Hardtop Guys...step inside

[Dan Babb]

I'm trying to decide on getting a hardtop or soft top.

I know the advantages of having the soft top (easily removable, so you need it on the car all the time) but I really dig the look of the hard top.

For those with hard tops, here are some questions:

1) Do you regret it and wish you had the soft top

2) What did you do for side windows? Are they really functional in the winter and in the rain or do they leak bad?

3) How often do you really put it on / take it off? Is it more hassle than it's worth?

4) Do you need defroster vents?

I now have the A/C working in my car, but don't have defroster vents, so just wondering if it will be an issue when I get stuck in the rain. I don't have wipers, so it's not like i'd really plan on taking the car out if it looks like rain...but if rain chance is in the 30-40% range, it would be nice to be able to take the risk.

[ZoaFan08]

I'm in southern California so my use is a little different.

I love my hard top, it's really nice to have in the winter with the heater and heated seats.

It's hard to get in without the windows, I couldn't imagine getting in with the windows on. I will never drive in the rain so keeping water out wasn't a concern for me.

It's easy to put on and take off, takes 10 minutes. I put it on in the winter during the cold months. By cold I mean 60*.

I do not have a defroster, never had an issue.

[cobrathegreat]

I have an APE top.

1) No. I love the hardtop, and never needed to store it in the trunk, or needed to put on in an emergency.

2) The side windows I bought with the top from APE. Very functional. They do cut down on cold and wind.

3) I put it on during the winter cold and off during summer. Since you have ac, you can put it on during the summer and keep the cabin cool. Keep the summer sun of your head.

4) I do not have ac, never drive in the rain (no wipers) and have never had the inside mist up. During some cold nights it will fog up a bit, I keep a towel for that. Wipe once and done. Again I am in So. Cali and things are bit different.

It is not the easiest to get in and out of, but very doable. I have no problems. These cars are not that easy to deal with top on or off.

The side windows on my car flip up, thus the same like having windows on or not. The flip out of the way.

Takes me about 5 mins to remove/install.
I have it hanging from my ceiling right above the car on an electric winch. Remove 2 body bolts, loosen the front clips and raise or lower.

Check out my graduation thread on my sig line for pics of this plus others.

All in all, love it!!!

Some more interesting stuff you might like

Auxilary windows for Hard Top #2

Hard Top or Frt Spoiler

my solution on making mirrors useful.

Side mirror alternatives? Any ideas for non typical instal?

[GWL]

Send me a PM to remind me to post pictures of Mr. Bruce's Le Mans Top, as I am not at home now. It is a beautiful top. I've got some pictures I took at SAAC 37 of it on an ERA car.

George

[CraigS]

I have an APE top for 6 yrs now.Got it cause I love the look w/ it painted to match the car and stripes.Very happy w/ it although I have totally redone the rear window to make it quickly removeable/replaceable. I don't like sitting in the sun so mine is never off the car.Windows are off/on depending on the temp. I don't think I could ever stop the water leaking 100% in but I only get stuck in the rain maybe twice a year so it's ok at 90%. I made a hardware store grade rope and pulley thing to lift it off the car. Just pull the car under it,loosen the rear window, pull the top up enough so there is a gap at the top of the windshield,put the straps through and yank it up off the car. Takes maybe 10 minutes. I use the side windows that came w/ it that work pretty well. Recently I ran as a apssenger in my friends FFR at an autocross. We were sitting in line on his black ffr seats and I couldn't believe how hot it was. I had just made my 4 runs in my car the previuos hour and the difference was unbelievable.

[GWL]

I love this hardtop. Mr. Bruce's Le Mans Hardtop. I've got to look in my notes to find the name of the guy that owns this car. Talked to him at length at SAAC 37 about the top. He made his own side curtains. Nice work and nice guy.









I've got more detailed pictures and will post them later.

George

[Dan Babb]

I like that top, but if I remember correctly, it doesn't fit with the stock height rollbars. You need to lower them (and with my body work all done, that's not an option).

