Station Wagon to soft top

Hi, i'm a 1st time owner - just bought a 1978 88" Station Wagon yesterday and want to fit a soft top for the summer (i live in France). I can see that i'll have to remount the inertia reel belt anchorages, and i'm going to need a tailgate (or somthin) etc.etc. Has anybody else done this and can you offer any advice / hints? Help would be much appreciated.

you will need loads of wd40 and plasters

Hi fatscoleymo,
Yer in luck old boy, I did this transformation myself last summer. Getting the hardtop and back door off are quite straight forward and you will pick up a secondhand tailgate no problem I'm sure.
When you get your frame for the canvas make sure it's complete with the braid hook strip for above the windscreen.
I had alignment problems with my tailgate so I converted mine to swing away with a couple of safari door hinges. My seat belt inertia brackets I fabbed up myself keeping the top mount relatively high for comfort and safety ( too low and an impact will break your shoulder ).
I can put a piccy of my brackets on in a couple of days if you want.

Regards WP.

As Wesley points out getting the hardtop is easy - I got my hood sticks and really good condition canvas off a classified ad on one of the forums(can't remember which). Tailgate took some finding but got one, you can't beat the roof off motoring.
I haven't bothered remounting the seatbelts as I figure not having a roll-bar is more likely to kill me!!

good luck
tom

You're right - you can't beat going topless...

Hello Tom, haven't heard from you lately How's the Guzzi?

I'm looking at doing the same thing myself, the' mine is a pick-up, I need more seating and figured that soft top was the easiest and most fun way to get them. While I'm here topcatguzzi mentioned seat belts. Does anyone know the regulations about them. My Landy is 1962 88" which was originally a station wagon, and I want 4 seats in the back.

afaik, older cars do not require seat belts to be fitted and worn. however if they are fitted then they must be worn.

sorry cant remember the cut off date. but a 1962 landy must be exempt surely?


edit, this may help somewhat?
http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/legal/seatbelts.html

fatscoleymo said:

Hi, i'm a 1st time owner - just bought a 1978 88" Station Wagon yesterday and want to fit a soft top for the summer (i live in France). I can see that i'll have to remount the inertia reel belt anchorages, and i'm going to need a tailgate (or somthin) etc.etc. Has anybody else done this and can you offer any advice / hints? Help would be much appreciated.

Click to expand...

Here you go fatscoleymo, hope this is of some help.

Sorry fatscoleymo, I've been informed that the file size of my attachments are too big.

Regards WP.

PS, would a description do for yer.

Wesley Pegden said:

Sorry fatscoleymo, I've been informed that the file size of my attachments are too big.

Regards WP.

PS, would a description do for yer.

Click to expand...

Cheers, any help would be appreciated, (Maybe you could send direct to [email protected]?)
Thanks

fatscoleymo said:

Cheers, any help would be appreciated, (Maybe you could send direct to [email protected]?)
Thanks

Click to expand...

Ok chap I'll e-mail the photos to you.

Regards WP.

Hope my email reached you fatscoleymo, If I can offer any more assistance just ask.

Regards WP.