Citroen Specials Club - the club for all lightweight cyclecars

My 223 came with a heavy fabric type tonneau of unknown origin.
The underside is black and the top side a fawn colour (upside down to me) and there is a central zip.
I have not used the tonneau other than to check it fitted when I got the car.

Recently I wondered about dying the top black and got it out to wash it.
Thinking it might shrink I tried to fit it to the car while it was still quite damp to help it keep its shape.

It surprised me when it did not fit, lengthwise it was about 50mm too short!
With a real struggle I managed to get most of the clips engaged and left it to dry.
Next day when it was dry it fitted easilly!

I am concerned if the tonneau was used in anger and got wet it would be almost imposiible to fit.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Would a water proofing coating help?

I have no such problem with the tonneau on my Pembleton as the rear edge is secured with shock cord over buttons.

However the cover for our 40 year old Morgan had shrunken, so I made up the clip on extension piece in the photo below.
Hope this helps.

Jack
Pembleton SuperSport