Thread: Hidden convertible top, ala Hotrods & Horsepower

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I am rather intrigued by the flip up daisy panel on a roadster that lets you totally hide a folded convertible top in it. I have a February 2005 copy of rodders Digest which shows some of the detail involved in it, and I THINK that Hotrods and Horsepower sells a roadster with this feature. Does anyone have more detailed information on this modification?---Now mind you, I'm not saying I may build another car---perish the thought!!!---But still---it is intriguing---Brian

Here is the HR&HP web page: http://www.hotrodsandhorsepower.com/turnkey.html
The mechanism was designed by ASC in Detroit who also assembled the cars (the stampings were outsourced on Kirksite dies). There were 300 cars made before ASC bowed out...now Oakley is doing the stamping/assembly.
The top works well...ASC has done quite a few top mechanisms for the auto manufacturers...the SSR folding hardtop was done by ASC. ASC was originally "american sunroof corporation" but broadened their scope and went to "American Specialty Cars" Some of their people spun off and are doing a 33 roadster with a similar folding top.
I have one of the '32 bodies with the top...
mike in tucson

Mike---I'm a fairly "handy" person when it comes to building hotrods. Does this modification look like something that could be done by a talented home builder, starting with a "stock" configured model A or 32 fiberglass body? Do you have any pictures you could post showing the relative position of the cuts required in the body and the shape of the internal 'pocket" that holds the folded top? Thank You---Brian

Just for info, Downs makes the glass version of the Dearborn Deuce roadster.

Brian, the top is designed along with the body mounting. The body has a "tulip" panel that is hinged...similiar to an Allante top cover. There are mounting hard points on each side behind the seat area where the top assy bolts. The windshield has the appropriate latches.

I would not recommend trying to integrate this specific top onto a car that was not built to accept it...(1) the tulip panel is the key and it is not an easy part to duplicate without tooling (2) this specific top fits only one windshield design, and (3) the mounting locations would have to be integrated into the body structure (easy).

Are you interested in the tulip panel closeups or the top? My top has the material installed so pictures would be pretty lame (black metal on black cloth). I can take pics of the tulip panel if you want.

mike in tucson

I am more interested in the actual cuts and mods to the body. The top is something that I can figure out on my own, after having gone thru the exercise of designing and building the top for the rpu in my avatar.---Brian

I'll take some pics... the changes to the body are significant since the tulip panel includes the compound curves and stamped reveals around the back side of the cockpit. Since a danged '32 didnt have a flat surface on it (except for the windshield glass), the panel stamping was tricky...the gaps in the ASC body are good but not perfect since the tulip panel has to align with multiple panels that are assembled by welding (in a fixture). Here is a page with some shots of their fixture:
http://www.dearborndeuce32.com/shoptour.html

mike in tucson

Mike---I have considerable experience modifying fiberglass bodies. I agree, the cuts in the body are all in compound curve areas, however to make the various cuts required, I would only remove an area the width of a sabre saw blade. Glass is such a forgiving medium to work with, (just ask Don "Itoldyouso") that the real trick would be in getting the hinge points set correctly and hardstops for the hinged panels to seat against when the panels were closed.

Since I dont have my camera with me today, here are some pics from Randy's excellent web site:

http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/DDcoupe.html

mike in tucson

If I were really bold---I'd shorten a two door sedan into a truck cab, but leave it about 16" longer than really needed. Cut the top off, and steal the entire retracting hardtop assembly off a Chev SSR pickup----you know where this is going, don't you---Brian

Go Brian Go!! Mazda has one also, and Porshe. There was a vendor 32 with one installed at the NSRA show in springfield Mo that was all steel for around 17,000. Not sure who they where now but there are bodys out there now that this has already been done.

Have a friend who is building one of these. He is using a Coast to Coast
body.