hard top with/without soft top option

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sprie

Active Member
Posts
232
My car comes with the sides and roof to make the hard top. However, I was wondering whether it was worth making it an option i.e. remove the sides and roof for summer, and put them back on for autumn etc. From what i can tell, the safety belts is the one key area where there is a difference: hard top i use the anchor point on the sides, but for a soft top i would have to install one of the bars that go across behind the seats.

Questions:
1) is making it hard top and soft topable (i know there is no such word) a good idea? does it make it more saleable?
2) is the safety belt anchor the only difference?
 
sprie said:
My car comes with the sides and roof to make the hard top. However, I was wondering whether it was worth making it an option i.e. remove the sides and roof for summer, and put them back on for autumn etc. From what i can tell, the safety belts is the one key area where there is a difference: hard top i use the anchor point on the sides, but for a soft top i would have to install one of the bars that go across behind the seats.

Questions:
1) is making it hard top and soft topable (i know there is no such word) a good idea? does it make it more saleable?
2) is the safety belt anchor the only difference?
Click to expand...
ive taken the roof off mine a few summers now, you need a tailgate for the tub, for the seat belts I dont use the top mount and dont use an extra bar to hold the belts up higher. it would probably make it a useful addition but the mod can be done for the price of second hand tailgate think mine was about £60

1718801742951.jpeg
 
Last edited:
sprie said:
My car comes with the sides and roof to make the hard top. However, I was wondering whether it was worth making it an option i.e. remove the sides and roof for summer, and put them back on for autumn etc. From what i can tell, the safety belts is the one key area where there is a difference: hard top i use the anchor point on the sides, but for a soft top i would have to install one of the bars that go across behind the seats.

Questions:
1) is making it hard top and soft topable (i know there is no such word) a good idea? does it make it more saleable?
2) is the safety belt anchor the only difference?
Click to expand...
They are just nut and bolt parts, I would not bother doing it if the only reason is to make it more desirable at point of sale. It is also always an option because of the easy of removal regardless of what ever vehicle configuration you have. I changed mine form a hard top to a soft top. A full soft-top setup is not cheap, but removing the top and fitting a tailgate is very cheap. If it is a hardtop currently the only differences will be the anti-loose catches for the tailgate and the seat belt mount but as above you do not need a top mount but it is recommended. If you want it as an option for your usage i would highly recommend it, if you want it as an option for sale i do not see the point.
 
That is exactly what I have done with mine, it has gone from this';
1718912449791.png



To this;
1718912506096.png


The hood and sticks cost just under £800 from Exmoor Trim and I paid £50 for the tailgate and another £30 for the fittings. On mine, the seatbelts are bolted directly to the top of the bulkhead. I really much prefer it as a soft top and I have sold the rear door and sides. No-one seems interesting in buying the roof though. :(
 
I did mine a few years ago and built up the parts second hand over a period of time because money was tight (was a student at the time). I kept the hardtop for a couple of years and having never refit it then sold it on. I sold it on in separate pieces as the solid hardtop sides were at the time (not sure about now) very much in demand as they are the same size as the panels on a 110 station wagon so you can convert the back into a van. Similar to the above it was the roof that was the hardest to move on.
The only drawback with a soft top is that the canvas does degrade over time if kept outside in the British weather. I am about to buy my third canvas (first one was second hand, second was new from undercover covers) but for me at least the new canvas has lasted about 8 years. I need to be more prepared this time with a new one and wax it regularly to try and preserve it longer
 
As above, have had mine both in hard and soft top modes and pretty easy to do with a kit of parts for the hood frame from Exmoor. I had a tailgate lying around anyway and fortunately the spare wheel carrier I have that swings out with the rear door in hardtop mode also works with the tailgate - just needed to fabricate a simple mount for a drop catch to hold it. As for seatbelts, bought a set of mounting brackets (galvanised version) that fit onto the sides and bulkhead using exisiting holes - they came from Purely Metal in Suffolk - these will work with both the hard and soft tops in place with a bit of modification to the hardtop frame. They also do heavy duty hood hoops etc. if you want to go elsewhere than Exmoor.
https://www.purelymetal.co.uk/raised-seat-belt-brackets/
 
Thanks for all the feedback. i am still considering my options. I might initially configure it without a top at all, and put in the mounting brackets. Later i could revert back to the hard top.
 
I have noticed that the door rubber seal comes in one long piece that goes around the whole door. If I were to initially have car as open, I would have to cut the seal at the top of them bottom half of the door. Not sure what happens when I put the roof on, will it leak?
 
sprie said:
I have noticed that the door rubber seal comes in one long piece that goes around the whole door. If I were to initially have car as open, I would have to cut the seal at the top of them bottom half of the door. Not sure what happens when I put the roof on, will it leak?
Click to expand...
It will if you point a hose at the break. Normal rain and driving, not much.
 
Not really. I tend to spend more on my projects than the car is worth. It is a hobby. I have had a few convertibles and do enjoy driving without a roof. However I think by the time my landy is ready for the road this year the best weather will have gone. I think I trashed the steering box this morning trying to replace the top column bearing: so have got to take so much off to get the steering column and box off so I can sort them out. Grrrr.
 
sprie said:
I have noticed that the door rubber seal comes in one long piece that goes around the whole door. If I were to initially have car as open, I would have to cut the seal at the top of them bottom half of the door. Not sure what happens when I put the roof on, will it leak?
Click to expand...
When I remove the top I just don't run door seals. If it is wet enough to need a door seal then I do not have the roof off!
 
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