Thread: Canvas soft top options

Looks an exceptional job for an amateur! Sure you haven't done anything like this before? Maybe just perseverance.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Looks an exceptional job for an amateur! Sure you haven't done anything like this before? Maybe just perseverance.

John

Yes John. It's mostly a case of being very patient and not rushing it . There are mistakes , not evident in the pics . I've made the rear curtain with two windows , haven't sewn it in yet . From my research, the early tops ( pre 51?) featured a brass gauze material for the two small rear windows. Around 52 ?, they apparently went to a clear PVC material in one piece , for the rear window. Keeping in line with 80" production, the tops were changed 3-4 times during production - the parts book does help to a degree with car nr. change over points .

Charlie, the fires got too close for comfort , sadly, a local village here was burnt with houses lost. A friend of mine ( a 1954 86" series 1 owner ) was caught alone, working on the local TV and FM radio transmitter site. The fire roared up the mountain but he kept his head, he sheltered inside the stations brick car port with a hose sprayed on himself. The site was extensively burnt with much infrastructure damage but they managed to get the transmitters up and running again in no time.

Thank heavens he survived Mike!

I suspected life was pretty grim for you, from your absence on the usual forums. How are things now as far as the fires are concerned?

Cheers Charlie

Originally Posted by shamirj

hi All,

Just thinking of purchasing a cheaper option for the soft top of 1955 S1 swb. <snip> Came across a s3 88 inch which could be made to suit though 2 inches longer.

Originally Posted by back_in

A little news
86 top same size as a 88 inch
it is the front of the bulk head is were the 2 inches difference is
cheers
Ian

Unfortunately the Series 3 is too short for the series 1. it would have a bare midrift, secondly the shape of the Series 1 is wider at the top of the windscreen than the Series 3 and after both of those the shape of the sloping sides of the Series 3 will leave gaps at the top corners of the rear flap. Even the hooks at the top of the windscreen are different.

With all the work you'd have fixing the differences it would be quicker and easier making one from scratch as Mike did, or as Numpty's Missus mentioned, get one from Melbourne.

BTW. Great work Mike!

Diana

Originally Posted by chazza

Thank heavens he survived Mike!

I suspected life was pretty grim for you, from your absence on the usual forums. How are things now as far as the fires are concerned?

Cheers Charlie

I was actually very hectic , with twisting circumstances I won't go into here , I was caught in town and couldn't make it back here as the roads had been closed off by the authorities. I was being guided towards a communal shelter , but ended up staying with somebody for 2 days.

Presently, they are back burning to the North of here . It has settled down without any threats but who knows what is in store in the future right across this vast land. It could happen again in any state.

Hi All
thanks Diana, I should have mention I was talking Series 1's
and the wind screen loop mounts also decrease from 8 to 7 from 86/88 Series 1 to Series 2 2A and 3's.
that would make fitting a little hard
cheers
Ian

Have you thought of making a "truck cab" style canvas top like what was used on the early 80" Landys. That might be a bit easier to make.