Metal stiffeners for TR4 soft top
I now use a Parrish hardtop, so I'm not too concernced about soft tops any more, but when I was, I had a great deal of difficulty fitting a soft top correctly. The front metal stiffeners supplied by the usual suspects are not correct - the have the wrong curvature. Also, the new tops are missing the metal stiffeners that the originals had where the rear of the side window overlaps the top. I bought an original and correct TR4 soft top on ebay, and removed the metal stiffeners. I offered them to TRF as a pattern to make correct ones, but they were not interested. Also, the new Robbins tops have the fabric behind the side windows glued together, so it's not possible to insert the metal stiffener that should be there. Does anyone have suggestions as to how this situation can be corrected? I thought about contacting Robbins and offering the correst pieces to them, so that they could offer them to customers, and also leave a slot for the side stiffener. Thoughts?
I now use a Parrish hardtop, so I'm not too concerned about soft tops any more, but when I was, I had a great deal of difficulty fitting a soft top correctly. The front metal stiffeners supplied by the usual suspects are not correct - the have the wrong curvature. Also, the new tops are missing the metal stiffeners that the originals had where the rear of the side window overlaps the top. I bought an original and correct TR4 soft top on eBay, and removed the metal stiffeners. I offered them to TRF as a pattern to make correct ones, but they were not interested. Also, the new Robbins tops have the fabric behind the side windows glued together, so it's not possible to insert the metal stiffener that should be there. Does anyone have suggestions as to how this situation can be corrected? I thought about contacting Robbins and offering the correct pieces to them, so that they could offer them to customers, and also leave a slot for the side stiffener. Thoughts?
-smokey
Considering your summary above, it might be possible, if desired, to buy the correct top material from Robbins or others, and using the original metal stiffeners from your old top have an upholstery shop make it like new.
Regards,
Tags
I'm wondering if the successor to Amco (EZ-On?) constructs tops a little better in terms of using the stiffeners. I bought an NOS Amco top, and although it has its limitations due to age I like it a lot and it has the side stiffeners already installed.
When I was using my 1965 TR4 as a daily driver in 1971, I had to drive from Toronto to Cleveland for the convocation to receive my newly minted Ph.D. When I got in the car to go, I found that someone had stolen - yes, stolen - the original soft top. Unbuttoned it and taken it away. I called a local British sports car dealer, and they happened to have an AMCO top in stock. I hit the road for Cleveland, stopped at this dealer - Sports Cars Unlimited in the suburbs - and simply fitted the new AMCO top. It was a perfect fit, and about half an hour later, it started pouring rain. Ahh, those were the days.....
Considering your summary above, it might be possible, if desired, to buy the correct top material from Robbins or others, and using the original metal stiffeners from your old top have an upholstery shop make it like new.homesecuritysystems
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