Completely topless

One of the things I've always loved about the Speedster is that the top folds down below the body line & the tonneau cover completes that flat surface.

The other cabrios, not so much.

Storing my IM's top is like trying to stuff a really fat woman into a baby carriage.

I have the older style top and it's a PITA to put down, especially with the roll bar.

If I don't strap my top down it will raise up own its own at speeds over 70 mph.

Unfortunately that's not the case with the type D. Larger top sticks up quite a bit. Really liked the clean lines or my old spyders. Form vs function. 

Phil, you purchased a D AKA a gentlemen Speedster.  If you travel long distance the larger windshield, luxury top and large rear window real makes up for not having the top fold flat.  Run the tonneau cover, looks much better.

Depending on your true level of driving and enjoyment, you could leave the soft top at home and rely on a full tonneau with a zipped section for the driver. If you do drive a lot, you'll need the convertible top sooner or later and without it, you'll truly look like a dork if it is raining and you're driving without any top. Those that were previously jealous idiots will look down upon you rightfully. Drive with a passenger under those conditions and you'll really learn to hate rain....unless, with the tonneau scenario you're both naked and again, someone's under the tonneau's right side doing the right thing..... We're not here to judge.....

An IM Roadster does mean the top - when down - stands proud of the car.  Just be glad you didn't buy a VW convertible.

 

However, that 'unsightly' top does mean you get to drive in warmth and dryness when it is up, as a D roadster has a real cabriolet type top.  With the taller windscreen of the D, you also get more protection.

 

As Marty said, a D is not a Speedster.  It gives you more comfort, but with the same performance.  I've owned both, and they do have a different appearance.

 

You'll get used to it, and appreciate how well that top keeps you warmer and drier.

 

 

I once owned a Bug convertible. With the top down it was totally 'blind' and resembled a tourist horse carriage in Central Park...but the rear view mirror was on a long stem that rotated 180 degrees up above the windshield and gave me a far sighted view of what was behind me....But it sure was snug with the padded top up! 

I didn't think your car went that fast, Ron.

 

Phil:

 

Putting aside a lot of good info trying to convince you to keep the top and fixtures while all you want is a cleaner look (comfort be damned), depending on the color of your car and the color of your carpet, you could wander around in Home Depot or a carpet center to get a length of carpet edging.  It looks like an exaggerated "C" with it's bottom lip stuck out, is dimensioned for the carpet thickness (or is bend-able for different thicknesses) and has a "tacking strip" to attach it to the car (I would just use small, flat head screws or pop rivets).

 

Figure out where it has to go to get the look you wish, then install it such that the carpet would be pulled slightly away during the strip install, then tucked into the "C" opening to hide any rough edges and provide a finished look with no showing screws.  Edging material is usually some sort of steel or Aluminum and is easily bent/adjusted to get the look/fit you want.  Beware that steel material might be subject to rust if left out in the rain (unlikely, for a car with no top, but I have to mention it).

 

Another alternative would be an aluminum, stainless steel or painted strip that would simply install over the carpet and get screwed down with stainless, oval-head, dress screws, similar to the carpet edging on a CMC near the doors.  For this, you would need to be very careful about hole size and spacing to make it look professional once installed.

 

Either of these should not affect re-installing the top or mechanism and would simply finish off that end of the carpet a bit more.

 

Hope this helps.

Thanks Gordon.  When I was going through the paper work from the previous owner (he is deceased.) I ran across a letter from Henry to the owner.  The owner had complained about the cost of the hard top and Henry had offered to sell him the car with a hard top only.  Cost would be the same as soft top only.  I thought that sounded interesting.  But the car would have had to come with a removable trim piece which would have to be removed when the hard top is placed.  When I was removing my hard top and installing the soft top the car really looked excellent.  Most IM owners never remove the soft top so they never get to see the car without it.  Obviously previous owner opted for both tops.

Somewhere in one of these threads, someone cut , edged , and fitted his own carpets with stuff from Lowes or H.D.  I think he installed the carpet edging with a hot glue gun.

 

I think if you go to instabind.com there are a whole bunch of choices in edging stuff.

 

I hate driving with the top up also...but if you need it and don't have it...

I hasn't for a long time.

I've seen several cars that had a leather or vinyl strip, the same color and width as the rails on the tops of the doors that wrapped around the entire rear perimeter to cover that exposed carpet edge. Similar to the treatment on original 356's. Probably with a thin padding underneath to give it some shape, must be thin enough to fit behind the top bows.

Justin

That sounds very cool.  If you find a photo I would appreciate.

This is what I had in mind.  Maybe I've just got Spyders on the brain.

That gives me an idea for a t-shirt design "Speedster Madness" patterned after graphics from "Reefer Madness"

Some graphics ideas https://americansforcannabis.c...reefer-madness-1938/

Some graphics ideas https://americansforcannabis.c...reefer-madness-1938/

"SPEEDSTER MADNESS"- it'll be a great t-shirt!

 Not as easy as it sounds, but you've got the idea.

 

 

One with leather instead of carpet, but still has the contrasting trim color above:

http://www.erievillemanor.com/.../tag/knock-off-rims/

 

Phil;  That looks great!  I took my top out of the car months ago.  I finished installing my tonneau cover this past weekend.  Only disappointment, the snaps I bought from West Marine are second rate.  Like many retailers they have gone to a lot of private label merchandise, which has poor QC from off shore suppliers.  In any event I like the profile.

Phil:

 

LOVE the concept - figure out a way to do it.  Maybe talk with a local auto upholstery place for their ideas.  Keep us posted.

 

gn

I know this topic is getting a little old particularly since most of you have speedsters and not conv D and I'm sure some of you use rear boot covers but was thinking this might give the conv D more of a speedster look without the top.  2 problems.  Got to leave my soft top at home.  Have to drill holes on rear deck.  Hmm.