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opinion on top for sale.

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anthony7777 said:
patrick67bj8, interesting, ive installed a few factory tops from one car to another with some adjusting but never did they require "trmming", lucky maybe, im still looking for parrish tops but get sent to "smoth line tops" they do corvettes, do you know where parrish is located?, thanks.
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At the bottom of their website link I sent, they show Tarentum, PA and have a tollfree number at the top of the link that I just previosuly sent. Smoothline bought Parrish out or they changed theur name. Not sure what happened.
Patrick
 
patrick67bj8, the opening page on the top right shows a blue bj7 or bj8 with the same top ive got, i now understand what you ment about fitting along the back contour, ill give them a call and see if they got anys "potts", thanks. anthony7777
 
anthony7777 said:
patrick67bj8, the opening page on the top right shows a blue bj7 or bj8 with the same top ive got, i now understand what you ment about fitting along the back contour, ill give them a call and see if they got anys "potts", thanks. anthony7777
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I've seen these Tops on BJ8's and they seem to look much better if they're painted the same color as the car. When I finish my BJ8 restoration I plan on installing my Factory Top, I puchased it from Nical in England, and I know it's going to have to be "fitted". Nical makes a Top that almost exactly duplicates the originals. Don't be surprised if you call and have to leave a message. The guy in charge <span style="text-decoration: underline">will</span> get back to you.
Patrick
 
patric67bj8, yes the "nical" is the nicest and most true to the originals, i found the "smooth line" price list online and as expected its rediculous, i.e. flat plexiglass rear window $135.00, wndshield front edge seal $70.00, rear window seal $60.00, rear deck rubber $70.00, side window rubber $120.00, and for about 2 square yards headliner "material" $70.00, total $525.00,pluss shipping, and none of it is returnable for "any reason", none of these parts are excusive to the manufacturing of "parrish plastic" tops, i have a book for a company that sells nothing but rubber seal/gaskets that shows the dimensions of thier materials also the profile and cross sections of everthing the have, thier price are about 15-20% of the ones given by "parrish". at $525.00 for thier parts plus labor for sanding, primming, painting and to install all the new parts plus building a crate plus shipping cost is madness! im very happy to have an alternate source for material.
 
anthony7777 said:
patric67bj8, yes the "nical" is the nicest and most true to the originals, i found the "smooth line" price list online and as expected its rediculous, i.e. flat plexiglass rear window $135.00, wndshield front edge seal $70.00, rear window seal $60.00, rear deck rubber $70.00, side window rubber $120.00, and for about 2 square yards headliner "material" $70.00, total $525.00,pluss shipping, and none of it is returnable for "any reason", none of these parts are excusive to the manufacturing of "parrish plastic" tops, i have a book for a company that sells nothing but rubber seal/gaskets that shows the dimensions of thier and materials also the profile and cross sections of everthing the have, thier price are about 15-20% of the ones given by "parrish". at $525.00 for thier parts plus labor for sanding, primming, painting and to install all the new parts plus building a crate plus shipping cost is madness! im very happy to have an alternate source for material.
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It definitely pays to shop! I found the Parrish hardware sort of "primitive"...1/4x20 bolts and wingnuts, but effective never-the-less. With this Top you can at least leave your soft top installed.
Patrick
 
Anthony, you didn't tell me you had a snow plow attached to the top? I'll have to reconsider... :savewave:
 
Patrick, interesting I just read in "original Austin Healey" that the convertible's (BJ7 & BJ8) the factory never offered a hardtop as an option.
 
Johnny said:
Patrick, interesting I just read in "original Austin Healey" that the convertible's (BJ7 & BJ8) the factory never offered a hardtop as an option.
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I believe you are correct and so is the article you read. Everyone keeps calling them "Factory Hardtops" and it seems to have stuck. The Tops had a badge on both sides that said something like "Donald Healey Motor Company" or something like that. I have the badges but not the memory right now.
Patrick
 
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