Has anyone had any experience in making a convertable top?

Has anyone had any experience in making a convertable top. Say for a car "gone" roadster (like mine) or similar car.

I want to make a cool low profile functional convertable/folding top for my model A. I will also make it removable so I can run a cool tauneu (SP) cover as well...

Any or all direction would be much appreciated.

Here is what I am looking to do/make. I will also make side curtains for the car as well.

Picture of my car and examples ( i know thier deuces, but I love the top lines on these)

Front Profile:


3/4 Rear Side Profile:


3/4 Front Side Profile:

 

bttt for day viewing and comments

 

Member Brianangus made a covertible top for his '31 roadster pickup, different vehicle, same principles. I have seen pix he posted during the complete build.

 

Here is an Idea I had using Photoshop. Borrowed top from another HAMB car.

 

anyone else?

 

Saw in a magazine in the last 6-8 months a folding top mechanism that is adjustable and designed to fit a range of roadsters, with and without chops. Anyone got it on hand? I'll look, but no promises.

 

I remember that article- either R&C or Street Rodder and within the last year... will see if I can find it.

 

Making a good top seems like a real tough job. Have you looked at adapting the framework from something like a some little car like a Triumph? They can go cheap

 

Thats may be the one CW moss and a few others sell.. Also speedway has one to i think but it may be just for a 32. But it can be modded to work on a model a. C9 posted all the dimensions at one time of the body's
Dave

 

Check into Sid Chavers Company for his Bop Top some info I took from the site:

There are many models of the BopTop available; these include versions for Stock Windshields with 2" and 3" Chops, DuVall style frames, SoCal style frames, and also Dan Fink style frames. Please see below for specific models.
All versions of the BopTop use STOCK body mount locations, (excluding 1933-34 versions); this means there are NO MODIFICATIONS required to the body. The specially designed frame does not contact the body at any point other than the mounts, assuring the owner there will be no contact that could damage the paint.

 

Better cash in your empties for one of them .. they are real purdy and real pricey.
Dave

 

When I looked into it I thought the MGA or B top was very close to the size needed for a A, I ended up just using the seats they fit perfect.

 

There is some on E-bay that go for around 200. They are just the top irons but are new. Just add bows and header and material. I'm working on a set for my roadster but its been on the back burner for a while.

 

Hey the hard part is making the attachment point in the front and when removed to fold it to fit in trunk The top bows have to fold inward to collapse and it has to fold down like a regular top

Whole lotta engineering there probably better to make a carson type top for storage in garage when removed
my .02 cents worth
Ken

 

Andy from Kerrville TX has a very stylish and well-fitting home made top on his Dodge hemi-powered 32 Roadster that folds down like an original. Someone should ahve a picture of it.

 

BTTT I would like to see that top from Andy's deuce.

 

What does Andy's roadster look like?

I have a few pic's of home-made and other tops.


In the meantime, here's a couple pic's of my 32's top on the 31.
Except for the 32's cockpit being 2" deeper the cockpit interior measurements are virtually the same in 29, 31 and 32 roadsters.

You'll notei n the interior shot that the 32 top is about 2" longer than an A top would be.
That due to windshield placement.
It would be no big deal to shorten the single horizontal piece between drilled hole and windshield post.
It helps that I have 32 windshield posts on the 31 . . . an easy modification and the 32 posts are a bolt-on.

The top shown is a LeBaron-Bonney kit and goes together very easily.
It may be something you want to look in to considering the cost of good top material.

The top irons are stock 32 except for the 2" chop and are commonly available aftermarket.

Note as well that you can slide the oak bows - a stock re-pro item - up or down to shape the top as you desire.
Mine's a little higher tan most because I wanted a wedge in the top so it wouldn't balloon up.

35,000 miles and about 11 years on the top with no problems.

Next two shots show the forward leaning 32 top rear and how well it fit's the 31's cockpit rail.

Better looking imo than the vertical rear of standard Model A tops.

Keep in mind that some of the tops like the Bop-Top won't keep the rain out like the stock style tops will.
They are good looking and provide shade, but they're built more for style than they are to protect the occupants from wet weather.
They tilt in from the side and the stock tops hang out over the door so that rain goes straight down and doesn't get in the interior.
Granted, windblown rain will come in, but I've had the 32 out in several heavy rainstorms and it did well.
Two of them were heavy cloudbursts and the only failing there was mine because I cut the windshield weatherstripping at the lower corners at the wrong angle and there's an opening there that lets rain in when it's heavy.

I have new weatherstripping, but so far haven't installed it.

Like the guy said, "the roof don't leak when it isn't raining."

 

Forgot to mention the top weighs 45#....