Hard Top

I found This site to day
www.fibersteel.com/
Steve

Steve,

Russ (FiberSteel) sells a very authentic hardtop. And he is a super nice guy.

John Steele of JPS Motorsports sells hardtops fitted for replica's. I don't believe this top has the little vent window in the rear like the originals had, however, his prices are more reasonable. If you are a super detail-oriented guy it may be worth the extra $1,400 to have the little rear vent windows, but I'm not so it isn't.

Hi, I don't know what was original, but I have a 30 year old hardtop that doesn't have the vent windows either. I believe there were two or three aftermarket versions back then. Mine may be a plasticon. You can see it under "Files", "Members", "Sweet CMC-C"

I orderd my JPS speedster a year ago with one of his "removeable" hard tops. He tried a Fibersteel on it but they are too short for replicas, the cab is maybe 1" longer in them than real speedsters. Russ doesn't have tops for them yet.

JPS had a custom one made for me ($1,800) and it has serious problems- not symetrical- the pillar posts were 3/4" on one side and 1.5" on the other. JPS bent the side curtain in a "z" shape, sticking out 1" on one side only. looked like crap- but I'm on the east coast and couldn't get him to fix it (he wasn't bothered by the crappy look). The rear window is 1" off from side to side which is noticeable, and is the cheapest (read illegal) plexiglass. He promised me a heat formed lexan window in the mail- never came.

I paid a local body shop $600 to cut the top top make the front pillars match. I had so many probelms with this car- this was really one of the small problems- and I paid hime very well ($30K). Also it is only removeable by taking bolts out thought the body. My advice- wait for Fibersteel to produce these tops and don't do business with JPS

Roger Dawson

Who here has a hardtop with their speedster? Does it serve its purpose? One person wrote he recieved one from JPS and it was horrible. Does anyone have similar experiences? I am in the process of purchasing a JPS speedster to use as my only car in Germany. I wanted to get the hardtop of course for practicality reasons. Another person wrote that it was great. Does it leak, etc.?

Use my speedster as a daily driver all seasons see pic on file 'victors blacktub'. Mine is not a JPS though my experience with the hard top is over all favorable. During a hard rain it does leak past the front seal and where the side curtains meet the windshield. Have minimized the leaking through working with rubber molding and rubber cualk to form a pliable gasket along the top. During highway speeds the curtains had pulled away from the top. Added a latch of sorts to the curtains that when in the car I pivot up to keep the leading edge of the curatin snug to the roof top seal. The top is secured to the car body with four buckles, two at the windshield and one behind each seat, close to where the soft top pivots. When the top is not in use I have a light weight hoist that suspends it from my garage ceiling, just drive under to put it on , or to store it. I hope that if he is willing to sell the product, has the car and top together that a quality match can be produced.

If I may ask what make of the speedster do you have? Your car looks great. Would I be able to manufacture the latch for the window easily?
How does your heat work in the winter time? Thankyou for replying to my post. I hope that JPS can make a reliable hard top. How is your stereo on the highway with the hardtop on? Id there any whistling sounds with the hardtop on the highway? Thank you and once again what a greaqt looking speedster.

I have a hardtop. It works OK. I still have leaks, but it's a big improvement over the soft top. Mainly because you can make it seal better on the header and work with it on the sides. It is a lot more quiet and flexs less than the cloth top. I have a CMC.

I also must say that this is the first bad experience I have heard anyone have with JPS. I've been very active for over 2 years. From all I've seen and heard he is pretty well respected in our industry. My impression is that he does a limited volume of cars and works on each car himself. Also, this is the first hardtop I've every heard of on a car that he produced. So maybe that has something to do with it. Overall, I have repeatedly heard good reports on the fit and finish of JPS cars. Also fewer than typical "small item redos" for hand built cars.

My speedster was made by Ryan Motors in 97 who went out of business 2 yrs back. They had to find the hard top for me and I believe it came from one of the other speedster makers in ca. (JPS or Vintage).
(The latch i made from 1/8x2" stainless steel machine screws, washers, acorn nuts, piece of rubber hose for spacing and 1/8" aluminum L for the lever thats had the edges softened, 1 1/2" lng & 1" for some thing to push on. simple, it works and is unobtrucive.)
Get a 70 amp alternator to run the electrics, ie blowers for a heater and your stereo. I carry a 12v hair dryer to de-ice and de-fog the inside of the windshield. JPS may have worked out better heat routing than I have, and other owners may have ideas as well, in colorado winters I dress in layers. Sound is better with the hard top, good for radio, no whistling, still some road and engine noise.

If you don't get the little latches that came with the hardtops, I saw a guy using the bungie Jeep hood latches at a car show last month. It was really cool, and I think they were more functional than the old fold-over latches.