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Bugeye Hardtop?

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dudley32

dudley32

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Bugeye Hardtop? Now With Pics...!

I got this hardtop with the purchase of my '59 Bugeye...it fits the car very well...well enough to use anyhow. I also have a '66 Sprite project and it does not fit it well at all. My question concerning this top is the fact that it appears to have had inside latches like the later models. I would like to use the top on the bugeye...any suggestions...thanks dudley




o.k. I think I figured out the picture thing...

SANY0001.jpg


SANY0002.jpg


SANY0003.jpg


SANY0005.jpg
 
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Should have had out side latches which are still available new.

Kurt.
 
Re: Bugeye Hardtop? Now With Pics...!

The only car its supposed to fit is the BE. I believe there are 3 more factory hard top's for the various Spridgets.

Kurt.
 
Looks kind of like the one I had on my bugeye in 1967. Never could figure out who made it, wasn't a name on it anywhere. There were no external latches on it either. The rear mounted with J hooks that passed through the holders for the convertible top bow. IIRC, the front didn't have a latching mechanism but was held on by bolts that passed through some semicircular fender washers and screwed into the back of the top lip. The idea was the washer would be on the inside of the windshield and when you tightened the bolt it would clamp the washer to the windshield.
 
Whoops, I didn't look close enough....it's not a factory hard top!

Kurt.
 
Thanks...no it's not a factory hardtop...and I'm trying to figure out how to make it work...any pictures of non-factory front latches? I could probably use later Spridget latches, but I don't want to modify the windshield if possible.
And my hardtop does not have the indentations for the outside latches, so without major mods that won't work either...thanks for your replies...dudley
 
Re: Bugeye Hardtop? Now With Pics...!

dudley32 said:
I got this hardtop with the purchase of my '59 Bugeye...it fits the car very well...well enough to use anyhow. I also have a '66 Sprite project and it does not fit it well at all. My question concerning this top is the fact that it appears to have had inside latches like the later models. I would like to use the top on the bugeye...any suggestions...thanks dudley
Click to expand...

For sure it won't work with you '66. The tops for '65 and '66s have a little notch to fit the around the bracket just behind the door. It would be visible at the bottom right of pic 3.
 
Thanks HealyRick that link really helped...I think I can make the one that comes down to the side of the windshield...
Inside front hardtop.jpg
 
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