Thread: could freelander softtop accomodate a hardtop??

Originally Posted by hobbsy

Hey

I want to buy a freelander 3dr hardtop but have only found a good soft top to buy instead. I was just wondering if a freelander built for a softtop could accomodate a hardtop from another freelander (say from a wrecker)?? I would need to get the 3 glass windows also...would these fit on too?

If so would I need to match up years or do you think a '99 hardtop would fit on a '98 softtop for example.

has anyone ever heard of someone doign this before?

Cheers

Tom

Hi Tom - I feel your pain. I sold my Freelander soft-top about a year after moving to Canberra... that first Winter was not pleasant

Are you wanting to do a full conversion from soft-top to permanent hard-top or just get the removable hard-top that you keep on for Winter and/or better security?

Land Rover (via Rolfe back then) wanted about $5k for the removable hard-top. No idea what they're worth now. As I recall it was supposed to be a pretty straightforward swap. If you haven't already got yourself a RAVE CD, get one... it has a section that decribes how to fit/remove the soft-top and hard-top.

Cheers, Paul.

Hey Paul

hahaha yep! It's getting so cold down her now! But mainly I just like the look and security of a hardtop better. I think I may be able to find the removable roof part from a smashed freelander at a car yard.

So you think that if I was to buy a softop freelander and a hardtop part from a differant car it would be as simple as just attaching it on or would I have to pay to get the freelander converted to be able to accomdate a hardtop part? I wouldnt be interested in keeping the softop and would be happy for a permanent hardtop.

Keeping with my question above...So the $5k that you mentioned, was that to pay for the hardtop part itself or was there work required to update the car to accomodate the part aswell??

Thanks for you help mate!

Tom

All three doors are softtops but some also came with an optional removable hardtop. This is the only hardtop that will fit on a three door freelander. They are expensive though.

I assume you are talking about cutting the steel roof off a five door and cutting it to fit a three door - if you have the dollars, anything is possible but not really practical.

Just buy the proper hardtop for the 3 three door softtop.

Garry

I put this up in response to your thread in Tech - posting the same thing in different areas causes confusion.

All three doors are softtops but some also came with an optional removable hardtop. This is the only hardtop that will fit on a three door freelander. They are expensive though.

I assume you are talking about cutting the steel roof off a five door and cutting it to fit a three door - if you have the dollars, anything is possible but not really practical.

Just buy the proper hardtop for the 3 three door softtop.

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

All three doors are softtops but some also came with an optional removable hardtop. This is the only hardtop that will fit on a three door freelander. They are expensive though.

I assume you are talking about cutting the steel roof off a five door and cutting it to fit a three door - if you have the dollars, anything is possible but not really practical.

Just buy the proper hardtop for the 3 three door softtop.

Garry

Hi Gary

Thanks a lot for your answer mate! actually it is the 3 door freelander that I'm talking about. Sorry forgot to mention that.

So just to clarify..I'f I can find a hardtop part it will fit on any 3dr soft top freelander I buy . Or did you mean that only some 3dr softops will accomodate a hardtop?

Sorry for the confusion I just dont want to buy the 3dr soft top freelander if its not going to be able to easily fit the hardtop part on it.

cheers!

Tom

Just to clarify - the hardtop goes on any three door - it is designed to go on and off like a hardtop does on a sports car - when it is off there is the softtop in case it rains.

Garry

Originally Posted by hobbsy

Hey Paul

So you think that if I was to buy a softop freelander and a hardtop part from a differant car it would be as simple as just attaching it on or would I have to pay to get the freelander converted to be able to accomdate a hardtop part? I wouldnt be interested in keeping the softop and would be happy for a permanent hardtop.

Keeping with my question above...So the $5k that you mentioned, was that to pay for the hardtop part itself or was there work required to update the car to accomodate the part aswell??

Hi Tom
If you still have the Owner's Handbook, there is a section that describes how to fit and remove the "hardback". Looks pretty simple... a lot simpler and faster than fiddling around with the softback if you have a helper.

No conversion is required - a 3-door softback has all necessary mounting points for the hardback. If you get a 2nd hand hardback, make sure that the front catches are in good nick, as are the locking levers.

Be careful about the year of the car you get it from. It may not be a problem for the hardbacks but I recetly got caught when I bought a TJM nudge bar from a 1999 model and then found that it would not fit my wife's 2001 TD4.

Cheers, Paul.

Thanks a lot Paul & Gary!! that has helped me so much!

Looks like I can go buy the freelander now.

I'll let u know how I went.

Cheers!

Tom