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Coupe roof clip idea . . .

FM Former Member
I have a buddy who wants me to finish off his shortened split window single cab with fiberglass. Not a hack job, but removing the rusted sections and fabricating fiberglass replacement panels based on the metal that's (somewhat) still there. I'm going to pretty much do a cheap and cheerful "fix" on the body with duct tape and bondo, cover the reshaped panels in plastic wrap and make new panels in glass. No big deal, just materials.

Anyway, in return, he's going to help with the bull work in making a fiberglass coupe roof using my 356SC as the buck. I'm not planning on having it be a 100% perfect replica of the roof, but rather have it be a fiberglass section, from the rear lip of the engine deck lid to the leading windshield edge made to mount to a Speedster replica shell.

If anyone, local enough for a trip North, thinks that an Outlaw Coupe based on a Speedster is worth building, and would like to fit this to their shell, lemme know, OK? I thought that a coupe replica roof with plexi rear and rear side windows, and Speedster side curtains all nicely fitted to the Speedster windshield frame just might make for one of the coolest Outlaws ever.

A permanent glassed in roof would be the easiest, but it could be fashioned to be removable with clamps and pins and such, edged in color keyed soft vinyl fender welting and body to top gasket pretty easily. The underside would be fairly raw, but a coating of spray can bed liner or glue on felt would take care of that. Of course it IS for an Outlaw so "race-ready" would be the magic word of the day.

Something like this would be perfect for a project like Cory's car, or a similarly race based ride. I was originally set to make this and fit it to my 914. I have the fender bulges, front and rear 916 replica fiberglass bumpers, and fiberglass rear deck lid. I thought that a fiberglass door skins and a fiberglass 356 roof coupled with all of the rest would make up a pretty neat ride.

Then I found that I REALLY like the targa roof and thought of you guys.


Anyone wanna try something a different kinda variation on the elusive 356 Outlaw Coupe? Lemme know and we can have some stinky, sticky fun.

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FM Former Member
I have a buddy who wants me to finish off his shortened split window single cab with fiberglass. Not a hack job, but removing the rusted sections and fabricating fiberglass replacement panels based on the metal that's (somewhat) still there. I'm going to pretty much do a cheap and cheerful "fix" on the body with duct tape and bondo, cover the reshaped panels in plastic wrap and make new panels in glass. No big deal, just materials.

Anyway, in return, he's going to help with the bull work in making a fiberglass coupe roof using my 356SC as the buck. I'm not planning on having it be a 100% perfect replica of the roof, but rather have it be a fiberglass section, from the rear lip of the engine deck lid to the leading windshield edge made to mount to a Speedster replica shell.

If anyone, local enough for a trip North, thinks that an Outlaw Coupe based on a Speedster is worth building, and would like to fit this to their shell, lemme know, OK? I thought that a coupe replica roof with plexi rear and rear side windows, and Speedster side curtains all nicely fitted to the Speedster windshield frame just might make for one of the coolest Outlaws ever.

A permanent glassed in roof would be the easiest, but it could be fashioned to be removable with clamps and pins and such, edged in color keyed soft vinyl fender welting and body to top gasket pretty easily. The underside would be fairly raw, but a coating of spray can bed liner or glue on felt would take care of that. Of course it IS for an Outlaw so "race-ready" would be the magic word of the day.

Something like this would be perfect for a project like Cory's car, or a similarly race based ride. I was originally set to make this and fit it to my 914. I have the fender bulges, front and rear 916 replica fiberglass bumpers, and fiberglass rear deck lid. I thought that a fiberglass door skins and a fiberglass 356 roof coupled with all of the rest would make up a pretty neat ride.

Then I found that I REALLY like the targa roof and thought of you guys.


Anyone wanna try something a different kinda variation on the elusive 356 Outlaw Coupe? Lemme know and we can have some stinky, sticky fun.

FM Former Member
He can probaley have metal repair pannels made by the Metal Wizard. Just about as easy and bring it back right. It wouldn't cost that much more to do it right..

For that matter buying a english wheel set up and making your own pannels and even getting better fitting pannels at a much lower cost, than what are avalible . And the exsperaince is 2 fold dal for you.Then ou know how to make patch pannels for any other project you can dream up. and you have a more valuble car..

