CMC lift off hard-top

Dave, I've been looking off and on for one of those for nearly 10 years.

A few years back, a fiberglass top went from Virginia to Florida. A man named Jim Anderson (who may still be on this site?) was going to modify the hard top, splash a reverse mold and have some plexiglass made for the windows. The top had to be cut to make it work on a CMC, and I don't guess that went very well for Mr. Anderson.

The long-story-short on that, specifically with regard to CMCs, Street Beasts, FiberFab and other DIY cars, is the variables are really tough to overcome.

The windshield placement from one car to the next might be off by as much as an inch from front to rear. The frame might be Beck, Intermeccanica or any of (at least three) CMC patterns. The rear snaps for the convertible top will also be in different places from one to the next, and the molds CMC used might have variances from one tub to another.

Ergo, making a one-size-fits-all top just ain't happening. You might be better off -- especially in Perry County, finding a fiberglass shop near you that can make one from a junkyard Ghia roof, and having it laid up onto your car so that it fits exactly. That's what I'd do, and you'd be into it for a lot less than the $3,000 or so you would spend on one you'd have to cut on to make it work.

But hey, if you are able to find one -- please give the Easter Bunny my kindest regards. ;-)

Hey Cory, thx for your input.  Alan Merklin told me about Jim Anderson's top.  Jim and I texted back and forth. He never finished modifying that top to fit on a CMC. He still has it but when I asked him if he'd sell it to me, he never answered. I'd buy it if he'd let it go. I missed one at the Hershey Porsche Swap Meet last spring for $500 and it needed alot.  There were none there this year.  I am patient. I will find one some decade! Thanks again, see u at Carlisle. - Dave Bayne

I was going to help Jim make the mold (I was hoping for one of the first out of the mold).  Jim's 20 miles from me.  Once BobG gets down in June we'll really start cranking them out. Bob will be 25 miles. Jim did put rain gutters on it - of course they might have to come off to make a smooth mold. Maybe "we" can turn my new barn in Baker into a hard top assembly line! There used to be lots of FG boat builders near by but not anymore.  There is a guy ON CL that we should probably contact to see if he could make a dozen.  I did save a bug rear glass thinking it is about the right size and curvature for the rear window.  That way a stock rubber gasket could also be used too.  

Okay Wolfgang, If u guys make them, I'll buy one. Put me on your list.  Did u consider making any out of carbon fiber ???

Greg, did anything every become of this? Don't think I have 20 years to wait!

But I sure do want a hardtop...

Send it to me as I have a glass guy across the street from me on Kauai.

I have thought about this for some time and this is the way to make it universal. The bottom rear needs to rest outboard of the male snaps that are fixed to the body.  The leading edge of the top is made longer across the windshield frame  using a VS top bow the hard top leading edge is trimmed and bonded to the bow.....thats the only way I can engineer it in my head

Alan, my thoughts exactly!

So here I am sitting on condo balcony margarita in hand with a hot banana wind blowing --- and you guys want me in 109 degree barn with fiberglass shards in my drawers and resin on my hands.  Maybe Mañana!

Emerald Coast Poker run with loud cigarette boats is this weekend so maybe after that.

Greg - sounds like a pretty good plan to me! 

I omitted a latching system for the base of the top and fabricating Margard Lexan sidecurtains and some sort of side curtain posts

April 28th was not hot! How many margaritas have you had since then?

Dos ..... but maybe I need to count the umbrellas?

I had MGC with factory hardtop.  It had brackets either side that bolted to the soft top frame just behind the doors.  Wonder if you could fasten the side curtains to top "a la" a gull wing door (like a Bradley GT)?

MGB HT Mount side bracket

Yuuuup! We scratched our heads!! Vintage Alan/WildBill pics trying to "fit" Blackie..(Date on photos r not right)

I'm not getting anything either...

I did save them -

Hmmm...my photos not visible??

~WB

12 years guys and nothing?

Like a fine wine things take time....besides the less hair we have the better we think, Photo date is not correct ...I see that I owned the blue GM dually in the back ground and that was 7-1/2 years ago.

     Is that Greg's speedster?

     I purchased exactly the same Platicon top that you guys are fiddling with. (Identified by that purposeless streamlined 'knob' above the rear window) I'm keeping my eye opened for the simple windshield latching mechanisms like my VS soft top has. (That's a good excuse for not doing anything with it as yet)

     I'm also thinking that it would look better with an early VW oval rear window instead of that wide wrap around.  

Carl - you seem to have a bigger parts stash than I do.  I bet my new barn is bigger than yours!  I think the VS top clams are same as CMC used -- VS sells them and I've seen them in the Grainger catalog too.  Ha, I had a picture of them somewhere.

Geeze, in DrClock time that was 16 Speedsters ago. 

Love the oval idea but the blind spot will by big.