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MGB MGB Top Frame Choice

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drooartz

drooartz

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So as part of my cleaning project yesterday I yanked the top frame out of the MGB. It is the scissor-type (checked the pictures on Moss's website) with the side pieces that fold into the center of the car.

Stupid design.

The car would (probably) have had the Michelotti given its November 1970 build date. I've read that this top is the best design the MGB had, but I've also seen quite a few folks use the pack-away one instead. I'm going to fit a new top this summer, as I really want a zip-out rear window to help with the summer heat.

So which way do I go? I'm looking for most waterproof (well, as good as I can expect) and the top will stay in the car all the time. Gut says to get the Michelotti version. Thoughts?
 
I went out of the way to get the pack-a-way (I had the scissors too). Hunted for quite a while to find a decent frame at the right price. Then I bought a new (appropriate) top to match it. I like that you can completely remove it and leave it home. Not all that junk behind the driver. It's slower to put up, but I don't mind (and, as a Bugeye driver, you should be used to that).

Also, I fold my top into and old beach towel....can't do that (fully) with the folding unit.
 
I'm definitely leaning towards the pack-away style. Been driving the B without anything behind the seats and it is nice.

Is there any difference in the weather-tightness of the three top styles? I wouldn't figure that there would be, as they all use the same body attachment points (header, tonneau panel studs, etc).
 
drooartz said:
.......Is there any difference in the weather-tightness of the three top styles?
Click to expand...

No, I don't really think so. But if you get a <span style="text-decoration: underline">sudden</span> rain, it'll take long enough to erect that'll you'll get wet.
grin.gif


By comparison, my Miata top goes up in less than 10 seconds (and it has a real glass window with electric defrost). Amazing.
 
Go for the pack away. I had one on my 73 and it was great except for the time I had to put it on in a blizzard on top of a mountain in early September.

I have a pack away frame ready to go and I'm ordering a new top for the 75 in the next month. It really free's up a lot of room when you know your not going to use it yet is still a small enough package that it doesn't kill the room when you take it just in case. Plus all the room on the shelf is nice.
 
We've the stow-away one on this car, had a folding one on others in past. The stow away one is more practical for us, as the hard top is in place for some portion of the year. Gives extra "grocery shelf" area in back. When the hard top is off, no biggie to erect the soft top if weather looks threatening.
 
Thanks all for the insight. I'm on the hunt now for a stow-away top frame, and will order a new top for it (with zip-out rear window) shortly.
 
Am I correct in assuming that I can reuse the header rail I have with my current top (scissor) with the pack-away frame?
 
Thanks, Nial. That's what I though, but some confirmation is helpful. :smile:
 
The pack away type does free up room behind the seats but takes it back in the boot. So, it only saves space if you leave it at home. On the plus side, it offers more head room than the other styles. On the downside there will be noticeably more noise from the rear axle without the folding top sitting above it.
 
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