What,s the purpose of these?
Discussion
Looks like they've adapted an MX5 hardtop by using the Mazda rear section & glass and mating to the Chimaera targa panel.
Not a bad idea as it takes away a big part of the challenge of building a Chimaera hardtop and gives you a proper fitted glass rear screen with a heating element.
If you look at an MX5 hardtop it has two external mounting tangs at the back just below the rear screen, I suspect those rather ugly chrome scoops have something to do with with mating the MX5 hardtop mounting tangs to the Chimaera rear deck.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C446377
http://hardtopsmazdamx5.blogspot.co.uk/
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/55172/hard-...
The idea of adapting a reasonably readily available MX5 hardtop is a good one, the execution is somewhat disappointing due to the strange chrome scoops.
Personally I feel a Chimaera hardtop is solving a problem that doesn't exist, the original hood design is excellent and if fitted & sealed correctly is very snug indeed.
If you fit a hardtop you invariably have to remove the folding roof section, when the warm weather comes that means you're either with the hardtop on, or taking the risk you wont be caught out in a shower.
All that makes a Chimaera hardtop a totally pointless concept to me, the folding Surrey top on the other hand is a really practical and clever bit of kit.
Not a bad idea as it takes away a big part of the challenge of building a Chimaera hardtop and gives you a proper fitted glass rear screen with a heating element.
If you look at an MX5 hardtop it has two external mounting tangs at the back just below the rear screen, I suspect those rather ugly chrome scoops have something to do with with mating the MX5 hardtop mounting tangs to the Chimaera rear deck.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C446377
http://hardtopsmazdamx5.blogspot.co.uk/
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/55172/hard-...
The idea of adapting a reasonably readily available MX5 hardtop is a good one, the execution is somewhat disappointing due to the strange chrome scoops.
Personally I feel a Chimaera hardtop is solving a problem that doesn't exist, the original hood design is excellent and if fitted & sealed correctly is very snug indeed.
If you fit a hardtop you invariably have to remove the folding roof section, when the warm weather comes that means you're either with the hardtop on, or taking the risk you wont be caught out in a shower.
All that makes a Chimaera hardtop a totally pointless concept to me, the folding Surrey top on the other hand is a really practical and clever bit of kit.
Edited by ChimpOnGas on Monday 2nd February 12:33
The Steve Edwards one fits in the boot, so why shouldn't this..?
I go the other way, and think that if you can fit it in the boot (rear section + hard-covered targa) - it would be an improvement...
You could get something that looked a lot more Cerb-like (with the beautiful rear quarterlights) and suited to the overall shape of the car than the pram hood - which while it works, when locked upright the hoop line and rear screen never blended in with the curvy lines...
It would also give more thief-protection than the fabric pram hood, and allow the elegant lines of the design to be un-sullied by the sticking-up pram hood when the car was in "open top" mode...
All IMO,
Dom
I go the other way, and think that if you can fit it in the boot (rear section + hard-covered targa) - it would be an improvement...
You could get something that looked a lot more Cerb-like (with the beautiful rear quarterlights) and suited to the overall shape of the car than the pram hood - which while it works, when locked upright the hoop line and rear screen never blended in with the curvy lines...
It would also give more thief-protection than the fabric pram hood, and allow the elegant lines of the design to be un-sullied by the sticking-up pram hood when the car was in "open top" mode...
All IMO,
Dom
domV8 said:
The Steve Edwards one fits in the boot, so why shouldn't this..? I go the other way, and think that if you can fit it in the boot (rear section + hard-covered targa) - it would be an improvement...
Pop it in the boot then see whats left for luggage, best part of fek all is the answer making even a two part hard top completely pointless to my mind.Sometimes I think we are so keen to modify we lose track of our senses, I guess you could use it as a winter roof then go back to the proper convertible arrangement in the summer, but what a faff that would be.
I thought I'd only use my folding Surrey top for touring in the summer turns out the thing is that good it's become my default all rear round roof.
Sorry I honestly can't see the point in a Chimaera hardtop, if I wanted a hardtop TVR I would have bought a Cerbera.
Edited by ChimpOnGas on Monday 2nd February 19:25
Having owned a convertible with a hard top in the past what tends to happen is you end up with it on permanently.
Cumbersome to remove and bulky to store, the hardtop becomes a fixed feature so you may as well have bought a closed car in the first place.
And all the hardtops for the Chimaera I've seen so far require the removal of the folding section of the factory roof, that's a stupid idea, knowing the car will have no form of roof at all will mean you'll simply never take it off.
Yes the Steve Edwards hardtop fits in the boot but only if the boot Is completely empty, if you went touring or even shopping with his hardtop on and the sun came out, where you going to put the thing then?
The whole point of a convertible is it converts, converts from a closed car to an open car in seconds. If it doesn't do that its not a convertible anymore, at which point you may as well have bought yourself a tin top.
There are a number of posts on here where people have become very excited about the prospect of a Chimaera hardtop, but I honestly can't see the point.
If your factory roof is fitted well and seals correctly it really is an excellent system.
If you want a closed Chimaera, buy a Cerbera!
Cumbersome to remove and bulky to store, the hardtop becomes a fixed feature so you may as well have bought a closed car in the first place.
And all the hardtops for the Chimaera I've seen so far require the removal of the folding section of the factory roof, that's a stupid idea, knowing the car will have no form of roof at all will mean you'll simply never take it off.
Yes the Steve Edwards hardtop fits in the boot but only if the boot Is completely empty, if you went touring or even shopping with his hardtop on and the sun came out, where you going to put the thing then?
The whole point of a convertible is it converts, converts from a closed car to an open car in seconds. If it doesn't do that its not a convertible anymore, at which point you may as well have bought yourself a tin top.
There are a number of posts on here where people have become very excited about the prospect of a Chimaera hardtop, but I honestly can't see the point.
If your factory roof is fitted well and seals correctly it really is an excellent system.
If you want a closed Chimaera, buy a Cerbera!
ChimpOnGas said:
Having owned a convertible with a hard top in the past what tends to happen is you end up with it on permanently.
I've just realised - you are the person the Griff owners always see driving out and about... 
Seriously - I accept with a single piece hardtop its more difficult - but with a 2-piece, very little bother if you man up...
And if your worried about boot space, just take out one or two of the dead prostitutes,and hey presto - bucket loads of space
If made with well thought-out fittings - there is no reason why the rear portion of the hardtop couldn't stay in place without the roof on (the "targa" mode), thats how I prefer to drive anyway...
IMO the pram hood is a triumph of function over form, and the lines are totally incongruous with the rest of the cars styling, and detract from the end result. I think for those who appreciate the different styling and other benefits a hardtop can confer (thinking a design like the rear window/quarterlights of the Malaysian hardtop), they could be made to fit with a minimum of fuss, and far less hassle than I think you are envisaging...
IMO,
Dom
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