Hardtop trial fit today

I normally don't like hard or soft tops but I have to admit that looks sweet.

Nice David. I like it. A good windshield seal and you're almost weatherproof!

Very, very nice!

Looks great, David.

Just in time for warm weather...

a little more work and you can take it out in the snow.... of Ottawa.

Very nice, David!  The new paint looks good, too.

Nicely done.....  What will you use for the rear glass?

I think David has the rear glass, looks like he just painted the top.

Thanks for that lads. I don't have rear glass yet and I've heard of using 1/8" plexi. Will look into it further.

Here's a pic of one type of rear glass rubber seal I've found locally, but it's taller than I would like. It's an  H shaped piece and will look for a similar shape but smaller. Any ideas on a source is very welcome.

One pic of the dash too with the new full tonneau snaps installed today. I can't say enough good things about the SEM color coat vinyl paint. Easy to use and looks pretty good. Did the dash, door side panels and seats with it. The pic of the dash shows pretty much the true colour, maybe just a hair darker. Thanks....

New carpets will arrive in one week. Gonna spend some time revisiting Gordo's and Alan's windshield install thoughts. I'm gonna brag here....I had more windshields than any of you on one single car.    :-(

Dave what is the new color? Heron Gray?

David, nicely done. Will pushing the front license plate trigger the top to come off?

Ha, ha. I might run without the front plate to reduce the chance, Rich.

Marty..the colour is older VW Savannah Beige. My lighting is poor and photography worse yet.

Looking good from here.  If you could get REAL glass moulded to the back ... it would be really cool and be much more manageable from scratches and give you real clear vision. 

Looks very promising indeed, David. So you may have covered this but, what will the side curtains/windows be and how will they work with the hard top?

No Marty, it's "I don't care about your turbo, I'm too busy driving to the ends of the earth beige" BWAAAAAAHAAHA!

David, keep on keepin' on. Tinkering and fabricating, and driving, grass roots style!

I would suggest 3/16" plexi, it's a ton stiffer. It looks like you'll need a slight bend, you can do it with a few heat lamps in line or a heat gun. I made a plexi box for an amp, 4-90 degree bends. What you have to bend is not a big deal.

Very nice david, where did you find this top? looks really god 

Plexiglass will crack easily, I would look into using Marguard a product of Lexan

David.....   Glass channel rubber can be had from Somer and Maca or C.R. Laurence....

These are suppliers to the glass industry....

Giday, Lads. A few answers to your questions.

No intention to go that route, Ray. Having enough trouble finding suitable rubber moulding.

Ed, the side windows will just be oversized convertible roof side windows. They'll fit into the door sills the same way and will either stay up against the hardtop with a bit of a rubber strap fitting on the bottom edge pulling the glass inward or with magnets like Carl suggested. If you look at the pics posted above, you'll see that there's plenty of side surface for the window to lean against below the rain rail.

Yup, Danny, I'm not worried about those curves. I've drape moulded many aircraft windshields in a box over my BBQ. 3/16" sounds good.

John...Carl Berry found us a couple of hardtops out in So. California.

I'll look into Margard too, Alan. Can be had locally.

Thanks for the lead, Leon.

McMaster Carr has a decent selection of edge trim if you still have difficulty sourcing it, David.

Beautiful work , David ! You're one the craftier dudes around here.  Here being the world.  You've done some amazing stuff with that car since I first saw it in Carlisle a few years ago. It looks like it's ready to make a few laps around the Continent , and I don't doubt that it will.  I really love that color along with everything else you've done.

Yup, X2.

Yeah, what Alan said x2.  Wonderful and ingenious work here David.  Love the color, poor lighting and bad photography notwithstanding.  At any rate it is REALLY shiny.  The hard top is going to make all that LD driving you do a little easier on the human occupants.  Can't wait to catch up w/ all at Carlisle.

THAT looks awesome, David! Great job putting it together.

Here's a pic of one of fellow SOCer (Dave Kingston) who drove his car from AZ to SLO cruise.

While I agree with your recommendation of using polycarbonate instead of plexiglass, Margard coated polycarbonate can't be formed. The coating is too hard and will craze if it's bent too far after application. Uncoated polycarbonate can be easily formed and scratches can be polished out. The rear window doesn't get as much abuse so it'll probably go quite a while between polishings.

..Margard coated polycarbonate can't be formed" ....

I forgot about that as I use it for some of the side curtains~

Thanks for the head,s up, lads. Plan slightly amended, that's all.