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Spitfire spitfire convertible top

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BRSLimited

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New to the board and hoping that some of you might have an idea. I just bought a 70 MkIII spitfire and am in need of a top (hood for you british folk). My problem is I'm running into a lot of conflicting information about what will fit. Some say that the 70 is a unique year and only that year, some say 70-71, some say 70-80, some say 68-70. The million dollar question is which is correct? I have access to a practically new top that is on a 74 MkIV, will that fit or are the bodies too different or will the 68-69 top work?

Thanks
 
It looks like at FD75000 and higher (1970) they added a zip-out rear window. If you didn't care whether you had the zip-out rear window, I would think that any MkIII convertible top would work (1967-1969), but I don't know that for sure.

I would be less sure about a MkIV due to the body change and possible frame changes as well.

Scott
 
I'm thinking there will be some fitment issues. In the catalogs I have they show the hoodsticks from 71-80.

makes me think that the 67-70 hoodsticks may be different thus the shape of the top would be different.
 
Most critical is door window shape: through 1970's Mk3, door windows were rounded at the upper rear. From the 1971 MkIV on, they were squared off there. The whole main body structure and door structure never really changed otherwise: glass could be swapped between doors and doors themselves can be swapped back and forth with the right latches.

Scott's right in the 1970 top being unique in having a zip-out rear window, a feature then continued on all subsequent Spitfires. And the top frame for the 1970 was a bit different from the earlier Mk3, but I'm somewhat sure either top will fit either frame. (I've got both styles of Mk3 top frame, and someday I intend to sit down with them and figure out exactly how they differ. Oh, and the earliest Mk3 top frames had different latches on the header rails...but I digress.)
 
this car is FDU87### so it's got the later type latches and it does have a zip out rear window. I have been told that 70 the top was changed so it would clear a roll bar but you know how things are that you hear on the internet and that in 71 the rear body was changed in shape slightly so the later top won't go on. I just hate to spend the money to get the later top just to find out that it won't fit.
 
Again, the only real worry is shape of the doorglass; there were no basic changes in the center body structure area from 1962-1980. Even the overall height of the windshield frame is the same. "Roundtail" windshield frames bolted on; later "squaretail" windshield frames were permanently affixed to the cowl area, which allowed for a "deeper" windshield glass (bottom closer to the cowl area without the bottom of that bolt-on frame in the way). I'm pretty sure you can even interchange factory hardtops between squaretail and roundtail cars...IF you have the right door glass!
 
Ok mystery solved. The 70 Mk3 top frame is different than the earlier cars in that it is taller to clear the high back seats that started in 70, then in 71 body change and top frame change. Unfortunatly tops from 69 and earlier will not fit the top frame. $175 mistake but a buddy has a 68 that needs a new top so no big deal.
 
This is good information, thanks. I too just recently became the owner of a 70 Mk 3 and have been wondering what the difference was between a 69 and a 70 hood. The diffent seat height doesn't matter to me because I'm putting seats from a 68 in the car (70 seats are really expensive to restore) but it's good to know that the hood frame is different.
 
BRSL - Your only 3.5 hrs away from me; I'm just across the border from Port Huron.

Hmmm. The 70 highback seats I have both have broken recline mechanisms. To what degree they are broken I don't know. I'm not sure if I want to trade, but you could at least have the 70 highback seats I have.
 
I am actually going to be crossing in Port Huron in a couple weeks to go pick a couple cars up for a guy. Call me at 810-348-4261 and we can arrange to get together.
 
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