E-Type hardtop

[Jukebag]

Lately I've been going through a heap of old Practical Classics mags, one in particular from Aug 2007 (I've even scanned the whole mag in which took me about 3 hours lol). Was surprised to see an SC Parts ad where they were selling S1 E-Type hardtops for as little as £490.



Now it's what, 5 grand, which is completely OTT. Hard to believe they were selling them at that price not that long ago, now it's the price of a brand new hatchback.

[vpr]

That’s not the complete thing, just the shell.

By the time you’ve bought the bits, chromes, Perspex, headlining, catches, rubbers etc etc you’re past 3k then the fun bit of getting the rascal to fit and re fixing the captive nuts etc.

Reckon mine owes me 5k done. But well worth it

Will post pic later because 4g is as much use as a handbrake on a canoe

Edited by vpr on Friday 18th December 12:34

[Taylor James]

Funny things, hardtops. I've wanted one with every convertible I've owned but once I've got one I realise it was a waste of money. Even in the winter the cars are warm enough. Some look awful but that E-type one looks nice.

[piquet]

there was a company back then making repo hardtops, went to see them just because they were £500 vs 2.5k at the time for an original, they were typical classic car, how cheap can we make the part, that's sc parts selling them on

i bought an original had it refurbed, series 1 roadster with body coloured hard top i think is the best looking version of the e-type

[vpr]

Same, but some cars are absolutely transformed beyond belief, such as TR6, fit a hard top in this case, which is properly bolted down and it tightens up the whole car and chassis.

[Yertis]

vpr said:

Same, but some cars are absolutely transformed beyond belief, such as TR6, fit a hard top in this case, which is properly bolted down and it tightens up the whole car and chassis.

Agree 100%, different car really. Do you not find it makes the interior a lot noisier though? I spent a (tiny) fortune sorting out my hardtop. Sometimes I kinda wish I'd not bothered.

[vpr]

Yes definitely hear noises I don’t hear even with the soft top up

Best way is no top, they seem to glide along that way

[Jukebag]

If it's just the shell why illustrate an hardtop with the glass and not mention it dosen't include the glass and other fixtures?. So all that added together comes to near 3k? how much is the glass and latches?. E-Type parts are ludicrously expensive. No wonder most of us will never be able to afford one.

[Keep it stiff]

That e type hardtop looks great.

I find the problem with a hardtop is not so much about how the car feels with - without, it is that when the hardtop is not on the car it is an absolute pain in the butt to store safely in the garage!

[Mike-tf3n0]

VPR, really pleased to see your E type is on the correct 'curly hub' wheels, so many are now on the flat hubs which are just wrong.

Regarding storage of hardtops, I keep my admittedly small VX220 hardtop in it's bag slung from my workshop ceiling. The sling is very easy to make from wide nylon webbing which goes through a domestic sewing machine easily, a few stainless fittings complete the job.

[vpr]

piquet said:

there was a company back then making repo hardtops, went to see them just because they were £500 vs 2.5k at the time for an original, they were typical classic car, how cheap can we make the part, that's sc parts selling them on

i bought an original had it refurbed, series 1 roadster with body coloured hard top i think is the best looking version of the e-type

Yes agreed, thought generally not a big fan of the V12 iow Ed this Commemorative and the combo of Black paint, hard top, chrome pressed wheels and thin Dunlop white wall tyres I thought it was positively handsome. The best I’d ever seen ( even if I do say so myself.

[vpr]

Mike-tf3n0 said:

VPR, really pleased to see your E type is on the correct 'curly hub' wheels, so many are now on the flat hubs which are just wrong.

Regarding storage of hardtops, I keep my admittedly small VX220 hardtop in it's bag slung from my workshop ceiling. The sling is very easy to make from wide nylon webbing which goes through a domestic sewing machine easily, a few stainless fittings complete the job.

Thx, I’m a big fan of painted wires too, less is more I feel.

[vpr]

Jukebag said:

If it's just the shell why illustrate an hardtop with the glass and not mention it dosen't include the glass and other fixtures?. So all that added together comes to near 3k? how much is the glass and latches?. E-Type parts are ludicrously expensive. No wonder most of us will never be able to afford one.

Some of the chromes are very expensive