But,,,OH yes!! Their are 356 coupe pannels avalible ,,,from what I have heard. ask the guys at the 356 Registry..

But,,,I do want to make a gullwing 550 fastback spyder. which would all be fiberglass over a framework.
FM Former Member
I have been thinking the same thing for a while, but for a Spyder. Probably no quarter windows, but a plexi rear and custom side curtains and an Eberspacher would make a nice toasty somewhat dry extension to my summer season.

There is nothing to make a mold of, so I was thinking some pink foam and epoxy could make a plug. The plug is made right on the car, of course with Saran wrap in all the right places. I need a repaint anyway, so painting the top also would work for me. Then you can use gasoline to dissolve the foam and are left with the finished piece. It is called the lost-foam technique, I think. A couple layers of glass on the outside, a 1/8" or 1/4" foam layer, and more glass on the inside would be very strong and very light. That is how Rutan built all those cool airplanes.

A nice foam gasket and three windshield latches takes care of the front. The back would be secured with four to six fasteners to the rear clip, two of which could connect to the body between the door and rear clip. A nice soft gasket under this all to seal out water and not mar the paint too much. Some of Desi's clear plastic bra stuff would help here. I would just have to figure out a way to be able to check the oil, perhaps jack the car up and reach under, remember it is mid-engine. Our resident artist, Cory, has some drawings underway, and will get to it when he gets to it. No rush, Dude, I mean that.
Gordon NicholsGordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member
I dropped by Peter Mcewan's on the way back from Lowe's the other day and he showed me the buck he's making up to do a fiberglass hardtop for his Speedster.

From scratch.

Damn thing looks (a.) really nice and (b.) relatively easy.

Peter's a very handy guy, so I'll be following this along closely. His other hobby is making museum-class furniture, so doing the top might be really slick.

gn
FM Former Member
TC, that's a grand idea. What's your timeline? There's a guy in Connecticutt who says he'll coat my header at some point, and I'd love to bring the whole car your way at the same time. Not making any plans or committing to anything, but it'll be Teresa's call on any mods/paint while I'm out of the country if your idea comes to pass.
It does sound cool, though, and better for us than re-bodying the chassis with steel like I was going to eventually do.

Danny, what I've come up with for you -- so far -- has trailing edges like a 70s-era 'Vette and an offset roof hatch system for climbing in and out. Think T-tops, but with one longer toward the middle of the car than the other. The passenger's side roof opening is the bigger one, with both sides' hinges an inch or so apart, centered over the driver's right shoulder. That way, if you have the VS roll bar installed, it'll make ingress/egress way easier for the passenger.
Lexan or Plexi windows fold into the top's hatches for half of the window space, with the bottom halves removeable from door-posts, ala Speedster side curtains.
It's in pencil at the moment, and not too professional looking. It'll be coming your way from Africa, most likely. I'll probably tinker with it there, much like I did the Hoopty plans in Iraq.
It'll be a nice diversion.
FM Former Member
To doe a fastback Spyder. Make the intire back half flip open as before but use the 1988 up corvette hood latch system they are pretty good about preventing fiberglass rattle. The T roof / rollbar and windshield frame will be welded into the cab amd have glued on pannels like a Satern and use the stock glass front and a tempered rear glass made at Acapp Autoglass in New York.

But i agree no quarter windows. but yes to extra air intake louvers. shaped like quarter windows.

Im not certain but I think Acapp. can even put in a rear defroster on their glasswork..

Gas struts on the gullwing doors and school bus style latch windows in the doors. Tricky to make fit the window openings but think I could make um pretty. Thomas bus is here in Nc and they got lots of stocks to chose from..

After studying sun roofs and T top system on the markets now. I think I could make it work nice.

Im a little concerned about making sure everythings air tight. especaly the rear clip If you wanted to put luggage on the rear self I'd need to be sure the compartment was air tight and rattle free when the latches lock.

If corvette can do it so can This concept screams Silver paint with blood red interior..
FM Former Member
For a Spyder, it seems that this would be a good starting point:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda-Miata-90-05-Fiberglass-Hard-Top-Roof-NA-hardtop_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a543Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1308QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem280289908405QQitemZ280289908405QQptZRaceQ5fCarQ5fParts

PLUS, it's made of fiberglass so you can cut and shape it any way that you like . . .
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