Paddy Hopkirk bonnet straps

[360gts]

Decided to have a go at recreating my Hopkirk bonnet straps.
Was missing a couple of the straps....so, found a nice old leather belt on E Bay that is the right width and similar design.
Here is my first attempt....anyone have any suggestions on adding a bit of patina to the leather...make them a bit more 'period' looking?
Cheers
D

[Ronnie]

Decided to have a go at recreating my Hopkirk bonnet straps.
Was missing a couple of the straps....so, found a nice old leather belt on E Bay that is the right width and similar design.
Here is my first attempt....anyone have any suggestions on adding a bit of patina to the leather...make them a bit more 'period' looking?
Cheers
D

I think all the Hopkirk straps were black when new.

[Polarsilver]

in UK we have on TV "The Repair Shop " where Susie Fletcher is the Leatherworker & seems to be able to do any restoration with old Leather .. she uses Leather Dye on the new leather she puts in to the repair the item & mixes the Dye in shade it to suit the original leather final surface colouring.
Failing that.. use your Off Cuts & try Brown "shoe polish" mix with a bit of Black or maybe even Red & match to the final finish.. probably need to light sand off the surface finish to get your required colour into the Leather

[360gts]

Decided to have a go at recreating my Hopkirk bonnet straps.
Was missing a couple of the straps....so, found a nice old leather belt on E Bay that is the right width and similar design.
Here is my first attempt....anyone have any suggestions on adding a bit of patina to the leather...make them a bit more 'period' looking?
Cheers
D

I think all the Hopkirk straps were black when new.

Nope, early sets were also brown ...as is the set I have.

[360gts]

in UK we have on TV "The Repair Shop " where Susie Fletcher is the Leatherworker & seems to be able to do any restoration with old Leather .. she uses Leather Dye on the new leather she puts in to the repair the item & mixes the Dye in shade it to suit the original leather final surface colouring.
Failing that.. use your Off Cuts & try Brown "shoe polish" mix with a bit of Black or maybe even Red & match to the final finish.. probably need to light sand off the surface finish to get your required colour into the Leather

Hi Norm,
We get the Repair Shop here too...brilliant show.
Will give that dye mixing a shot....

[360gts]

Decided to have a go at recreating my Hopkirk bonnet straps.
Was missing a couple of the straps....so, found a nice old leather belt on E Bay that is the right width and similar design.
Here is my first attempt....anyone have any suggestions on adding a bit of patina to the leather...make them a bit more 'period' looking?
Cheers
D

I think all the Hopkirk straps were black when new.

Nope, early sets were also brown ...as is the set I have. I think the strap/s were even sold in an individual package back then. I know I bought mine from Hopkirk's shop in Church Street in Belfast.
GRX 555D on the cover of Peter Browning's "the Works Minis" shows a brown strap....don't know if it was a Hopkirk strap.....probably was.

[Ronnie]

I think all the Hopkirk straps were black when new.

Nope, early sets were also brown ...as is the set I have. I think the strap/s were even sold in an individual package back then. I know I bought mine from Hopkirk's shop in Church Street in Belfast.
GRX 555D on the cover of Peter Browning's "the Works Minis" shows a brown strap....don't know if it was a Hopkirk strap.....probably was.

That is a Special Tuning/Comps one different animal 3 bolt fixing and they are brown/tan, alloy bolt spreader plate's contoured over the 3
edges of the leather.

[timmy201]

The brochure says "natural tan heavy saddle leather", not sure if that helps?

[360gts]

in UK we have on TV "The Repair Shop " where Susie Fletcher is the Leatherworker & seems to be able to do any restoration with old Leather .. she uses Leather Dye on the new leather she puts in to the repair the item & mixes the Dye in shade it to suit the original leather final surface colouring.
Failing that.. use your Off Cuts & try Brown "shoe polish" mix with a bit of Black or maybe even Red & match to the final finish.. probably need to light sand off the surface finish to get your required colour into the Leather

Norm, tried your tip....quite pleased with the outcome...thanks for the info.
Cheers
D

[360gts]

Had some time today to have a go at restoring one of the straps.
So far so good....pleased with the 'aging' effect....

[Ronnie]

It looks period

[Polarsilver]

The Canadian Repair Shop .. has done a good job ..looks good.

My Late Brother Bryan ran his Trim & Replica Parts Business with one of the items he made & sold was the Leather Bonnet Straps as seen in this photo ..this Photo is one strap fitted onto his own works replica & this car has a full Aluminium Bonnet with the standard bonnet catch so probably a good idea to have the strap fitted .. dunno if this strap is Works correct or otherwise to me it does not matter .. just to say this Strap has "Three Holes" in the leather strap tail.

Bonnet strap.JPG

I will take Bryans car "EOH" to this years Gaydon Works Day .. so come & say Hello .

[hanlminiman]

Look forward to seeing you and Bryan's car. By the way picture shows the correct way to fit it with the buckle on the bonnet so that the strap does not flap and get opened by the wind at speed.

[360gts]

Finished the straps....as per Norman's tip....got the aging/patina look.
Was worth all the research....elbow grease...happy with the final result.
Might add them to the vintage race mini.