have then its easy,

1) just un screw all the mirrors, handles, sun visor and don’t for get to disconnect the rear lights!
2) Starting at the FRONT of the side panels, jud get a flat screwdriver under the hardboard backing, and ease it out, its only held in with springy clips, but they ping off so don’t loose them! Lol
3) Then take the front bit that’s got the mirror on it off next, then the back bit, they just ping off in the same way, then the tricky bit…
4) There’s northing holding the centre saggy bit in place bit gravity and rests on a mettle rim above the door frame if you push it to one side the slide it out it’s a really dodgy job if your too forceful it will snap and then your buggered! (guess what happened to my headlining number one!!!!)
5) bish bash bosh! its out! but just be aware that recovering it is a much harder job that it looks! I thought, yer, easy….its not!!!!!

….but if its not a vp then please ignore all the abve as I haven’t a clue!

Good luck, but if it does go wrong plase don’t blame me!

[crippsacars]

If your not keen enough to do all that seeing as its winter etc etc , a good temp fix is -

Proceed to a DIY store and find the mouldings section ( aviod all the christmas glitz on route!). In said section is a length of very thin wood - its very cheap!.

You can then cut this and use it to go across the headlining of car from each side - supporting the material that was rubbing on your head!

You end up with a VP with the automotive version of oak beams! - sounds awful but an excellant "quick fix" till you do the whole job and much better than a headlining sitting on your head!

[steve williamson]

I could have the roof thatched and a small inglenook fireplace installed in the boot too!

That’s what headlining number one was held up with when it was on Britain’s worst celebrity driver. A small plastic curtain rod. Did the job and didnt look too shabby. but mines well past that now!...Poor old Brian!

[Paul-V]

Well, I do like the sound of that!

My local branch of Focus has a great selection of such material in different grains and designs, although personally I wouldn't fit anything to an Allegro that came from a shop named after a Ford Eurotrash car! (Try B&Q........)

10/10 to Andy for suggesting that one.
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But you'd better be quick. Because the Allegro Equipe is a Limited Edition that's going to move like its looks! Vroom, Vroom!