Just wondering; why is the front bow so short. It could have been several inches longer. Looking at the photos of Raphael's top assemble; his look more better and provide a place to attach the side curtain flap. I may order one from him.
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Agree - always thought it was the top material tapered in too much near the windshield (by 2" either side!) I never installed the CMC vinyl top or their FG bow. I purchased VS's butyl (?) header and their Haartz fabric top --- BUT haven't installed it yet. From looking at VS tops, they look too short on the sides.
I like Rafael's scissors top (other's said the joints are wonky). It's $2k but includes fabric (Tonneau and side curtains add $350).
My only thought on the windshield top bow extending down more on the sides of the windshield is this: My side windows show a lot more "glass" area than most cars on here, almost like Troy's Cruisin' Windows, and even at that, my eye line is low as I look out. If you have "Normal" side windows with that fabric seal all around, you have even less visibility up out of the cockpit to the side - You're limited to just looking straight out the sides, not up at all, because your view is cut off by the window sealing fabric.
Now bring the top down 2" - 3" on each side and you would have to lean down as you look out the sides to see anything. Here's my car with a VS style fabric around the glass and dropped 2":
Guess that's why they call it an emergency top! You are meant to drive it top down. Yeah, those VW side curtains with the canvas all around them really cut down visibility.
Here's photo from VMC web Parts site showing how the top is "short" on either side -
@IaM-Ray posted:
Ray, I'm not sure what this is but obviously not a Speedster. It is an interesting picture. BTW, I am Ray too.
Ray, I'm not sure what this is but obviously not a Speedster. It is an interesting picture. BTW, I am Ray too.
It's a Miata.
Ray, I'm not sure what this is but obviously not a Speedster. It is an interesting picture. BTW, I am Ray too.
All this time, I thought you were Jim?
While in college in Southern VA years ago, my dorm mates had British Sports cars - MGA, TR3 and Morgan 4 (all had side curtains). They all lived in NJ/Conn - they'd get in their cars at TG and Christmas breaks and we'd tape them in with Duct tape! 7 hr drive so not sure how pee breaks were handled. They all said the only heat they had was from the exhaust and transmission! I had more modern Opel Kadett Rallye so wound up window crank and turned up heater.
We're all about old enough to remember the climate controls in cars of the 60s, 70s and 80s. The defroster in my '67 Chevy II was marginal at best, and that was pretty normal for cars of that era. The '76 Impala wagon was little (if any) better. The 1980 Accord, just a little better.
The improvements in these systems are really amazing, if seldom considered.
In my '64 bus I kept a chalkboard eraser. I covered the chalkboard side with chamois, on the back I glued a small magnet and a strip of brass. Defog with the chamois, defrost with the brass strip, keep it on the dash with the magnet. By the time the engine-warmed air had travelled through 13 feet of steel tube it wasn't warm enough to keep ice from forming on the inside of the windshield.
@DannyP posted:All this time, I thought you were Jim?
All southern Gentlemen have a middle name. I am Ray!
You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, but you dasn't call me Johnson!! Or in my case, Bob.
The tops here have a pocket running along the window opening edge into which the top of the side curtain ought to go. Should tuck up there nice and neat and keep the rain/cold out. OK, seems like a decent plan. My car arrived with side curtains that were so short vs where this pocket is as to be laughable. and they did not even reach the top at the rear where they curve down to meet the body behind the door. Really bad news here. I ended up talking to Vintage (before they sold and moved) and they were excellent. I made right and left cardboard side curtains that I thought managed to fully engage the top pocket all the way around, and sent this pattern to Vintage. They made two side curtains from those forms and sent them to me. And here's the really cool part, They did it as an exchange: I sent them my practically new (but too short for me) side curtains that did not fit with my top and they called the deal square. I paid for shipping. PS they did not build my car, it is a JPS. Redefining customer service.
