Prestige Car Hoods are available in a vast choice of materials and colours. We offer three grades of vinyl hooding and three grades of fabric hooding. Choosing the correct material for your new car hood is just one part of the equation. For this reason please do not assume that all hoods are made the same. Choice of materials may be the same but quality and standard of fit can vary enormously. We will endeavor to point out the various characteristics and qualities of the materials and offer advice and points to look for when making your choice.

Prestige Car Hoods are manufactured to very high quality standards. Original factory designs are carefully replicated and improved upon where necessary as part of our commitment to producing the finest quality hoods. Our car hoods are sold throughout the world and are renowned for their superior quality and precise fit.

All our car hoods are manufactured from automotive grade materials that have been developed specifically for use as car hooding material. Industry leading “Flexglas” is used for rear windows which offers superior UV resistance and longer life than standard clear plastic. Outer hood seams are electronically welded and sealed to a Superior Standard which offers exceptional strength. We would draw your attention to many so called welded seams that are in fact prone to leaking and splitting under tension. Also beware of fabric hoods that have “saddle stitched” top seams. This method is prone to leaking through the exposed stitching which in time will probably become brittle and fail.

Most hoods can be fitted by the average DIY enthusiast and instructions are provided. Where applicable to model fasteners are pre-installed making the installation of your new hood much easier.  

VINYL CAR HOOD MATERIALS

"HD" HEAVY DUTY PVC 

A popular grade vinyl specifically formulated to reproduce the texture and appearance of the vinyl hoods used on most sports cars and 4x4’s. With a typical life expectancy of 5 years plus, this vinyl offers outstanding value and is the ideal choice for those on a budget or not requiring the greater longevity of the higher grade materials. Available in black only.
 

"SV" SUPERIOR VINYL

Used as Original Equipment by most British Sports Car Manufacturers. Our Superior Vinyl Hoods are considered to be the best choice for those seeking to retain that “original factory appearance. The typical life expectancy for this material is over 10 years and is an ideal replacement for hoods on 4x4’s, Cabriolet’s and modern sports cars such as the Mazda MX-5. Available in: Black or a choice of colours Blue, White, Cream, Red, Beige, Tan, Green & Grey. (See “SV Colours”)

A modern, very high quality vinyl that offers greater wear and tear characteristics than most other vinyls. Cabriolet Vinyl is original material for the majority of hoods found on modern convertibles such as the Mazda MX-5 and Cabriolet's from Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot and many others. Cabriolet Vinyl is designed to last well in excess of 10 years and much older examples can be seen on many cars on the road today with the original hood still intact. The material is thicker than other vinyl’s yet remains very supple throughout its lifetime. The material is designed to withstand the high wind pressures and lifting associated with motorway driving and is therefore the best choice of material for larger hoods. Colours available are Black, Dk. Blue, Tan, Grey, Beige & White.

FABRIC CAR HOOD MATERIALS

Fabric hoods offer many advantages over vinyl hoods. The material is generally more pliable, harder wearing and less susceptible to temperature variations. Improved insulation is particularly noticeable. Fabric hoods generally last twice as long as vinyl hoods and we see many 20 year plus examples before they are replaced. We have tested all fabrics extensively and each one has its own particular characteristics and advantages. We offer specific advice on each material as follows:

"DD" DOUBLE DUCK CANVAS

A 20 oz canvas hooding fitted as standard to many pre 1960 classic cars. Traditionally this material has been very popular as a direct replacement to a vinyl hood, offering improved insulation properties in comparison to vinyl hoods. Still the fabric of choice amongst many owners of pre 1960 classic cars we would however suggest that other more modern fabrics offer a better alternative for everyday use today. Double Duck is VAT dyed and consequently fading of colour should be expected. It is not suited for sunnier climates where it would fade quite rapidly. Double Duck will require periodic treatment with a colour restorer to keep it in good condition and shrinkage can also be a problem. Unless you require Double Duck purely for old world authenticity then we suggest that you consider Stayfast or Mohair as your fabric of choice. Double Duck is available in black only.

“SF” STAYFAST

A modern hooding fabric that is essentially a lighter weight version of our Mohair fabric. Stayfast offers all the benefits of a traditional Double Duck hood but with superior colourfastness and a much longer life expectancy. Stayfast does not require any special treatments and will give many years of service. Stayfast is ideal for use on many classic cars but due to it's lighter construction weight  we recommend that larger cars should use the heavier Mohair fabric. Stayfast is available in black only.