Stealth_Racing said:

I am not in any way trying to diss your idea but
1- did you think about the rear window ?
2- you'll have to fabricate some sort of latching system and include it with each kit
3- like others said , How will this handle against water ?
4- A piece of CF would be way too expensive , at least 1500$ is what you're looking at
Your best bet is Fiberglass ( at least 1/4- 3/8 inch thick) with strategic aluminium baces and a plexiglass rear window

you'll have to consider :

Cost of Mold, Braces ,rubber suround ( for weather-profing ) ,rear window , fiberglass .
Time it takes , design , esthetics.....
also that the potential buyers with have to prep/primer/paint the peices

not saying its impossible , You'll need a consideable amount of funds, time and knowledge with structural properties of fiberglass ( Cf) all I'm saying is you have your work cut out for you

Click to expand...

party pooper :laugh:
page 2 ownage

i think that it would be great idea it would sell either way there are plenty of people that would love to have it just look how well the s2000 is selling the hard top the mugen was like 3700 and they couldent even keep them in stock i see more hard tops then regular at the track so go for it

I would be in also.

yeah itll never happen. ive seen about 5 threads now about "fiberglass removeable hard tops" and nothing ever comes of them. too much time and labor to produce and nobody would pay the 1500 bucks for it, then another 300 to paint it.

carbon fiber would be sick and stronger, though expensive

you would def need some reinforcement, maybe like the undeside of a hood

lexan or plexiglass for windows would save alot of weight

targa top in addition to the new hardtop would be diffucult due to the amount of wind force that would try to pull the thing off when the center section is off.

i also think you should spice it up just a little bit, like how the new 6 series bmw convert. has that cool back window thats set in (very sporty) though the hardtop is smooth. overall its a good idea and someone needs to do it!

Hey what about removing the backseats, make a plate-like cover for them and cuting the top off of a previously doomed hatch. Not using the hatch but having a little bit of body work done to give it trailing cannards ala Stingray Vette style and using a flat piece of glass for the rear. and put Miata style hatches on the rear, put factory style Spyder latches up front. This would require permanent removal of the soft top, back seat, and rear quarter windows, though but that's the idea i had. any other ideas?

Whew, what's that smell?

Yeah, if you want to be George Barris, you could build whatever kind of custom you wanted. But if you're doing that, why pretend to be Ford, Chevy or Chrysler and keep dredging up old shit to re-do not as well as it had been the first time?

love the image, sorry new to the forum just going back trying to see if any one had finished the hardtop spyder dilema yet. suprised i got any response at all. thanks man.

i think i would go with what others have said. If i wanted a hard top i would just drive my coupe and saved the money from buying my spyder

okie guys .. i made a custom fiberglass top for the spyder!!! its like a hard top.. but it sits on top of the canvas of the convertable. i didnt really have time to read all of the post so sorry if someone had already done this... i will post pics when i get home tonight from work.. feel free to pm me if you have questions.. its not finished.. but the actual shell is finished.. all it needs is a sand, paint some straps to hold down the top... i have an idea on how to hold it down.. i will finish the working project this weekend... paint and all lets see how it turns out..

the good:
1. it doesnt leak at all!!!
2. you can paint it whatever color you like!!
3. you only have to put it on if it rains!!
4. you can drive with it.
5. it cost me about $180 bucks to build

the bad:
1. its heavy 35lbs. (its not that heavy but!! the size makes it hard to carry)
2. there is no back window!! unless you make a custom plexiglass (which i probably will)
3. you have to look at the weather channel or weather.com atleast once every 3 days. to know when to or not to put the top on.. or you can just drive with it all day..

If this did come out, Ill be wanting a spyder now...I like how the S2000 has that hardtop conversion..

i figured out how to latch it on the spyder.. i took pictures of it.. before the black vinyl... i wrapped it in vinyl last night.. its not bad.. ill take more pictures of the top with the vinyl partially on... the build is not as bad as i thought it would be... i wish i wouldve just spent more time on it!!

so lets see some pics even if its not finished

yes, please post!!

dont see anything

here is the pics before the vinyl.. with the straps that i fiberglass in:
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<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_921247158l.jpg">
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and these are the pics with the vinyl.. its in the dark but its on the car.. i just havent finished the sides and the under body of the fiber glass.. but the top side of the fiberglass if pretty much finished. i just have to do some odds and ends on the bottom side of the fiberglass.. some pictures are are while the top is going on.. so if it off centered.. that means that im showing you the difference.. but actually the top fits the mold of the top of the cavas convertable top.. and it fits sort of like glove!!!
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<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_621621547l.jpg">
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<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_617119267l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_798213422l.jpg">
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sorrry having trouble with the pics..

great start id say...now if you could get it perfectly smooth (right now it still looks like the soft top) and a window in it...you got something good going!

i have to be honest.. this overlay is not going to be on the car permanently.. only when it rains.. soo the way it looks doesnt really have to matter.. i just want to make it look someone presentable in the rain.. but the main purpose is the leaks that it will prevent... more like.. all of the leaks will be fixed..

Any updates?

ever thought of using a 97 3000gt spyder hardtop convertable? thatll be sick...definitely interested in the hard top conversion.

And this thread hasn't been posted in for over 2 years.

Holy thread revival ...

O well^^^ why is it always a big deal if someone revives a thread...

Off topic but has anyone ever made a talon spyder? Swap bumpers, lights, spoiler, steering wheel etc.

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