Hardtop for Speedster Interest? Feedback?

Extending the front to cover the always leaky windshield stanchion is clever design!  It appears the side windows could easily be modded to incorporate sliding panels for ventilation and drive-thrus (no one pays tolls manually any more do they?) I've always thought side windows hinged to a hard top (a la MB 300 Gullwing) would be an effective solution. Plasticon HT have a slight bump in center over rear window that could incorporate a 3rd brake light or even an exhaust vent.  

Probably not a big seller here in FL though.

Chris - The main concern would be handling the variability of these cars.  Even from the same manufacturer there is enough difference that fitment would be a problem.  If you can figure out how to conquer that then you'll have a big seller.

You'd need 3" of foam rubber to compensate for the positioning and slope of the front windshield.  Of course if you had hardtop in hand when building it would be easier.

Here's the raised portion I eluded to -

Several companies have tried and failed...  they always seem to come out in the $3K range and the feedback we get is that is 2-3x too high.  The bigger issue is overall fitment across the varied manufacturers, and even within the manufacturers.

Here are a few of thew things you'll have to overcome to make a OSFA part;

You'll find a variation due to; different windshield upper frame manufacturers, different end post manufacturers, different windshield glass stretches frames into different shapes (slightly), varied placement of windshield by installer, 3-4 different top latches used in the industry, different attachment of soft top in the rear of the car, different style door top caps used, varied placement of side curtain grommets, different style of side curtain grommets, just to name a few.

Just do it. I have some ideas to overcome fitment variances.

Time, dollars, expected profit of efforts..... all a consideration. ....

So, I am guessing that if the price point was around $1,600  to $1,700 that would be a "wow, I  have to have one" price.  Agreed?   Sell the windows separately?

Bill------  what are your thoughts on the fitment of the top on different manufacturers  Speedster bodies since that seems to be the major issues that pops up?  How much variance do you think that there is among manufacturers of windshield frames?

Carey's right - a number of companies have tried before.

A few years ago, one of the more promising was Ron Popeil, who claimed to solve all of the fitment issues with his incredible, amazing Inflate-A-Top.

Just pump it up until all the gaps are filled. So easy, a child could do it. The $39.95 price was attractive, too.

The side curtains were supposedly free, but there was something about having to call within fifteen minutes of hearing about the top offer.

Sadly, it wasn't available in stores.

Chris, I'll call you later when I have some free time.

It came with a Pocket Fisherman, and some spray paint for your bald spot if you just paid the extra handling and shipping charge of $39.95.

http://www.rustytubs.com/plast...ter-hardtop-356.html

What if you sold the top as 4 individual raw fiberglass pieces, driver front, driver rear, etc... and we assembled them together and glassed them to fit our cars. Maybe a few hundred dollars and cheap to ship. Then a guy like Mango could build a folding hard top that fits in the back seat area, how cool would that be! 

When I contract my build after Carlisle, my main addition aside form A/C is a hard top so I am all for it.  I would say have about 3 to 4 prototypes fitted to the different manufacturers and keep the price under $2K and sell the windows separately. 

I don't want to leak Bill's idea to seal to different manf BUT

Greg, you will be hearing from my lawyers!

Chris, I applaud your efforts to produce a hardtop, but if you do it,  I think you might do best to confine your hardtop sales to cars that you have produced in order to guarantee good fitment. 

Many speedster owners demand ( and pay for ) some very nice and precise stuff.  Most will prefer a plug n play product. Nothing wrong with that. I'm more of a home builder and managed to pull off a hardtop installation on my older pan based IM last year. Huge thanks to good friend Carl Berry of Ct. for finding a couple of what I think might be Plasticon units in Cali., buying them at a very good price and shipping them East...one to him and one to me. Carl is a very creative thinker...crating and shipping via regular means was out of the question and he'd likely have lost the deal. One 2 x 4 screwed between the lower mid section and bubble wrap,  then right onto a GreyHound bus Eastbound it was. Our cost each was well under $400. 

It was a good start for me. I had to add about a 1/2" lip to the rearmost part of the shell to get the right length. Doing that raised the rear end up a bit so a few more very minor tweaks were needed. I wasn't about to start "sectioning" the rear of it to get length with the same height. 

I managed to attach the hardtop to the car via the same attach points that the convertible roof uses. I can swap either out in five minutes. I tried to get some nice perforated leather like upholstery on the inside and failed due to lack of skills.....just too many curves. 

Overall I really enjoy the hardtop idea. A bit cool looking I figure, somewhat rare and something I've done for myself with some help. More room in the back seat for baggage too.  There are certainly nicer hardtops out there but for the sake of saying I did it for about $500 and it works, I'm content. 

doesn't anyone use JB WELD anymore

Damn! Stroud's car is starting to look a little too nice for Stroud. Somebody ought to go bust his windshield or something.

Yeah, I use JB Weld for lotta stuff. Most recently to affix new metal to my wife's old Corolla.

JB Weld -- great stuff.  Had a small crack in my case, leaking oil.  Put a JB patch on it, and been fine ever since.

edsnova posted:

Damn! Stroud's car is starting to look a little too nice for Stroud. Somebody ought to go bust his windshield or something.

No need, Ed ............:-)

Does that mean we'll have another ceremonial swapping of the windshield at Carlisle David?

Won't be happening again, Lane. That was a one off deal.  :-)

How's the progress on your new car ?  Can't wait to see it. 

They're still working on the prototype and I'm thinking its chances of making Carlisle are slim.  They haven't even thought about starting mine yet.  I'm hoping to get it by Halloween or maybe Thanksgiving.

The only way to do a top like that is to sell it raw and the customer (who needs to be a decent fabricator) as there are as Carey said , many variables to consider.