Dubious hardtop

[ncbugeye]

ncbugeye came with this hardtop, in rather scruffy condition, and according to the PO he never once installed it in the 30-odd years he owned the car.

It was the victim of a vicious attack with a blunt instrument at one time or another, see the pictures. The hole goes all the way through as you can see. The gelcoat of the fibreglass is heavily crazed all over. The rubber seal is perished. The rear window is passable.

Is this a total loss, or is it restorable? I have the latches for the front but have no idea what attaches via the holes at each side.

Advice? Suggestions? Guffaws?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Baw, HA HA HA HA!

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[jlaird]

Tony has a source for the rebuilding parts I think.

That's a real bugeye hard top, don't let it go.

 

[Biff]

It is an original hardtop, that is what is left of it.
Yes it looks repairable. A little fiberglass work on the hole and a good sanding and resurfacing of the rest should do it. A restored hardtop will bring $550 to $750 depending on the level of restoration. Definitely worth saving.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Sorry, all I could contribute was the guffaws.

 

[bugimike]

Biff said it best, and I would also check with Tony for the missing bits. I cannot see the holes you refer to on the sides!

 

[ncbugeye]

Here's a closer picture of the holes I referred to. It looks like there was some kind of bracket.

Also, what are the clips for? Three of them are visible on the inside lip in the picture, but they go all round that lip on both sides, and they are currently holding nothing. What did they formerly hold in place? Were there sidescreens/windows with this hardtop at some point?

 

[GB1]

This is what you need, it is a bracket to mount the hard top to the body.

Patrick

 

[jlaird]

Ahh shucks, I was going to say it was not repairable and I would be right along to get it out of his way.

 

[GB1]

Jack, did I put a mafugunahh in your plans again? Some time I am muckinfuch.

The clips are either part of the original seal or to hold the seal in place.

Patrick

 

[BWillis]

Jack,

I believe that I'm a bit closer so I get first right of refusal /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[bugimike]

They look very similar to the clips that hold the vinyl stretched over the dash - Would it have had a headliner? That bracket fits into the bracket on the body for the top stays I believe! And it goes with the alum. frame sliding side curtains too!... Watch out...these guys are already sparring over something you only asked a simple question about!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif

 

[DrEntropy]

I don't HAVE a Spridget, but that top would find a place here 'till I could mix up a pot o' frozen snot, patch/paint it, fab or find hardware... Yeah, it should have a liner inside... so?

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

 

[bugimike]

Doc. referrence to having a headliner was re: the clips he was wondering about!

 

[DrEntropy]

..huh?... oh, sorry.

I wuz preoccupied plotting the shortest course for a Tampa-Raleigh-Tampa run.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[bugimike]

Sounds like you really want that top Doc. What'll it adapt to, the Elan or the Alpha?

 

[DrEntropy]

Jack's Frogeye. Leverage... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

 

[jlaird]

Hah, inbound and hot.

 

[bugimike]

Say no more, say no more...!

 

[ncbugeye]

So am I to conclude that this item is actually quite desirable item? I know a glassfibre guy nearby, he has done some work on my boat, so I'll take it to him and see what he says.

Right now I have a vinyl soft top installed, with no sidescreens, and am happily freezing myself to death driving everywhere in ncbugeye even though the temperature was 42 degrees this afternoon and I have a perfectly good Lexus to drive.