Safari or Tropical Roof

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

My latest acquisition - a 2A shortie has what I was I called a "Safari" roof. However, the previous owner was adamant that the roof was a "Tropical" roof. Are these two different names for the same type of roof?

I have noticed that photographs of some long wheel based Series vehicles picture these Safari/Tropical style of roofs for having internal vents that come down from the ceiling and into the passenger area.

The roof on my shortie does not have any internal roof vents. There is a second roof that is spaced and bolted above the standard roof. Pretty much the same arrangement as a fly sitting just above a tent.

Or was it the style where shorties did not have internal roof vents anyway and only 109s came with them?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[101RRS]

They are called a Tropical Roof. I think that the term Safari Roof came about where many LRs used on safaris in Africa had Tropical Roofs fitted.

Station Wagon versions had the opening roof vents under the Tropical Roof.

Garry

[Gordie]

I was brought up with them being called safari tops. My SWB does not have that safari top, but it does have the vents, so not only LWB that have them.

[Bigbjorn]

The in-house term was definitely "Tropical Roof". They were standard equipment on Series Station Wagons.

[gromit]

It's listed in the parts manual as a 'Tropical Roof'.
I thought the windows in the roof section were called 'Safari Windows' .....so you could look up at the giraffes maybe ?


Colin

[scarry]

Safari roof was the roof with the two windows up high,on the curved side section,usually in the station wagons,with the extra side windows on the rear of the vehicle,and sometimes a rear door.Mainly LWB.

Tropical roof is the double skinned roof.

FWIW,the S1 in my sig has the tropical roof,as noted on the original invoice for £8 as an extra.

No roof vents.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

In Disco's the top windows are called Alpine,,

[gromit]

Safari roof was the roof with the two windows up high,on the curved side section,usually in the station wagons.


Hence I was under the impression it was the curved roof windows that were 'safari'. Wikipedia lists the Tropical roof as a Safari roof, not like Wikipedia to be incorrect........



In Disco's the top windows are called Alpine,,

To see the mountains rather than the giraffes ?


Colin

[Gordie]

Maybe different countries call it different things, growing up in NZ it was a safari model, eg my ol man had a swb safari. Considering we don't have tropics in NZ, probably not much marketing good calling it a swb with tropical roof.

[gromit]

Maybe different countries call it different things, growing up in NZ it was a safari model, eg my ol man had a swb safari. Considering we don't have tropics in NZ, probably not much marketing good calling it a swb with tropical roof.

But did you go on safari in NZ ?
The interesting thing would be to find documentary evidence that it was actually advertised as a safari roof in NZ, or elsewhere.

Safari roof ? What about the 'roof' makes it suitable for a safari ? Oh yes, those windows......

I'm sure the terms get swapped around, Wikipedia gets it wrong, different Countries call them by different names, Land Rover in different Countries may name things differently in their adverts......


Colin

[Gordie]

Well I can't say what was documented, bit it seemed that it was a given where I was, that anything that was 'stationwagon' albeit it swb or lwb, with a hardtop and rear door, was a 'safari'. And usually they had the 'second roof', although mine doesn't. But no, we didn't go on safaris or go to the tropics, unless we got onto a hairybuzzer(aeroplane).

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Here are some photographs of the vehicle in question. No side windows high in the roof either.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Bigbjorn]

Some time ago I downloaded the Land Rover Salesman's Manual on to Aulro. If you look at pages 29 & 30 Land Rover clearly refer to both the 88" & 109" station wagons as having a tropical roof. It was never referred to as anything else in house at Leyland Australia.

Kiwis speak funny so they may have strange names for things.

[gromit]

Well I can't say what was documented, bit it seemed that it was a given where I was, that anything that was 'stationwagon' albeit it swb or lwb, with a hardtop and rear door, was a 'safari'. And usually they had the 'second roof', although mine doesn't. But no, we didn't go on safaris or go to the tropics, unless we got onto a hairybuzzer(aeroplane).

As you suggest maybe it was a local thing to call a Station Wagon a Safari ?
In the UK a sedan with a rear door and space behind the seats was an Estate Car sometimes called a Station Wagon or Shooting Brake. I'm not sure if Station Wagon was a British or American term.

A quick google also throws up 'Safari rear door', which is the rear door from a Station Wagon but it allows easy access to passengers in the back row so handy on a safari ..... who knows.....

Lionel,
Interesting that your roof doesn't have the windows but both the SWB & LWB Station Wagon roofs in the parts manuals have windows. As yours isn't a Station Wagon maybe the 'optional' Tropical Roof didn't have the windows and interior vents ?

Just found a copy of the Series II & IIa options. It mentions the Tropical roof as an additional panel that can be fitted to the existing roof. That might explain the lack of windows & vents.

Colin

[Gordie]

Kiwis speak funny so they may have strange names for things.Thungs thanks mate, sheez get it right.

[Gordie]

Hello All,

Here are some photographs of the vehicle in question. No side windows high in the roof either.

Kind Regards
LionelWell there you go, no way would that be consider a safari in NZ in those days...no back door and no sliding windows. May well have just been called a tropical roof!

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I grew up in an era where station wagons and panel vans had a two piece arrangement. A tailgate that could be lowered and the top window section that could be left raised on struts. This allowed loads not to be distributed along the road while the vehicle was in motion - with the tailgate up. Meanwhile you could listen to the note of the tailpipe with the rear window open. So all things considered I am quite happy with the shortie's set up.

What I would like to know is how to secure the two top struts - pivoting metal rods - the things that hold the top rear window open. Are there any clips that these struts fit into when the window is closed? Does anyone have any part numbers for these clips; or photographs that show where these should go that you could please post up?

