Built a hard top for my Westfield
Discussion
Just completed building a hardtop for the Westfield using bits leftover from building a canoe. First time it's had a lid since I fitted a bigger RAC MSA rollover bar in 2003 !
Why build a hardtop for the Westfield, simple, I can't currently justify £500 + for a new softtop. Anyway, it's not currently a completely enclosed one. I intend to have removable side & back panels when I get the time.
If I get the time I might use this one as a pattern for a GRP mould and make a roof with lift out Targa top like panels. Mind you, it's taken me a year to get this done so don't hold your breath.
Still testing it. Only got to drive the car with the roof fitted for the first time this evening. I'll let you know how it goes. One thing though, I've definitely "filled out" in the last thirteen years since I last squeezed into it with the roof up.
Unashamed plug for the Youtube vid here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He8-yzX4G8Q
Why build a hardtop for the Westfield, simple, I can't currently justify £500 + for a new softtop. Anyway, it's not currently a completely enclosed one. I intend to have removable side & back panels when I get the time.
If I get the time I might use this one as a pattern for a GRP mould and make a roof with lift out Targa top like panels. Mind you, it's taken me a year to get this done so don't hold your breath.
Still testing it. Only got to drive the car with the roof fitted for the first time this evening. I'll let you know how it goes. One thing though, I've definitely "filled out" in the last thirteen years since I last squeezed into it with the roof up.
Unashamed plug for the Youtube vid here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He8-yzX4G8Q
The main point of this hardtop is so I can use it during the crap weather. My children like doing the school run in it when the opportunity arises and I like to take it into work as much as possible, partly as a last stand resistance to all the modern clone boxes - that's another thread/rant. Not as many classics in the car park as 20 years ago when I started.
I used the Westfield as my only car for the first 15 months I had it with a softtop which did the trick well (overspend = bye bye Astra). However 7 years later, having seen how some fellow rally competitors only just survive when their Sylva Pheonix slid down the road upside down with a full RAC MSA roll bar keeping them alive, I decided it was best I fitted one to the Westfield. This was in place of the seat belt mounting hoop which probably would have just folded over. This meant the old hood no longer fitted. Now having three children I can't justify £550 for a new softtop, which I would prefer.
Having spent 13 years without a roof for it I fancied a bit of warmth and dryness now & then. I have full motorcycle weather gear but have got a bit fed up with the faff (getting old ?). I had some materials left over from building a canoe so now I have a hard top for 1/5 the price of a hood. It's also to help protect the car in the car park if the weather turns nasty during the day.
Styling ? yeah, I'm not entirely happy with it but it does what it's built to do + I don't think it's as bad as some of the abominations out there. Each to their own. It is basically a hard version of the soft top design and is still evolving.
Anyway, I have contemplated having Targa style lift out panels and adding the side back panels but I'm leaving it as it is for now. Petrolhead time is now taken up with a '71 Beetle I'm using to teach my lads (13 & 11) the old Sorcerers ways of angle grinding (I help), welding, shearing off rusty bolts and tinkering with carburetor engines etc. They are quite enthusiastic, though I haven't got them out there since it got cold. I even have problems getting myself out there.
I used the Westfield as my only car for the first 15 months I had it with a softtop which did the trick well (overspend = bye bye Astra). However 7 years later, having seen how some fellow rally competitors only just survive when their Sylva Pheonix slid down the road upside down with a full RAC MSA roll bar keeping them alive, I decided it was best I fitted one to the Westfield. This was in place of the seat belt mounting hoop which probably would have just folded over. This meant the old hood no longer fitted. Now having three children I can't justify £550 for a new softtop, which I would prefer.
Having spent 13 years without a roof for it I fancied a bit of warmth and dryness now & then. I have full motorcycle weather gear but have got a bit fed up with the faff (getting old ?). I had some materials left over from building a canoe so now I have a hard top for 1/5 the price of a hood. It's also to help protect the car in the car park if the weather turns nasty during the day.
Styling ? yeah, I'm not entirely happy with it but it does what it's built to do + I don't think it's as bad as some of the abominations out there. Each to their own. It is basically a hard version of the soft top design and is still evolving.
Anyway, I have contemplated having Targa style lift out panels and adding the side back panels but I'm leaving it as it is for now. Petrolhead time is now taken up with a '71 Beetle I'm using to teach my lads (13 & 11) the old Sorcerers ways of angle grinding (I help), welding, shearing off rusty bolts and tinkering with carburetor engines etc. They are quite enthusiastic, though I haven't got them out there since it got cold. I even have problems getting myself out there.
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