Lightweight Hard Top for a 400SE
Lightweight Hard Top for a 400SE
Author
Discussion

hepburn

Original Poster:

1 posts

261 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Please can anyone help me...

Does anybody know where I can get a lightweight hard top for a wedge (in particular a 400SE)

Many thanks.

gsx600

2,740 posts

275 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Never seen one, but I assume you mean along the lines of Mazda and MG etc.

Would be a usefull item for winter, but think you would probably have to get one fabricated.

How would you go topless on those glorious sunny winter days with ease ?

mikeb

2,869 posts

309 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
I don't know about a lightweight tops but the difference in weight on the 450SE to the 350i hard tops is tremendous!.

As soon as I lifted out the hard top panel on the 450 I though blimey this thing weighs a ton!.

I don't know if it is thicker or it has any sort of strenghtening built into the 400/450 hard tops but they do weigh quite a bit more than the 350i versions (in my experiance).

MikeB

stever

1,571 posts

276 months

Thursday 14th October 2004
quotequote all
mikeb said:
I don't know about a lightweight tops but the difference in weight on the 450SE to the 350i hard tops is tremendous!.

As soon as I lifted out the hard top panel on the 450 I though blimey this thing weighs a ton!.

I don't know if it is thicker or it has any sort of strenghtening built into the 400/450 hard tops but they do weigh quite a bit more than the 350i versions (in my experiance).

MikeB


I think he's asking about a true (all over) hardtop rather than just the Targa panel although I must admit I took it the same way as you when first read.

Security would be the only reason why I could think anyone would want this, it would look naff IMHO

waynester

6,513 posts

277 months

Thursday 14th October 2004
quotequote all
stever said:


Security would be the only reason why I could think anyone would want this, it would look naff IMHO




The existing targa top and hood seem a good compromise over standard soft tops IMO, best of both worlds. Leave be..!

d p - 400se

338 posts

277 months

Thursday 14th October 2004
quotequote all
waynester said:

stever said:


Security would be the only reason why I could think anyone would want this, it would look naff IMHO





The existing targa top and hood seem a good compromise over standard soft tops IMO, best of both worlds. Leave be..!


Hear Hear

stever

1,571 posts

276 months

Thursday 14th October 2004
quotequote all
and hear

tasmania

782 posts

290 months

Friday 15th October 2004
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I have a mould for the centre section of the hard top but it's not fantastic and the parts need a lot of work to get sorted. Steve Heath and I are hatching a plan to do a complete hard top which, when the new addition is in the garage I will set about doing. I hope to do this as a comprehensive item with return flanges, etc.
TaS

dickymint

28,880 posts

285 months

Friday 15th October 2004
quotequote all
tasmania said:
I have a mould for the centre section of the hard top but it's not fantastic and the parts need a lot of work to get sorted. Steve Heath and I are hatching a plan to do a complete hard top which, when the new addition is in the garage I will set about doing. I hope to do this as a comprehensive item with return flanges, etc.
TaS


Put me down for 2 dont care what they look like - Winters a comeing and theyre both being used daily!

firefox1712

1,772 posts

282 months

Friday 15th October 2004
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So how would you remove the hood to fit the hardtop?

350matt

3,885 posts

306 months

Friday 15th October 2004
quotequote all
unbolt it?

firefox1712

1,772 posts

282 months

Friday 15th October 2004
quotequote all
Are dere bolts dere den dat fix it?

Dem dere bolts do dere fixit do dey?

Didn't know 'bout dem dere bolts!

I'll take a look sometime.

seamus

1,053 posts

309 months

Saturday 16th October 2004
quotequote all
Imagine it would look something like the weismann number that goes on a Z1, works-ish - for the wedges there are a row of bolts that are accessed from within the cabin and boot, not that difficult to remove and then put back on for those that prefer a hardtop option..


SEvans

1,183 posts

294 months

Saturday 16th October 2004
quotequote all
seamus said:
Imagine it would look something like the weismann number that goes on a Z1, works-ish - for the wedges there are a row of bolts that are accessed from within the cabin and boot, not that difficult to remove and then put back on for those that prefer a hardtop option..


I think the early Tasmin's are slightly different, well mine is anyway. The lower part of the roof is held on with a finishing piece of fibreglass covered in vinyl, screwed on with self-tappers into the fibreglass. There are no nuts or bolts. I wouldn't like to keep removing these to put the hard top on.