Kind regards
Lionel

[101RRS]

Hello All,

Here are some photographs of the vehicle in question. No side windows high in the roof either.

Kind Regards
Lionel

That is a Tropical Roof.

Have a look at page 4 under body work - it says Full Length Tropical Roof (not safari roof) 1956-107-Station-Wagon.pdf - Google Drive (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-uEPi7bxTsQTFd3cTljRWhNRDA/view)

[Bigbjorn]

Hello All,

Here are some photographs of the vehicle in question. No side windows high in the roof either.

Kind Regards
Lionel

That is an 88" Hardtop with optional or accessory tropical roof.

[gromit]

What I would like to know is how to secure the two top struts - pivoting metal rods - the things that hold the top rear window open. Are there any clips that these struts fit into when the window is closed? Does anyone have any part numbers for these clips; or photographs that show where these should go that you could please post up?


I don't have a picture handy but they're called Terry Clips.Terry clip - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_clip)
Used to be available at every hardware store but not nowadays.

Don't appear in the parts manual, probably because the hardtop or soft top was optional.

Part number must exist somewhere, I'll post a picture if I get home early enough tomorrow.



Colin

[gromit]

Part number is 334073

https://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/series/series-3/parts/body-and-fittings/334073-terry-clip-lift-up-door-stay-1958-84.html


Colin

[Lionelgee]

Part number is 334073

334073 - Terry Clip Lift up Door Stay 1958 - 84 (https://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/series/series-3/parts/body-and-fittings/334073-terry-clip-lift-up-door-stay-1958-84.html)


Colin

Hello Colin,

thanks for the reply and for the link to the "Terry Clips". How the rods fall down without the clips is very abrupt and a tad disconcerting.

I just visited Wikipedia to find out what a Norton Big 4 was. Accessed 14th June 2018 from, Norton Big 4 - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_Big_4) what year is your Norton "Big 4"?

Kind regards
Lionel

[gromit]

I just visited Wikipedia to find out what a Norton Big 4 was. Accessed 14th June 2018 from, Norton Big 4 - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_Big_4) what year is your Norton "Big 4"?


Didn't get home early enough to take a picture of the support rods, will try and remember at the weekend.

My Big 4 is early 50's. Rigid rear end and telescopic forks.
Cost me 40GBP and it was supplied in pieces. Found that the magneto & dynamo had been re-wound and it had a new regulator box so happy with the purchase (I was still living with my parents when I got it)
Moved it out from the UK about 17 years ago and it's still in pieces.......


Colin

[Cowboy Don]

Didn't get home early enough to take a picture of the support rods, will try and remember at the weekend.

My Big 4 is early 50's. Rigid rear end and telescopic forks.
Cost me 40GBP and it was supplied in pieces. Found that the magneto & dynamo had been re-wound and it had a new regulator box so happy with the purchase (I was still living with my parents when I got it)
Moved it out from the UK about 17 years ago and it's still in pieces.......


Colin

Ooooh! Love my Nortons, have had 2 Commandos, still own 1 (also the pres of the local Norton club here). Before I moved to Aus from Canada 14 years ago helped my mate get his WD 16H back together and used it as my daily for about 2 months in Toronto.
If ya want to move your Big 4 on, I'm happy to give ya the 40GBP you paid! He he.
141265

[gromit]

Ooooh! Love my Nortons, have had 2 Commandos, still own 1 (also the pres of the local Norton club here). Before I moved to Aus from Canada 14 years ago helped my mate get his WD 16H back together and used it as my daily for about 2 months in Toronto.
If ya want to move your Big 4 on, I'm happy to give ya the 40GBP you paid! He he.
141265

You'd probably give me the 800GBP I paid for the Vincent as well I guess.......


Colin

[gromit]

Picture of the Terry Clip holding a support rod on Wallit.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/06/214.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/L7iBdm)DSCN4838 (https://flic.kr/p/L7iBdm) by Colin Radley (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152321353@N07/), on Flickr

Because of the vibration on Wallit the PO had to do some welding and also put a Terry Clip inside another Terry Clip on the other side.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/06/215.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/L7iA1b)DSCN4837 (https://flic.kr/p/L7iA1b) by Colin Radley (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152321353@N07/), on Flickr

When I was first starting to use Wallit I had a lot of noises to track down & try to resolve.
One was the pop rivet holding one of the Terry Clips was loose so I had to drill it out & replace. There is also some rubber tubing on one of the support rods so they don't vibrate against each other when they are clipped up.



Colin

[rover-56]

Safari roof was the roof with the two windows up high,on the curved side section,usually in the station wagons,with the extra side windows on the rear of the vehicle,and sometimes a rear door.Mainly LWB.

Tropical roof is the double skinned roof.

FWIW,the S1 in my sig has the tropical roof,as noted on the original invoice for £8 as an extra.

No roof vents.

The 1958 S1 Station Wagon I once owned had tropical roof, "safari" curved windows, larger openable side windows and the roof vents.
I still think I was stupid to sell it [bigsad]

Terry

[Cowboy Don]

You'd probably give me the 800GBP I paid for the Vincent as well I guess.......


Colin

Colin, if it would help you out of a jam, I'd be happy to give ya 1000 for the pair, a carton of your favourite brew, and I'll even drive out there to pick them up.

[67hardtop]

Colin, if it would help you out of a jam, I'd be happy to give ya 1000 for the pair, a carton of your favourite brew, and I'll even drive out there to pick them up.I know you would too Don. U do love ur Nortons.

Cheers Rod

[gromit]

Colin, if it would help you out of a jam, I'd be happy to give ya 1000 for the pair, a carton of your favourite brew, and I'll even drive out there to pick them up.

Check the obituary columns and if my name pops up phone my wife.....she'll probably pay you to take them away !


Colin