Haippich Top Material

I have been talking to Henry at IM. about the best material to use This stuff $85.00 a yard Has any one seen it cheaper. If I make a Top , Boot a tire cover and a Boot bag it will take 8 yrds.

So is that stuff like kevlar and bullet proof? 8 )

It,s the German, Mercedes Benz factory material that is supopse to have a 30 yr wear life. It comes in several color combo,s I want.ed the Black Out / Black inside. I concidered the black /tan ,but decided not. If a specialist, I spoke to was correct, its very long lasting. Henry , also said it was the best. BUT outch!!

I also Have plans for a custom hardtop, that will look like a soft top. I like the soft top look!!!

Barry,

As long as you have on your thinking cap how about dreaming up some sliding plexiglass windows as an alternative to side curtains. Russ @ fibersteel has some in development.

Keep us posted on your "soft" hardtop idea. I agree, the profile of Speedster A's with tops up is classic.

Henry's tops are very well made. My 84 IM still has the original top....but it is time to replace it. 18 years for a soft top is pretty good!

I bought a Stayfast top from Henry. Excellent quality. I believe his craftsman is in Southern California, which goes to the import tarif irony. My top was ordered through Henry, who placed the order in SoCal -- it was shipped to Vancouver and then to me, with the extra tax added. Sigh.

Occassionaly the sliding plexiglass side curtins come up on ebay and other sites. I have two pair. I think I paid about $80 for both sets. One needs a panel replaced, but that's easy. You could even make them.

Jack,

Could you at some point email me a couple of photos of your sliding windows, or post them with your car photos here?

Even when I lived in Montana I had my window cracked all winter long. I believe Russ said (but I could be off) that his were going to be priced at around $1,100, but with my memory I could be off a mile. Maybe someone knows for sure?

I did not take note of who asked, But I Did recall that Thomas Built Buses makes a wide varity of sliding windows and I bet that would be a great place to have a set made or at the very least get the parts to make a set. I hope Russ is way ahead of me on that Idea.

I'll post some quick pics of the sliding windows, also of just he plexi one piece windows. I have both those and a set of canvas side curtins. I think my favorites are the one-piece plexi because of visiability and ease with the doors and top.

Some of you are well aware of my efforts of the last 2 years. I have been working very hard to turn a speedster cab into a covertable D. A effort ,I hope would not be a insult to the cars looks. The factory top will NOT fit this car.I wish it were otherwise Just like the prototype car in 57 the rear deck is 3 inches lower. But the rest is very close ,The top is a early 59, the windshield a late 58 the outer chrome door caps are from a cabrolet,the inner caps are hand made the window regs are Suzuki. Its been a real battle of Will. I would never recemmend this task to anyone. But I do know my car inside and out. And I am pleased with the effort.

Barry, you are a brave, persistent man. It should be interesting and funcitonal.

Thanks Jack, I just sent in a few pics to George today ,It will be interesting to to see what kind of reaction, Everyone has to what I have been up to. I just got around to tearing down the front end and re unercoating the trunk bottom ,and redetailing the front suspencion, after the 6 inch rim in the trunk conversion I am still not happy with front end height now it, 25 & 7/8 and very firm when you push down .I know what to do But I will have to tear it down again.


The height was perfect, after I losend the shocks, They have locked, The shocks are the problem,, Again I know what to do I remember the advise given here, and I thank you for it.

(Message Edited 10/11/2002 10:36:57 AM)

I forgot to post the side curtains... I will this weekend.

I have an idea on making a hardtop that looks like the canvas top. You could just put your hard top up and cover it with saran warp. Then buy the mat at a boat store... the heavy kind. Next step, lay it out on the top and paint on the resin. Repeat it for several nice layers. Mark it for cutting then carefully lift it off. By an extra header bow, put it on, set the hard top back on, and glass/eboxy it to the header bow. Now go to the rear and glass in a piece of finish trim to the body to top area. Then figure out a channel to glass in where the side curtains would fit in. I think you could really build a cool looking hard top that looks like canvas.

Eric ,Mine is a D, sorry,I got rollups. On a speedster a sliding window would be nice But Lexon might be a better plastic to go with.A aluminum slide frame should not be to tough to make,I at the present have my mig set up for steel. Its a lot of trouble reset it up for Aluminum. One of these days I must spring for a spool gun kit.I would hang tight Russ will get it He does good work .I am really pleased with the D emblens he sent me.

(Message Edited 11/1/2002 5:29:03 PM)

OK The Happich came the other day ,only to have to send it back It,s the wrong Colors. They said No Problem. They will do a pick up and and exchance
But Like some one else said so nicely AARGGGG!!!!!!!!

One week later The correct stuff has arived, OOH KK!!

(Message Edited 11/1/2002 5:31:52 PM)