[MARIAH]

Dan, I suspect you have seen MARIAH's top at the Auto Fair or Whitby Christmas party.
We have used it for about 40,000 miles and have a lot of experience.

- I'm 200# and 5'11". Either top presents the choice of how to enter I use the LIFO technique. Put my right hand onto the transmission tunnel to support myself and my rear is the Last In and First Out. Not a pretty sight, but it is quick. When Kay drives, I do use the normal sitting down and fighting my legs into the Passenger Side.

- My visit to the dermatologist last week just reinforces why we run the top.

- For me the hardtop is our only solution. It keeps me out of the sun. We need the storage space for our Adventures that a soft top would otherwise require. It is cost effective, convenient to remove and install (I expect easier that any soft top, other than Rick Young's which just folds up), 98% dry, toasty in the winter with the heater going, safe with the added quarter windows and interior mirrors and is actually cooler in the summer without the sun baking our heads.

- Mine is Whitby's version.

- My first alteration was to borrow an interior mirror idea from Scott ??? to improve visibility. For long trips I would not leave the drive way without them.

- Originally with flip up windows, but at 25,000 miles we purchased ERA style windows and followed Dave Van's idea of mounting them to the doors. Both will work, but we like the door mounting for outside mirror issues.

- Top is never completely dry, depending upon how HARD and LONG it rains the water will find a way in. Two days with a box fan setting in the seats will take care of the heaviest water issues.

- We keep two black towels rolled up beside our seats to help with the leaks and cover our legs.

- With the windows in and heavy rain or dead of winter the humidity inside can make the inside of the windows a chore for the defrosters. I'm sure some heaters are more effective than mine. Here again, the black towel has a use. With the windows out, fogging is not an issue. And of course, there is always the Anti-Fog from RainX which we also use.

- I install and remove my top by myself in less than 5 minutes and place it in a roll-a-round storage rack that I made for that purpose. I remove the fasteners, go around and lift the top slightly to make sure the rubber is free and then place my right knee in my seat, position my head at a balance point and standing up, grasp the front and rear and turn the top down into its stand. No apparatus needed, just have to have space for the roll a round when used. Goes on in reverse, single handedly.

- I do have a headliner from Hancock Fabric store that I glued in place. I would precede that with some sound insulation next time. Dave Van can tell you more about the insulation.

- Dave Van and I have also made what I have called Auxiliary Windows (flip up originally and now door mounted) that fill the rear half of the openings and keep your face from the buffeting on LONG trips.

- I have a WIDE view mirror from AutoZone mounted directly to the top and turn down my dash mirror when the top is in place as the lower portion of the hard top limits your rear vision for those folks who want to follow too closely.

- I have clear vinyl under the seating surfaces to protect the paint.

- Last year, I installed Quarter Windows (see APE site for an idea of how these work) in each side to improve visibility.

- This year I installed Rain Gutters to route some of the water around and down the back.

- Dave Van and I have shared and borrowed ideas from each other and many supportive comments and links from the Forum as we tried to improve our use. If you have questions or want particular links or photos, just yell.

Phillip

[jolsen42]

Call Mr. Bruce, 412-466-1312. He can and does make it with a bubble to accommodate the bars.

John O

Originally Posted by Dan Babb

I like that top, but if I remember correctly, it doesn't fit with the stock height rollbars. You need to lower them (and with my body work all done, that's not an option).

[Dan Babb]

Phillip...thank you for that info.

Do you have any pictures showing the headliner? I was wondering how it would look with one installed. How did you install it too?

Did you buy or make the windows you show in the picture above? Do they fit in the trunk when you're not using them?

When you're driving with the full window, do you have room on the door ledge to rest your arm? I find that I drive with my left arm resting on the top of the door and wonder if you loose that space.


I saw a post with pictures of your back-half windows...those looked nice.

[MARIAH]

Dan,

Here is a quick photo of the liner.

