Hey Guys I am considering a top for my AV8, I dont have the old original bows, I saw SID's Bop tops but 1. Feck me they are expensive ( Almost $3000 ) and 2. I want to have my upholstery with the roll over back on the seat in Oxblood leather, I think that may hinder a Top. Does anyone make an upholstered Top ready to go or can help me here? $3000 is a lot of bread, I could get the upholstery done for way less. Any help or tips who I can try? I am in La Mirada California.
Speedway sells a set of top Irons with the wood header for around $400 for regular steel and $500 for stainless. I bought a steel one a while back for my 29 but haven't put it on and covered it yet. It fit pretty well and has decent adjustability for use with my 2 inch chopped windshield.
here is a link to the top frame/bows. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Kwik-Top-Universal-Top-Iron-Kit-Plain-Steel,7583.html
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/index.php?threads/1113268/ Building a foldable, stowable Roadster top You might have an interest in this thread Phil
It may be easier and cheaper to make your own. The '28-'29 top irons are difficult to chop because of the oval tubing that tapers fore and aft. If you want original iron, look for a '30-'31 Deluxe top that uses flat stock.
Well, looks like I may have to look about a bit more, $3000 for a top is way out of a Hot Rodders pay check and $3000 I could get a Halibrand or even a blower, so will look around a bit and check all these places you told me about but Speedway stuff sucks royally I have so much crap from them, made in Taiwan rubbish. But if you know someone that can make one let me know, rather pay a Hot Rod shop than buy China crap.
I had a set of original irons for my roadster and bought bows from LaBaron-Bonney. I fit everything and stained the wood and took the car to Luis Loyola in El Segundo, 310-904-2337. Luis covered the top in a stock pattern and is a dealer for LaBaron-Bonney. Call him before you buy anything he may have what you need.
made a 1" by 2" rectangular steel w/s header... a buddy [electrician] bent some conduit for me... made the main bow and the forward tilted bow by bending 90*s as tight as possible... went to a boat shop and bought every fitting I needed, coupler, clevis, pivot, etc... tied the 2 bows together with 2 canvas straps that had loops sewn into both ends... tied the main bow [down / back] to the floor with ratchet straps... only pic I saved...
Your Roadster is very nice! I have Lebaron Bonney top on my roadster. It is 2"chop and basically stock design. My top is always down unless it is raining or in winter. I like other tops that I have seen when they are up, more than mine. But I like the way mine looks when it is down and folded, it has that jalopy look . It is easy to put up and down if it starts to rain. I did not want one I had to store in the trunk etc..
The top iron sets sold by Speedway were originally built by Waddingtons here in Australia. I doubt that is the situation now but you may be able to buy a set direct from Waddingtons. They used to have a warehouse in L.A. One of our club members used a set on his early A pickup and they worked well.
For the avoidance of doubt (and at the risk of maybe stating the obvious) there's a major difference between a regular style top and a Bop top, ignoring the aesthetics! A bop top doesn't fold down. Sure it comes off complete and can be broken down to be stowed if required, but it's really an on or off deal. I have a Rodwell top on my 32 which is basically the same. Takes a few minutes on or off for the complete unit, but breaking down / stowing or unpackaging / reassembly takes a good 10 to 15 minutes. That suits me as the top isn't there 99.99% of the time. But it wouldn't work if say I wanted it down most of the time but regularly up as a sun shade or occasional rainfall, so it'd be dismantled and assembled probably at least once a day. In my case when in Ca I just grin bear it (and work on my tan ), but that makes it really tough on long days in the saddle. I guess it really depends on what you want it for, the climate you have and whether it's just for local use or road trips. I don't know what it's like to live with a regular style top folded down. I know many hate the appearance of that! So many considerations! One size certainly doesn't fit all! nb, the Waddington stuff is quality, and i doubt they scale that back on things sold through Speedway! I think the have a shop in Orange, Ca. Chris
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