Hardtop !!!!!!
Discussion
Nice Job gadgit !!! 
I have been in discussion with a friend of mine who works for a GRP Molding company. They specialise in one off molds for the autmotive industry.
We have been musing over the possibility of creating a hard top for the S series, weighing up the pros and cons etc for a couple of weeks now !!
Something in my tiny mind just flipped one day when I was reading yet another "how do I stop leaks" thread.
Anyway the upshod is we had decided to go ahead with some preliminary work, market research etc, we even spent last night wining & dining our partners trying to persuade them that this wasn't just some flash in the pan stupid idea and they should let us invest some of our hard earned !!!!!
Looks like some body beat us to it
I have been in discussion with a friend of mine who works for a GRP Molding company. They specialise in one off molds for the autmotive industry.
We have been musing over the possibility of creating a hard top for the S series, weighing up the pros and cons etc for a couple of weeks now !!
Something in my tiny mind just flipped one day when I was reading yet another "how do I stop leaks" thread.
Anyway the upshod is we had decided to go ahead with some preliminary work, market research etc, we even spent last night wining & dining our partners trying to persuade them that this wasn't just some flash in the pan stupid idea and they should let us invest some of our hard earned !!!!!
Looks like some body beat us to it
Just out of general interest I saw one for sale recently, can't remember where though, possibly Autotrader or Classic Car? (Probably Classic Car) I'll see if I can find the add again.
Might be useful to see the design for you budding engineers! It would be nice to have a hard top over the soft top, so you could leave the hardtop at home when the weather is good!
Might be useful to see the design for you budding engineers! It would be nice to have a hard top over the soft top, so you could leave the hardtop at home when the weather is good!
I believe this to be the only one.
As I am not fitting it yet for proper, I would be happy to lend it for a short period if required as long as you also get LEEBEE's ok, as he had it contructed. This top is not perfect by any means but looks the part. Therefore if you go into production and it helps you I would be interested in a updated version and probably LEEBEE might as well. )for a good price)
good luck!
gadgit
gadgit.
As I am not fitting it yet for proper, I would be happy to lend it for a short period if required as long as you also get LEEBEE's ok, as he had it contructed. This top is not perfect by any means but looks the part. Therefore if you go into production and it helps you I would be interested in a updated version and probably LEEBEE might as well. )for a good price)
good luck!
gadgit
gadgit.
so you want too know about hard tops!
The hard top you are all talking about was made by Keith Pulham of Latchingdon Essex who had a GRP business at the time approx 6 years ago. It was constructed by covering an S soft top in plastic and laying up GRP over it. This produced a rough mould from which a roof was made. The roof was then sanded ,reshaped and turned into an acceptable shape. A mould was then taken off this roof and i belive 3 roofs were produced mine being the first and i think leebees being the second. My roof used a scimitar ss1 glass heated rear screen and painted brooklands green. The hard top was first shown in public at the Brands Hatch mania 6 ? years ago.
The hard top you are all talking about was made by Keith Pulham of Latchingdon Essex who had a GRP business at the time approx 6 years ago. It was constructed by covering an S soft top in plastic and laying up GRP over it. This produced a rough mould from which a roof was made. The roof was then sanded ,reshaped and turned into an acceptable shape. A mould was then taken off this roof and i belive 3 roofs were produced mine being the first and i think leebees being the second. My roof used a scimitar ss1 glass heated rear screen and painted brooklands green. The hard top was first shown in public at the Brands Hatch mania 6 ? years ago.
quote:
so you want too know about hard tops!
The hard top you are all talking about was made by Keith Pulham of Latchingdon Essex who had a GRP business at the time approx 6 years ago. It was constructed by covering an S soft top in plastic and laying up GRP over it. This produced a rough mould from which a roof was made. The roof was then sanded ,reshaped and turned into an acceptable shape. A mould was then taken off this roof and i belive 3 roofs were produced mine being the first and i think leebees being the second. My roof used a scimitar ss1 glass heated rear screen and painted brooklands green. The hard top was first shown in public at the Brands Hatch mania 6 ? years ago.
Cheers pistolar
Covering the original and then layering GRP was my
original thought before my friend Dave (the engineer) became involved, he wants to Design the roof on his computer.
So if we do go ahead, hopefully we will end up with a very profesional product.
The window info is a God send, that particular problem has been driving me crazy
I have a mate who has a Simitar SS1 rotting on his drive, I'll have to check his roof out.quote:
quote:
Just out of general interest I saw one for sale recently, can't remember where though, possibly Autotrader or Classic Car? (Probably Classic Car) I'll see if I can find the add again.
theres one no here for sale in the classifieds "complete with hardtop"
Cheers
Matt.
There was one for sale on Pistonheads with a hard top (www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=4801) which I had a look at. However, the guy said that he'd never used it in the time he'd had the car and I didn't get round to actually seeing it, so no descrption I'm afraid.
Maybe this is one of the rumoured three?
hi all i think i have got the 3rd hardtop you are talking about unless there are more out there?
i purchased from a fibreglass engineer in latchingdon essex about 2 years ago,just as he was closing his company down, i havent fitted it yet as i still need to buy a ss1 rear hardtop glass and also need to get the hood trim finished.
the fit is very good the only downside is you have to remove the targa arch as it uses the 2 mounts i will try to get a rear glass for it know every body has reminded me but as my hood is untrimmed and has no glass fitted it may be usefull if anyone would like to take a mould from it ,mail me if it takes your fancy
trevor (E62TVR)
>> Edited by trevorlittlelegs on Thursday 22 August 23:05
i purchased from a fibreglass engineer in latchingdon essex about 2 years ago,just as he was closing his company down, i havent fitted it yet as i still need to buy a ss1 rear hardtop glass and also need to get the hood trim finished.
the fit is very good the only downside is you have to remove the targa arch as it uses the 2 mounts i will try to get a rear glass for it know every body has reminded me but as my hood is untrimmed and has no glass fitted it may be usefull if anyone would like to take a mould from it ,mail me if it takes your fancy
trevor (E62TVR)
>> Edited by trevorlittlelegs on Thursday 22 August 23:05
hirtag said: I have a s 1/2 that i have just had restored and a hard top would be great so i would love to be informed if one is produced and a rough price or pic would also be great.
cheers
Grant Kay
grant.kay@btinternet.com
Hirtag,
If ras3 has bought the S3 advertised with the hard top (www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=4801) but didn't take the hard top, I'm assuming that Vince still has the article in question in which case maybe you should contact him and make him an offer. I still have his email address (it's been taken off the ad), so if you're interested I can pass your details on to him and ask him to contact you (he's in Dorking by the way).
Richard
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