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Surrey top

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M

mallard

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I friend of mine just purchased a TR4 that has a surrey top on it and wants to sell it (top only). It's an original Triumph top made of aluminum with Triplex glass. The top would need total restoration with some small dents in the aluminum and light scratches in the glass. It's mounted to the car so it has all mounting hardware. Does anybody have an idea what it may be worth? It may get listed on the BCF classified section if we could get an idea of price.

It does not have any of the parts for the soft center section.
 
You can get all the parts for the soft center section from Moss. Those surrey's are very desirable. I would think you could get $ 800.- $ 1,000. for it as is. On Ebay, it might bring more than that. The biggest challenge will be boxing it up for shipping. The cheapest shipping method is by bus. Good luck.
 
They can command closer to $2000 at times on ebay I think. Rare to see them go cheap.
 
So this has the aluminum hardtop section versus the later steel? Someone was trying to sell one on eBay recently with the steel top for $2499 but it was in very good shape with what appeared to be decent red paint and still had a good white liner.

Depending on how rough I would think $1500 to $2000 as well but you just don't see them often enough to really be able to tell.

Marv what's XXX glass?

Scott
 
I was thinking around $1500.00 so I was in the ballpark. XXX glass is the Triplex glass.
 
I've collected everything else for the surrey top except the metal backlite and glass. I am interested. Send a PM.
 
I agree with Andrew, I'm also surprised that someone would want to sell one if they still had the car. One of the guys in our car club has one on his 4A and he painted the hard top to look like the union jack. It's a real eye catcher.
 
Peter I'll get in touch with the seller about shipping it. He wants to sell it locally so he does not have to package it. He's afraid the glass may break in shipping. I mentioned to him if he had FedEX do the packaging and shipping any damage would be on them.

I have noe need for it but as Andy mentioned it one of those parts that does not come along very often. Maybe I could trade it for some original Triumph aeroscreens.
 
Aeroscreens would be nice but I don't have any either.

I think that I still have a box with blown foam fitted for a plexi rear glass. I'll look. Let me know if he comes up with a price. Might be too high for me anyways since my 4A has been in pieces since the 80s ...
 
Andrew Mace said:
Just a reference point, from eBay UK: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290857437975?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Click to expand...

I noticed the link is for a fiberglass version. I remember there was a local to California bay area Triumph British parts company that also sold a fiberglass reproduction version back in the 70's.

I have a surrey top with aluminum center piece. When restoring back in the mid 90's I ended up breaking the glass when trying to remove the original seal that had liquified . At the time, TRF had a replacement glass which was not cheap. I am not even sure if anyone makes the glass anymore. Maybe someone in the UK.

Just a thought regarding the surrey top, I really like they way they look on the car, and since the top came with the car originally, I would not swap it out. I have to say as nice as they are, I prefer to drive a convertible. I am not complaining. Just trying to see why someone would be willing to sell. One thing for sure, it is a very desirable option.

Steve
 
Andrew thanks for the link. Steve what makes you think it's a fiberglass top? I've never seen an original so I don't know. Peter I will keep you in mind when he makes up his mind. Right now he does not like the idea of shipping. I'm going to look at it this weekend so maybe I can get more information. I can only look at the Moss catalog to confirm if all the parts are there.
 
Not a problem Keith. I'm only in for the rear backlight. These other comparisons are including the hardtop, which is the hardest part to find IMO.

It's taken me several years to accumulate all the bits, trim, weatherstrip, soft top frame, etc. and I do have a fiberglass rear frame but still want an aluminum frame. Think he'd ship w/o the glass and sell the glass separately? Regardless, it will be all about the $$. $1500 is too high for me for just the rear frame, glass or not.
 
In my experience prices on Surrey Tops complete or in pieces vary all over the map depending upon condition. I looked for years and finally bought a car with one installed, rebuilt the project and kept the top. That was just the beginning, the aluminum center section was badly dented and needed a lot of work. Straightening aluminum is an art. The steel center section would be a better find and more rigid. So if you find what you want bite the bullet and buy it, they don't make them any longer. I've not seen the ones being produced in England but from what I have read they are quite nice and I believe the plastic rear windows interchange to the original glass. Worth a call or e-mail.
 
I need to be corrected. The reason why I thought this was fiberglass is based on me mistaking the bottom view of the frame for the interior side view. I need to be more careful next time before commenting. I apologize for the confusion. I wanted to point it out because if the price for the one listed in EBAY was fiberglass, it would mean that the metal-original would be worth more.......I guess at least I was trying to help.

I did go back and research a bit. This is just FYI, I found the following link for a remanufactured surrey top frame so it does look like they are available at least in the U.K.

https://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RF4122

Steve
 
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