Projects Opinions on roadster top kit.

Hope you guys don't freak out that because this is posted on that auction site.
But I thought that this was a pretty good deal on a roadster top bow kit.
$295.

What do you think ???

 

Looks nice and it looks like it would be easy to modify to fit the profile a person would want for their particular car.

 

Looks like a "Quik Top". Speedway sells them for a bit more.

 

I'll say Speedway wants $499 for basically the same thing.
This one is $295.
Sounds like a much more reasonable price to me.
And the $295 one is probably made in the US. (maybe)

 

Go for it,that's a deal. HRP

 

Would be nice to see one finished (as in covered) so we could actually visualize the profile. Has anyone done one of these and would feel like posting a pic. It would be much appreciated.

 

got one on my other halfs A RP, its not bad but needs a little help as it don't stay tight & taut, I added a couple of small brackets which still allow it to fold but keeps it much tighter when up, I can get a pic if you want tomorrow.

 

Thanks. Neat little RPU.

 

I bought the same one for a roadster project , I figured it could be modified easily and it say s USA made , its not awesome but not a pig in a poke either if your handy it will work

 

That is one tasty little roadster pickup.. HRP

 

Very nice, lets see the brackets.

 

Lucky lady, one sweet little RPU.................

 

1/2 "emt $30, 4 hrs labor free,oak for header $40 fir oak labor free
Take to trim shop and cover $400
Under $500 and done

 

^^^^I like it^^^^

 

You did ask for opinions: an original top had wood bows for a reason. A proper top makes or breaks the look of any car IMO. Bob

 

I like the look of it, but I don't like that it doesn't fold up for removal or stowage.

I know that, but the wood was used to staple to and I don't believe that a top bow setup needs to have wood to be considered "proper".

 

Being in the middle of fabbing bows for my cabrio, yes, great deal!!! It looks easy enough to "chop" if needed. I think the absence of the wooden bows is because the fabric will come completely off prior to folding the bows down...like the RPU shows.

 

What`s up with the vertical brace in the first pic. I swapout the rear bow off of a newer style car. This way you can staple into the rear bow like 95% of the convertible tops are made. You will need two to make up for the width. Unless it`s off of a full size car from the 70`s.

 

A top can be made without stapling as has been proven by many tops built with all steel bows.
The small vertical brace is to hold the top stiff in the up position and is unpinned to lower or fold the top.

 

Well, I just pulled the trigger and ordered one up.
I will have to modify it a tiny bit for my 26 RPU, and I will be combining it with the aluminum 2 piece windshield header that I already have.
I ordered the header from Larry Zilinsky (topsterguy)
I have a bunch of these spring pin clips that I will use to make it removable and stowable in sections like the guys at Rod Tops do.
I Will eventually post pictures on my build thread.
Larry.

 

The tops are flimsy, this will help stabilize the top.

 

The wood bows actually go through flaps sewn in the inner top material. That is what keeps the tops so tight. The original top I have doesn't have any staples and its still as tight as a new one.

 

The final look of a finished top will depend on how your pads are made...The pads can make or break any top..the "main" bow over the rear window definately needs to be made of wood..as does the "header" over the windshield...having made tops for everything from a 540k Mercedes to a 1919 Pierce-Arrow.many 32 roadsters,I an not blowing smoke up your ass..

 

Please stop with the "the bows need to be made of wood" comments. They absolutely do NOT need to be made of wood.
I repeat, plenty of nice tops have bows with steel tubes and no wood.
The header over the windshield does not have to be wood either.
This thread isn't about the differences and merits of top bow construction, I posted it for opinions on the top bow kit I posted and have now purchased.
Here's a few pictures from topsterguy (Larry Z) who made my header, he no longer makes complete tops but did plenty of tops with the aluminum header, steel bows and no wood.
Larry still makes and sells the 2 piece aluminum headers.
The top wraps around it and snaps to the underside of it.

 

Larry Z, & Jim McGowan, two of the masters.

 

A build thread would be great!

 

When I get to it, pictures will end up on my RPU build thread.

 

I got the top kit and I have to say that I am impressed with the quality for the price. It seems very well built, and nicely powder coated as well.
Looking forward to putting it all together.

 

Hi would like to see assembled steel work . What is holding tube down in the centre to body ?

 

I didn't end up using the top bow kit.
Since it was made for a model A I found that adapting it to my T would have been pretty difficult.

I decided to have a pro built top made for my RPU and hauled it to Rod Tops shop in Michigan.

I sold the top kit to a friend who is building a 31 A roadster.