Thread: make a convertible top

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I am looking for sources of information on how to build a "soft" top for my roadster pickup. At this point in time, I am not sure wheather to build it to fold, or to be a rigid "Carson" style top. What I envision is --build the tubing structure out of thin wall electricians EMT metal tubing, bent with either a bending jig or electricians "Hickey", fabricate hinge points from light bar stock (or if making a Carson style, weld the pipes into finished shape). The roadster pickup started life as a sedan. so the windshield posts were cut off at the roof line and filled with a 3/16" plate, with a 3/8" nut welded on the inside, to accept bolts which would hold some form of header. ( the windshield opening has been modified for a glue in windshield, which will not normally run any header. I will have a local marine shop which sews canvas boat tops make the actual top fabric covering.----if anyone out there has done this succesfully, I would like to hear from them.----I have also seen where people running Carson style tops use old seat belt buckles to connect the tops to the car body structure.---buckle with latch is built into top, tongue which fits into latch part is attached to body, (or vice-versa if you don't want the tongue sticking up to catch your arm when running without the top). Any help or pictures would be appreciated.

Brian, you are a hard working innovator and I hope you will post pictures of what you come up with. I will have the same problem soon and look for your solutions. All that I can contribute at this time is that the guy at Wheel Vintiques from whom I got my wheel told me how he made a top for an A roadster out of electrical conduit as you describe. He also said he made a header out of a straight piece of oak flooring with holes in the end for the A roadster posts. You will have to use bolts or pins sticking up through the top of your windshield frame to simulate the stock posts. That was encouraging to me but recently I have been studying the stock A-roadster top and note that along the inside upper edge of the top over the doors there is a scissor-like folded "X" made of flat steel about 3/4" wide and appears to be about 3/16" thick with a number of stamped bends that allow the scissor to fold up. It looks to be non-trivial to copy those "top irons". It might be possible to look at the '25 T top design in the Speedway catalog and copy that design with conduit? I have thought of buying one of the several fiberglass tops and just living with a simulated cabriolet and seldom taking the top off; your comment about seat-belt buckles is a welcome idea. Another idea I had is to install a roll bar with a permanently attached swing-forward bow-hoop made from 3/8" steel rod or small diameter electrical conduit. Then the top could be just a pullover that snaps at front and rear with Dzuz fasteners over the roll bar like a Jeep summer top. The problem with that idea is that there would be no support over the doors, although a velcro flap along the top edge of the doors could be used to "latch" side curtains in the event of rain. I am sorry that I cannot contribute more than a few random ideas yet so I also look forward to any photos of finished tops. In particular I would like to see one of the fiberglass tops which have been finished and covered with top cloth. Finally, with my sinus problem I would like a design that comes down right behind the rear edge of the door rather than further back as in the stock top design. I don't mind keeping the car in the garage maybe in Jan-Feb during ice storms, but I would like to have a 10 month car. I guess I am asking more than contributing, but this is evidently an area where rodders have been very innovative and I would like to see some pictures of finished tops.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Don---the reason that I want to build a convertible top is that my roadster pickup is such a unique "one of a kind" body, having been made from a sedan body, that no one makes a top to fit it. If I had a car like yours, which is I believe a reproduction of an original Model A roadster, I would buy a top kit from Lebaron Bonney, or one of the many companies who manufacture tops for model A cars. I am enclosing a picture of a convertible top frame that was made by someone, which is similar to what I have in mind.

One of the things to consider with a "rigid" top, Carson style or otherwise, is what do you do with it when you take it off? Many people go down that path, only to later realize that when they go off to a rod run they have to wrestle the thing into the motel room, or where ever. If your space at home is limited you may get by with a hoist on the ceiling. But keep in mind, whenever you take it off and drive away to whatever you're doing, you don't have a top. Extreme sun, or the liquid version, and you're back to being a "real" roadster person. Not trying to rip on the solid tops, just food for thought. But as more people have gained experience in these matters the demand, and supply, of collapsible tops has grown. Not just the "stock" style irons, but the slip together tubing type as well.

Brian, Thanks for the picture. I will check into the Lebaron Bonney, but I am already in sticker shock over the price of the folding top. The whole industry has undergone inflation since I had a top replaced on a Chrysler Lebaron two years ago and found the minimum was $900. I guess the Model A is too old a model to fall under the JC Whitney mail order mechanism. Anyway maybe as I just keep plodding a part at a time the car will eventually get built. Bob's comment is pertinant but maybe with a decent looking fiberglass top well covered with fabric it might just turn out to be a "sport coupe", a winterized roadster. Thanks for the ideas.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I checked out the Lebaron Bonney site and the top irons and bows are still available. My next question to Bob as a true expert is what needs to be done to achieve a 2" chop to the roadster top. The windshield frame is available but I would suppose the main bow would have to be modified. Assuming the upper sides of the top irons stay the same maybe only the main bow has to be shortened?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Here ya go, already made in a 2" chop, they can probably supply the windshield parts too. http://www.girtz.com/carparts/ Very good quality parts. Then check w/ LB see if they make the fabric to a two inch chop, otherwise you'll need to find an upholstery guy with the correct experience.