The Hancock link.
Automotive Headliner Fabric

The liner is 1/4" cloth covered foam and goes in with spray adhesive. You can see the cuts that are necessary to make the compound curves. I hot glued "hem tape" from Hancock over those cuts.

With either flip up, door mounted windows you can't rest your arm on the door. We only use the windows in the garage to keep the cat out, or on cold or wet drives. Otherwise they are in a storage bag in the trunk.

The window$$$$$ are from Cobra Restorers although I purchased mine here on the forum from someone who had an unused set. I suspect they would be the same ones offered by FFR for their early soft top.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....1~cadeffib~~20 (go to Tops & Tonneau page to see the windows and ferrules.

Phillip

[Dan Babb]

Thank you.

Those windows must be made of unobtanium or some other rare elements. $525 a pair seems a bit steep.

[CraigS]

I thought about windows mounted to the door but didn't do it. i have a friend w/ the original FFR soft top and another friend w/ a Superformance and they both have their windows mounted to the door. They both have holes in the top of the door w/ metal sleaves down inside the door for the pins on the bottom of the windows to slide into. I was concerned how I would be able to install the sleaves so they would be strong enough w/o hacking up the inside of the door. I've gotten so used to the roof mounted windows after these many years that I don't even think about the in/out procedure any longer.

[ZoaFan08]

Originally Posted by Dan Babb

Thank you.

Those windows must be made of unobtanium or some other rare elements. $525 a pair seems a bit steep.

I know, I saw them and was like I WANT! Then I say the price $525 for plexiglass, rubber and plastic hinges? Hopefully they come with a bottle of lube or a butt donut to sit on for the next couple weeks.

[berzerko]

Another Bruce top
I think I put as much time into doing the side windows, forming the frames working out the hinges, fitting and doing the struts as I did fitting the tops, I personally would nt do it again

[wormie]

Hey berzerko, is this on a Mk4? Did you document your top fitting and installation?

[GWL]

I just found this original posting by berzerko. Too bad, looks like he has moved his pictures. There were more details shots in his last post and as you can see and many more in his first post. I'll look more into my files because I usually copy and file stuff like this, just can't always find it later.

Mr Bruce lemans top

One comment he did make in this thread, he would not do it again.

George

[wormie]

Originally Posted by GWL

I just found this original posting by berzerko. Too bad, looks like he has moved his pictures. There were more details shots in his last post and as you can see and many more in his first post. I'll look more into my files because I usually copy and file stuff like this, just can't always find it later.

Mr Bruce lemans top

One comment he did make in this thread, he would not do it again.

George

Too bad about the pics indeed... Hope you can repost them here?

Funny, I was coming up with the same questions...

That's what they say about "Great minds..."

-W

[normand]

Had all soft top, hard top and tonneau cover on a Superformance I had.
-Never used the soft top
-Always keep the tonneau cover with me if risk of rain when driving in the summer / warmer months
-Used the hard top for winters / colder months. side window on door
Just loved the look and confort. I miss it (no longer have that car)
I am 6'3", had no issue going in and out

[G-Pete]

Just stumbled over this thread. I'm planning a sun top for my roadster, if someone could provide pictures of the windshield mounting brackets -- that would be great!!

Thanks a bunch.

[Don Wright]

I'll be finishing this top this coming year. (my new year's resolution) I may not have it available to public; but at least all the work will result in one on a car.

[SeanHM]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

I'll be finishing this top this coming year. (my new year's resolution) I may not have it available to public; but at least all the work will result in one on a car.

Can't wait to see it finished, Don. Good to see you still have your car too.

[Don Wright]

Both the car and I are still here - looking to participating more in 13.

[wormie]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

I'll be finishing this top this coming year. (my new year's resolution) I may not have it available to public; but at least all the work will result in one on a car.

Kind of like a Porshe 914 with Gull Wings... Very creative and actually fit the roadster very nicely! I'm sure you could sell a few of those.