Hard Top Roof And Gull Wings

[NikUK]

Please don't shoot the messenger as I'm only doing a favour for a friend, if this post offends anybodies tastes then appologies:-

A body shop guy has expressed an interest in making a hardtop for the Westy. He seems to think he could make a very nice one-piece with Gull-WIng doors. Meaning, for a start, that its easier to get in and out as well as making it a bit more waterproof. It sounds like a possibility. I think the idea would be to make an aluminium mock up to get the height and shape right for most people and then go from there.

However, I don't know if it's already been tried before and if so if there was any interest. Either way would anyone be interested? I suppose it would mainly appeal to hardcore drivers who use it everyday over the winter or bad weather. Having said that it might actually appeal to a few other people as well. Especially if it was clever enough to be able to remove the doors.

I realise it won't appeal to everyone. Most people like the turbulent wind in the face but I said I'd post on here to get a cross-section of reactions with reasons why you should or shouldn't bother.

No doubt it wouldn't be an entirely straightforward process and there will need to be some considerations to make it easy and simple to mate to multiple models.

But in principal would anyone be interested and I suppose the big question would be, at what price would become uninterested. Again everyone is different but everyones opinion is welcome.

I think realistically a Carbon Fibre roof would be upwards of £2-£3k for sale but an Aluminium roof obviously would be considerably less, no idea what but I would have thought closer to £1-£1.5k.

[Dommo]

I think Westfield tried a fibreglass hard top and came unstuck due to the very nature of kit cars. Each one would be slightly different.

A pretty cool proposition in my eyes though. Perhaps it'd be easier to get into with doors that hinged on the windscreen though, then I guess they'd have to be pretty light.

[Captain Colonial]

It has been done before, and it was interesting / hideous / stupid / laughable / cool / an abomination before God (delete as applicable).

Clicky

There's more photos of it in Westfield: The Story with the gull wing held open with a broom handle. Didn't sell well, did see one on eBay not that long ago, funny enough.

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

what about the different body shapes, body and windscreen fitting variations, different roll bars etc etc

would the intention would be for the guy to have your car to make it around the car?

I suppose it all boils down to if the guy can make something that adds visually to the car and makes it look as though it is supposed to be there within reasonable cost -

I have only ever seen one hard top on a seven that looked fantastic - that was hand crafted out if aluminium and was a work of art - I know the chap that had the car has now sold it - I am unsure to as to whether he ever finished the roof

on the flip side there are a good number of cars out there

sorry to not be a bit more positive :-(

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Westfield tried it a number of years ago and couldn't make it work as a practical proposition back then, but there's no saying someone else couldn't.

Though it has to be said, it appears getting the average owner to spend a four figure sum on an individual upgrade does appear to be a bit of an uphill battle.

[XTR2Turbo]

For the amount it is used it may be better to just fit a superior quality, mohair, soft roof. Look at some of the Morgan 'easy up' examples that don't need poppers etc and can be raised and lowered in under a minute.

Mind you these come in at around £1500 - £2000 also.

Allon White did a nice job on my car.

http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/Morgan-Coach-Trimming/Morgan-Hoods/Speedifit-Hood/

David

[Hammy]

The problem for me would be the cockpit would be very smelly and probably hot and stuffy. Very noisy too ? It defeats the idea of being an open top car .

You'd still get wet too as water gets in through all sorts of places.

Better quality wet weather gear would suit me better. - maybe a canoe style plastic top with elastic around my neck . Like the "easy up" hood

Sorry

[BADGERBEATER]

Thanks for starting the post on my behalf NikUK.

I think it does depend on how it ends up looking and how simple if installs and of course how much it costs.

Gadgetman - It's interesting to see the Westfield Fibreglass Hard top. It doesn't quite work does it.

Cleggy - The idea was to use mine as a sort of Donor to see how it looks but not necessarily as a template for all others. As you say there's a lot of them out there. If he can make it look right then maybe he can sell to 1 percent of owners and get his money back.

I'll pass it all on and see what he thinks. Thanks everyone.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

For the amount it is used it may be better to just fit a superior quality, mohair, soft roof. Look at some of the Morgan 'easy up' examples that don't need poppers etc and can be raised and lowered in under a minute.

Mind you these come in at around £1500 - £2000 also.

Allon White did a nice job on my car.

http://www.allonwhit...Speedifit-Hood/

David

I like that very simple

I wish my hood was that easy to put up

[BADGERBEATER]

The problem for me would be the cockpit would be very smelly and probably hot and stuffy. Very noisy too ? It defeats the idea of being an open top car .

You'd still get wet too as water gets in through all sorts of places.

Better quality wet weather gear would suit me better. - maybe a canoe style plastic top with elastic around my neck . Like the "easy up" hood

Sorry

I don't think it's for everyone, as you say part of the experience is dodging the wildlife and weather but I can think of a couple of occassions where it'd have been a nice alternative

[BEN99W]

I keep meaning to try to cobble a hard version of the half hood concept out of Ali, then potentially carbon. I envisaged incorporating cut-outs to the roof along the line of the all-aluminium locost I think cleggy referenced above. Now this design would not be as protective as a regular hood or even halfhood, and would stow, so there's another disadvantage, however I think Id like it visually and it should add some protection.

I suspect my imagination is more than a match for my manufacturing abilities however, so will probably be a waste of my time, but that's what this car is for

Ben

[DerekJ]

As has been said, I'd love a hard top for mine (narrow body) but would be hard pushed to justify a four figure sum for it.

The Westfield hard top looks .... well.... to be honest... errr... ermmm... how can I put this?.... Not Nice?

I don't know haw many MOs are needed to make a soft top but I hope they are not hurt in harvesting the hair for one . So if anyone can come up with a better design of door and hood then I'd look at it.

[DerekJ]

I keep meaning to try to cobble a hard version of the half hood concept out of Ali, then potentially carbon. I envisaged incorporating cut-outs to the roof along the line of the all-aluminium locost I think cleggy referenced above. Now this design would not be as protective as a regular hood or even halfhood, and would stow, so there's another disadvantage, however I think Id like it visually and it should add some protection. I suspect my imagination is more than a match for my manufacturing abilities however, so will probably be a waste of my time, but that's what this car is for Ben

What about a super wind-deflector? Like the ones that you can get now for each side but as a one-piece with a couple of hundred mm wide from the top of the windscreen bridging the two sides. (If you can imagine what i mean ). It may push a lot of the wind up and over the driver's head as well as out to the side and would not need the complication of doors.

Cheers

DerekJ

[BADGERBEATER]

What about a super wind-deflector? Like the ones that you can get now for each side but as a one-piece with a couple of hundred mm wide from the top of the windscreen bridging the two sides. (If you can imagine what i mean ). It may push a lot of the wind up and over the driver's head as well as out to the side and would not need the complication of doors.

Cheers

DerekJ

I was actually interested in a Rear Windblocker http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/classic-windblocker-p-137.html I thought that might help to cut down the turbulence. I wondered if an MX5 one might fit?

I think I read somewhere that someone had made a couple of [solid] examples out of perspex which were okay but the not as good as a mesh/material one. I think without a wind tunnel your sort of guessing whats going on. I suppose it might be worth experimenting with a bit of material and a few zip-ties.

[Matt F]

I think the key is the way it looks. I am convinced that if someone could make one that looked good it would sell. Its amazing how people manage to find the money if its something they really want. I cant really afford the iPad I bought last week!