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How does the top work on a speedster? Any come with glass side windows?

FM Former Member
Hello Everyone
I am new here and this is just my 2nd post so please bear with me.

I have been to many of the speedster sites like Intermeccanica, JPS, Vintage Speedsters and SAW. But none of them seem to show how the top is put up? I keep reading about these "bows" and such but no one really shows one mid process. Do I have to get out of the car and put it up like a tent? Or does it unfold like a normal convertible? Also do any speedsters (not cabriolet) come with roll up side glass windows? Or can you have it as an option? I dont mind even getting out of the car to put the top up, but those plastic side windows I am not so sure about. I have a couple miatas and just the plastic rear window is a pain to take care of not to mention see out of at times (esp night) since it gets so blurry and wavy.

I have 2 miatas a 92 and a 97 and love how I can use one hand to put up the top from inside the car and also roll up the windows (manually on the 92) The reason for the side window question is that when I am driving on the highway I can roll one window up and it makes the cabin more quiet and things dont blow around as much. Not to mention it makes like a bit easier. Can I get any of these conviences but with the look of a speedster? Or does it just not mix?

I am looking at the SAW scooby roadster or the CSW roadster. But the CSW website does not seem to have much info and most of their pictures look "copied".

Any help you guys can provide will be appreciated.
Thanks
Shawn

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FM Former Member
Hello Everyone
I am new here and this is just my 2nd post so please bear with me.

I have been to many of the speedster sites like Intermeccanica, JPS, Vintage Speedsters and SAW. But none of them seem to show how the top is put up? I keep reading about these "bows" and such but no one really shows one mid process. Do I have to get out of the car and put it up like a tent? Or does it unfold like a normal convertible? Also do any speedsters (not cabriolet) come with roll up side glass windows? Or can you have it as an option? I dont mind even getting out of the car to put the top up, but those plastic side windows I am not so sure about. I have a couple miatas and just the plastic rear window is a pain to take care of not to mention see out of at times (esp night) since it gets so blurry and wavy.

I have 2 miatas a 92 and a 97 and love how I can use one hand to put up the top from inside the car and also roll up the windows (manually on the 92) The reason for the side window question is that when I am driving on the highway I can roll one window up and it makes the cabin more quiet and things dont blow around as much. Not to mention it makes like a bit easier. Can I get any of these conviences but with the look of a speedster? Or does it just not mix?

I am looking at the SAW scooby roadster or the CSW roadster. But the CSW website does not seem to have much info and most of their pictures look "copied".

Any help you guys can provide will be appreciated.
Thanks
Shawn

FM Former Member
As a new guy myself I would keep reading the old posts. Much has been discussed before. The search function is pretty good. I contacted CSW and they never got back to me about build pics. That worried me. I know saw has some with windows but they have long build times.

As far as the top goes, I have read that some people can put their top up while sitting in the car. I have a Vintage and I cannot do that. I have seen plexiglass windows around, I am thinking of them myself, as something that can be added later.

As far as comfort goes, I have only been driving my VS for a day or two but it is much different than my 2006 Eclipse. Be ready to give up some comforts or spend some cash.

Good luck.
Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
Some do what you want, and some don't. I only have personal experience with the Beck, but that top is almost as easy to put up as a Miata. I've done it once without getting out of the car, but it was a bit of work to get the latches to close from inside. It's easy-peasy if you're out of the car. As for the windows, no they're not glass, but they're a semi-rigid (or just thicker than some) plastic film. You do have to get out of the car to do them, however. I know that eh good folks at Special Edition are working on a Convertible D (Roadster)version with roll-up windows.
FM Former Member
Thanks WM and Lane
I guess you cant have the best of both worlds. I dont need that much comfort, IDK if any of you have ever driven a 1st gen miata but mine is super basic. Roll up windows, tiny doors, etc like really basic. Ride quality was harsh to begin with and on that of that mine is lowered 2.5 inches all around and running on low pros. So I dont mind going the speedster route. I was just hoping the little conviences I have now like easy to put up top and roll up windows could be a viable option, maybe I should wait a few years.

From what I have read on the CSW site it seems super good on paper, reliable motor, new frame, ez top, roll up windows, one section even says it has a 2 piece hard top that stows in the trunk. But your right without any real pics and more info I am not sure yet.

Thanks again for the info.
Shawn
FM Former Member
I never get out of the car. I reach over to the back, pull it up and hook the two latches. Can do it at a stop light. Worst error I ever made was dropping it on an off ramp. Done it a million times, but let the wind catch an edge and popped the screws out of the latch on the right side. Last time I will try to cheat the stop light pause. I keep mine pretty tight, but don't over do it. By the way, I've been driving Speedsters for about 7 years as daily drivers. I have a pair. One has been moth balled for a while, but now is coming out, so here I am. I drive my red and white all the time.
WOLFGANGWOLFGANG'89 CMC FWB, FL Supporting Member
While I guess some replicas are vastly more modern that what they are replicating (argh, water cooled, heater, AC, weather protection, a real top (vice emergency covering), a radio!) - the real Speedster replica is of a very basic, low cost (for Porsche back then!) fast nimble sports car designed primarily for import into sunny, warm California! With that in mind, comfort and weather protection were not in the sales brocheur. Thought back in '55 was light weight and keep cost down. In '57 all sports cars had side curtains - you gave up confort to have a sports car. (I've owned a TR3, '59 AH Bugeye Sprite, AH 100/4 - all with side curtains - and been spoiled by a '65 TR Spitfire and '69 MGC with rollup windows and weatherproof convertible tops - with removeable hardtops for winter).
El FrazooEl Frazoo Supporting Member
Basic side curtains are plastic film and canvas. Crinkled visibility, small aperture, working with the spartan flavor of the "emergency" top. Can be replaced with a lexan (like Plexiglass) insert of same basic shape, but gives better undistorted view, little larger aperture, and maybe better water resistances. Can get scratched over time. As I understand it, doing the Lexan insert right requires a custom fit, as each car/top combo in a little different. Or, roll up windows can be installed. This adds a guide rail to the door and is hard to seal at the winshield. Look at the difference in windshield design between the Speedster (low, stylish)and the Convertible D (higher, bulky), which has roll up windows as part of the design. Several options, each w/ + and -.
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