Ultima Targa Top
Discussion
Anyone know of an attempt at a targa top for an Ultima GTR? I love the GTR, and the Can-Am is awesome, but why not have both? With so much customizing in a home built car as it, I'm suprised to have not seen an attempt at a targa top.
I realize this may not be an easy task, but especially those built with the front roll hoop seem better suited. Any comments? The feasiblity of this side project will likely affect my choice of ordering a GTR vs. Can-Am.
I realize this may not be an easy task, but especially those built with the front roll hoop seem better suited. Any comments? The feasiblity of this side project will likely affect my choice of ordering a GTR vs. Can-Am.
Paradigm. Because the doors on the GTR form a large part of the roof (just like the GT40) the maximum width of targa top could not exceed about 10 inches. This is allowing an inch or so for strengthening the aperture. I have just measured this on my Sports and the GTR would be about the same. Hardly worth it really.
GTRCLIVE said: If you want wind in your hair buy a Can Am, If your a man how likes real car's not the HAIRDRESSER version, buy a GTR.
Sorry I must have missunderstood, with 100kgs or more weight saving (more with the airoscreen) and without power sapping air con, the can-am must be the real mans choice????
Bring it on.....
Before I ordered my Canam I looked at having the front roll bar, I spoke to the factory who thought it would be possible, however because of the extra support bar following the seat, access may have been a little restricted. Also fitting of the soft top would have been difficult due to the T bars joining the front and rear roll cage as they curve upwards, depending on your size it may be possible to have the bars fitted straight. I would be interested to know how you get on as this is what I hope to do when I have finished my current build. Good luck.
paradigm said: Alan 2, thanks for checking that out, I could see in photos the problem the top of the doors would cause, but I couldn't tell just how much. I guess if anything, you could end up with a funny looking sun roof instead. Thanks again.
Paradigm
The doors on a Sport or GTR do indeed comprise most of the roof as anyone opening a door after driving the car in rain will agree as most of the water falls in your lap. However, the full height windows on the CanAm do not curl right round above the driver and passenger. Look at the CanAm soft roof which is quite wide, not 10" like the GTR.
J-K, maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean, but in many of the pictures on the Ultima CanAm website show a front roll hoop without the connecting members over the passenger compartment. Were you trying to have a front roll hoop with the smaller wind screen? As far as I can tell, the soft top only fits the larger wind screen anyways, which has the front roll hoop and no "T bars."
Another option that I wanted was as follows:
Both sets of doors and both engine covers, a rear bulkhead that could be changed in favor of a GTR rear buldhead and roof section.
This would be expensive but worth it. When fall arrives convert the car from canam to gtr by changing the doors, bulkhead and engine cover. The rear supports and roll cage could be handled by making the rear supports hinge upward to allow opening the engine cover as is done on many of the canam cars from the 70's. If the gtr roll cage is installed there is no use for the roll bar supports used on the canam.
The factory wouldn't buy it, but I would.
Another option could follow the model of the Ferrari P3, P4. A gtr with canam doors and the center section of the roof removed.
I have yet to see a canam in person but the photos illustrate what appears to be a "gtr" rear bulkhead that has been sectioned and a "canam" bulkhead section that is fitted to its top.
Your right. It is a custom car and it is made of an easily modified material. The question is will the factory sell the canam body parts to the gtr owner.
Ken
Both sets of doors and both engine covers, a rear bulkhead that could be changed in favor of a GTR rear buldhead and roof section.
This would be expensive but worth it. When fall arrives convert the car from canam to gtr by changing the doors, bulkhead and engine cover. The rear supports and roll cage could be handled by making the rear supports hinge upward to allow opening the engine cover as is done on many of the canam cars from the 70's. If the gtr roll cage is installed there is no use for the roll bar supports used on the canam.
The factory wouldn't buy it, but I would.
Another option could follow the model of the Ferrari P3, P4. A gtr with canam doors and the center section of the roof removed.
I have yet to see a canam in person but the photos illustrate what appears to be a "gtr" rear bulkhead that has been sectioned and a "canam" bulkhead section that is fitted to its top.
Your right. It is a custom car and it is made of an easily modified material. The question is will the factory sell the canam body parts to the gtr owner.
Ken
Ken, I was just looking at pictures of the GTR and CanAm when you replied trying to figure out if door hinges and such were placed in the same position so as to accomodate the switching of parts. I suppose you could locate a CanAm owner to report he damaged the parts you needed so the factory would supply him (and ultimately you) with the extra bits. I can see why the factory would resist this...if you want the benefit of both cars, then they would like for you to buy both cars.
Just to clear up, the front hoop on the full screen can-am is what I have.
The hoop is a small steel bar encased in fibreglass and as such isn't in any way a roll bar but is mearly a strong means to contain the Glass windscreen without risk of it cracking.
If you want a permanent hard top this is just a matter of making it in Glassfibre, I'm not sure if I am going this far and only plan to do a roof section, but I do sometimes get carried away (like my budget) so you never know
The hoop is a small steel bar encased in fibreglass and as such isn't in any way a roll bar but is mearly a strong means to contain the Glass windscreen without risk of it cracking.
If you want a permanent hard top this is just a matter of making it in Glassfibre, I'm not sure if I am going this far and only plan to do a roof section, but I do sometimes get carried away (like my budget) so you never know
ultiman said:
The doors on a Sport or GTR do indeed comprise most of the roof as anyone opening a door after driving the car in rain will agree as most of the water falls in your lap. However, the full height windows on the CanAm do not curl right round above the driver and passenger. Look at the CanAm soft roof which is quite wide, not 10" like the GTR.
Ultiman and k wright,
So, perhaps ordering a CanAm car with the larger wind screen and full height windows, but substituting the GTR rear bulk head and engine cover would be the best solution. Fabricating a targa top to fill the void above would basically solve the problem without requiring the changing of parts while giving a targa top look.
The question remains whether the factory will substitute those GTR parts. What do you guys think? Gassing Station | Ultima | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff