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Spitfire spitfire convertible top

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sabot

Jedi Trainee
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Hi All, long time no posting.
Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the convertable tops for the 68-70 spitfires, and the older 67 and down spitfires?
Is it just the frames? Can I put a NOS amco top from a 68 onto a 66 if I can find a 68 frame?
any help would be great, thanks tom
On a side note, the boss and I are now the proud parents of
a 1980 TR8, non efi.
again thanks tom
 
Hey, Tom -

Welcome back, and welcome to Wedgedom! No answer for you on the Spit top, but be sure to post pictures of the 8 - good to have another one on the BCF!

:cheers:
Mickey
 
The two types of top are generally similar in shape but almost completely different in philosophy. The early top removes completely, from a frame that also removes completely. It fastens via reinforcing strips, snaps and hooks on elastic straps to the front, and via another reinforcing bar on the rear deck, along with a few snaps. The Mk3 top fastens to the header rail on its frame, has more snaps around the rear and also is fastened to a bar that bolts to the rear tonneau edge.

To adapt the later top and frame means not only finding some way to bolt the later folding frame to the earlier body, but also requires changing the finishing plate on the top of the windshield frame, or possibly changing to a later windshield frame altogether; the first Mk3 Spitfires had over-center latches (think suitcase style), but that was soon changed to a sort of bayonet fixing that requires the proper receptacle atop the windshield frame.

In short, it's far more practical to find a proper early top for your early Spitfire. There are actually some advantages to the correct top: not only are they fairly snug when properly fitted, but the fact that they remove completely makes for a cleaner top-down "look"! The only disadvantage I can think of is that it takes a bit longer to proper erect the early style of top, although practice makes it go pretty quickly.
 
Sorry, it is non zippered, and black in color. The Amco part number is 1232, on the sticker on the box and on the inside of the top.
tom
 
Hey, speaking of Spitfire tops, anybody have any luck having somebody refurbish their top?

I've still got the original top that came with my MkII. The vinyl is in great shape, and the window is pretty darn scratch free. I don't think the top was ever put on the car much. (I've got the original tonneau cover too, which I don't think was ever even taken out of the bag it came in until I took it out to inspect it.)

Anyway, even though this top didn't see much use, after 45 years the stitching is a disaster. I think if I tried to put the top on now, it would fall apart. Also has some staining on the white underside (I'm assuming it was originally white, it's now mostly ivory with a few brown spots), the elastic straps are, well, no longer very elastic, and one of the rivets that holds the little bracket that attaches to the side of the windscreen has pulled out.

So does anybody even bother to refurbish these things? It seems a shame to give up the original top when it's still mostly intact and looking good.
 
where i work, we have a customer who can do just that, he has taken care of some of the guys who have hotrods.
I showed him my top from my 76 spitfire, and to redo the windows and repair a small tear by the silver Triumph emblom on a bottom corner he said 150.00.
Speaking of Triumph embloms. Has anybody else seen one on the factory top's?
Silver in color, looks like it was almost a painted on type.

and if you can't find a upholstery shop, try your local salvage yard to see if they have someone in their customer file.
Tom
 
sabot said:
Speaking of Triumph embloms. Has anybody else seen one on the factory top's?
Silver in color, looks like it was almost a painted on type.
Click to expand...
I vaguely remember seeing that on some AMCO replacement tops, but not on factory tops. Easiest way to tell an original factory top is to look for the word Vybak on one of the windows, that being the "brand name" for that particular see-through plastic material.
 
You may try a sail shop. They have the large machines and many make boat covers that include windows.
 
I don't know what part of MA you are in but I had new windows and some stiching done at Caito's in East Providence RI.
 
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