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Latches for the Pinnin top
are an offen discussed topic. Most have never seen the original
latches. My theory is that the rear latches were so difficult
to install and remove, that the owners either declined to install
them, or removed them after a short time. I don't remember where
I found this drawing on the internet, but here is a fiat instruction
sheet, probably for a dealer, on how to assemble the weather
stripping and latches. I hope that it will help in identifying
how the latches interact with the car. Who knows, now that you
know what they look like, you might even have a set in the side
pockets of your spider and didn't realize it!
The
original Pinnin rear latches look like this. This assembly replaces
the two small chrome hooks that are normally on the rear deck
of the spider to fasten the top boot. It's a diecast chrome plated
cover that screws down onto a simple angle bracket that uses
the the existing chrome hook holes.
The
single screw goes into a threaded hole on the bracket. The angle
is shown top view here. The bracket is not easily removed, so
the top is really a semi-permanent mounting. I guess the reason
there are not many of these things around is that they are a
pain, and most owners discarded them.
In reality, the bottom bow
of the top itself is quite weak and would easily be pulled away
from the window with very little effort. I have had a window
partially pop out when going over a pretty big bump once and
decided to leave the bottom bow hooks loose. I guess other owners
had similar things happen to them. After a couple of bad experiences
either the dealers or the owners probably removed them. The latches
are little more than cosmetic. The
hooks provide some small security and don't pull down on the
back bow too much. Also they are much easier to install and the
chrome hooks for the tonneau cover can remain installed.
For the time being, I found
some triangular hooks with a welded eye at the hardware store
and reshaped them blacksmith style with a torch. The hooks look
nice and work well, so for now, they stay. 
The side latches are another
matter entirely. They are sturdy overcenter latches. Here one
is shown with the hard to find and easily lost turnbuckle and
hook assembly that is so often missing. The hook is placed either
under the top frame or in a round hole in the top pivot bracket
fastened to the car. The overcenter lever assembly bolts securely
to probably the strongest part of the top. The steel reinforced
window frame stamping. This is encased in solid fiberglass and
you could probably lift the car with it. At any rate, these two
latches and the front two window latches are plenty to secure
your top to your car.
Turnbuckle Nuts I have not found a suitable substitute
for the turnbuckle barrel nuts or the latch assembly. One of
my tops camer with the commonly available aluminum hardware store
pieces. I don't think they work very well and have commissioned
as duplicate of the originals machined for the reverse metric
thread of the stock fiat upper threaded rod and I've made tthe
bottom of them threaded for commonly available 10-24 threaded
hooks custom bent for the application. The bolts run about $55
a set.
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