S Series hardtop - a few pics
Discussion
We have an Audi TT and a Alfa Spider in the fleet and both have hardtops, they're really useful in the winter as the car does retain its heat a little better and the heated rear window is useful.
They both fit with the soft top still attached (but lowered) it's a shame the S one doesn't. How much of a faff is it to remove the hood - or more importantly how much of a faff is it to put it back on?
Storing the hardtop in summer is a PITA as it takes up quite a bit of room, storing the hood when it's off the car will be the same.
Having said that - you have a real rarity there so I think you've done really well!
They both fit with the soft top still attached (but lowered) it's a shame the S one doesn't. How much of a faff is it to remove the hood - or more importantly how much of a faff is it to put it back on?
Storing the hardtop in summer is a PITA as it takes up quite a bit of room, storing the hood when it's off the car will be the same.
Having said that - you have a real rarity there so I think you've done really well!
its lined, looks like leather possibly (though maybe vinyl)
also has an interior light in it.
rear window is some sort of plexiglass/polycarb - its massivley curved so glass wouldnt really be an easy option.
hood from what i can gather is pretty easy to remove - assuming the screws come out ok. a dab of copper grease when replacing would insure that the next time was really easy.
its just a couple of bolts and a few screws and thats it.
also has an interior light in it.
rear window is some sort of plexiglass/polycarb - its massivley curved so glass wouldnt really be an easy option.
hood from what i can gather is pretty easy to remove - assuming the screws come out ok. a dab of copper grease when replacing would insure that the next time was really easy.
its just a couple of bolts and a few screws and thats it.
Julesprivate said:
How much of a faff is it to remove the hood - or more importantly how much of a faff is it to put it back on?
just had a look in the S Series Bible - which came with all paperwork for the car 
and it says "Removing the Roof. This is fairly simple, once the construction of the roof itself is understood"
BountyHunter said:
hood from what i can gather is pretty easy to remove - assuming the screws come out ok.
the two hinge bolts are straightforward enough, you'll just get a few fibreglass scratches.the six or so nuts holding the back end down are a fiddle to get at and can sieze on the studs which will then turn in the fibreglass under the hood fabric...not good !
When i did mine all but one came undone, that one I attacked with the Dremmel {I was having a new hood anyway) and replaced all bolts 'n nuts with stainless
Spoke to an ex TVR factory fibreglass layer today at our club meet about hardtops. Definitely not a standard mould, probably a Tuscan race car hardtop modified, or totally custom.
A mould could be made pretty easily.
You would need to make the mould slightly large and custom finish each roof produced to allow for the differences between each car (TVR didn't work to fraction of mm tolerances, more like fraction of cm). So your roof may fit perfect, but on another car could be high/low on the leading edge at the windscreen, or gaps etc.
There is a company up here in Blackpool that has moulds for the S. So they may be interested.
As they take up a lot of space when of the car, maybe look into 2 versions, complete like you have or a two part one (rear part and a 1 piece top part). There is somebody who made a two part one for a Chim.
I would be interested in a hardtop depending on cost.
A mould could be made pretty easily.
You would need to make the mould slightly large and custom finish each roof produced to allow for the differences between each car (TVR didn't work to fraction of mm tolerances, more like fraction of cm). So your roof may fit perfect, but on another car could be high/low on the leading edge at the windscreen, or gaps etc.
There is a company up here in Blackpool that has moulds for the S. So they may be interested.
As they take up a lot of space when of the car, maybe look into 2 versions, complete like you have or a two part one (rear part and a 1 piece top part). There is somebody who made a two part one for a Chim.
I would be interested in a hardtop depending on cost.
How about just the rear half and use the existing roof panels. They are hard anyway and would cut down on manufacturing costs. The rear half of the hardtop could then be covered in the same material as the soft top so it all matches. It would also cut down on the amount of storage required.
Pete
Pete
T' Veteran Racer said:
How about just the rear half and use the existing roof panels. They are hard anyway and would cut down on manufacturing costs. The rear half of the hardtop could then be covered in the same material as the soft top so it all matches. It would also cut down on the amount of storage required.
Pete
I think that is a cracking ideaPete
TurboTony said:
Russ35 said:
There is somebody who made a two part one for a Chim.
http://www.steve-edwards.com/tvr_grp_projects.phpThere are also pics on his website of my car undergoing restoration.
It was at one of BNG's held in Cumbria a few years back. It chucked it down most of the afternoon, but between showers went looking around. I wandered around it a few times, trying to work out what was wrong with this car. Then it suddenly clicked that it was a complete painted hardtop. It did look nice, although I would of liked to have seen it up close with slightly better weather conditions.
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff