Hard Top - Now Obsolete

[Neil D.]

and this is what the orginal looked like  ::)<br><br><br><br>For those who do not have the above book  :-[<br><br>Neil

[Kuching]

I presume that this is the original Lotus design. I would have to say that the styling looks quite disjointed and out of place.<br><br>Surely this is not the work of Peter Stevens.

[F1 LOTUS]

How's the Hard Top progressing Si?

[Kuching]

It currently resides in the que at the pattern makers.<br><br>The disadvantage of not paying the motorsport premium is that you don't get to call the shots with the timescale.

[rmh27]

Hi Simon<br><br>I would like to register my interest in your hardtop.<br><br>Robert<br>

[stevieshag]

a hard top would be great, i am picking up my elan next week, then she is off to get re-trimmed, so a good hard top to protect interior on those wet cold summers in wiltshire would be much appreciated.  steve

[Kuching]

I might not quite make it in time for the cold wet summer, but with a cold wet Cumbrian autumn heading this way I have every reason to press on with the project.<br><br>I trust that you will enjoy your new Elan as much as the rest of us do.

[Nige]

Stevie,<br><br>Whereabouts in Wiltshire?  I work and live in Wilts during the week and travel home at weekends.  Had my Elan from new and whilst there are plenty who know more than me I like to think I know my way around the Elan and happy to help a new owner out if you wish.<br><br>Nige

[Sy V]

Stevie<br><br>If you send me a picture of your car or any other pic that you'd like to use in your avatar, I'll try and get rid of that bloody smurf thing if you want...unless you have a thing about little blue faced b*****ds!

[westonben]

Having a bad morning Sy?

[Sy V]

No!<br><br>I thought I'd just offer my services...I'm having a wonderful carefree morning actually.  To such an extent that I'm about to take the gun out for some gratuitous anti-rabbit violence.

[stevieshag]

Hi all . will post a pic of carwhen i eventually pick it up, seems an absolute age since we done the deal. Still it will be worth the wait. Could send ya a pick of my Alfa if you like,  :-[ . is that a no i hear you cry  

[Fubar1764]

I think I'm not quite understanding. Will the hardtop require the removing of the tonneau cover to secure?!  ???<br><br>Cheers!<br>Jack

[Kuching]

Yes, the tonneau will have to be removed to fit the hardtop, but it should only take 2 minutes to undo the 4 fixing screws. <br><br>

[Doug]

[quote author=Kuching link=board=body;num=1081474915;start=105#113 date=07/18/04 at 15:35:14]Yes, the tonneau will have to be removed to fit the hardtop, but it should only take 2 minutes to undo the 4 fixing screws. <br>[/quote]<br>yeah, 2 minutes to undo the screws, then 20 minutes to futz the beheameth up and into place, hold precariously with one hand elevated while reaching under with the other hand to thread the screws through the hinges upward in hopes of getting them in the fixing holes . . .  ::)<br><br>I hope the fixing holes have well fixed metal collared screw ports (or whatever you call them)<br><br>just being my usual cynical self  :-[

[F1 LOTUS]

[quote author=AV8NDOC link=board=body;num=1081474915;start=105#114 date=07/18/04 at 21:12:49]<br><br>I hope the fixing holes have well fixed metal collared screw ports (or whatever you call them)<br><br>just being my usual cynical self  :-[[/quote]<br><br>Yeah this will guarantee that the the Hard Top is a perfect fit because all Elans are perfectly identical. <br><br>Just being my usual sarcastic self  :)

[Kuching]

[quote author=AV8NDOC link=board=body;num=1081474915;start=105#114 date=07/18/04 at 21:12:49]<br>yeah, 2 minutes to undo the screws, then 20 minutes to futz the beheameth up and into place, hold precariously with one hand elevated while reaching under with the other hand to thread the screws through the hinges upward in hopes of getting them in the fixing holes . . .  ::)[/quote]<br>What I should have also explained is that the hardtop will not be fixed onto the same brackets/hinges as the tonneau. The aerodynamic forces would be too great for these flimsy mounts. Instead there will be a small bracket attached to the existing convertible frame mount which could be left on all the time. Another bracket fixed to the hardtop will mate with this.<br><br>I will produce a more detailed picture of the assembly which will make it all so much clearer.

[Monty]

Is it possible to use quick Release pins ???  ;D<br><br>

[Kuching]

[quote author=Brian_MDB link=board=body;num=1081474915;start=105#115 date=07/18/04 at 23:50:09]<br><br>Yeah this will guarantee that the the Hard Top is a perfect fit because all Elans are perfectly identical. <br><br>Just being my usual sarcastic self  :)[/quote]<br>I take your point about the variability Brian and to be honest, until I have a prototype and tried fitting it to a range of different Elans, I cannot guarantee that this project will be a complete success. :-/<br><br>However, there is some tollerance inherant in the design but in the worst case I may have to build some variability into the patterns or  moulds.

[Kuching]

[quote author=_Monty_ link=board=body;num=1081474915;start=105#117 date=07/19/04 at 11:14:42]Is it possible to use quick Release pins ???  ;D<br><br>[/quote]<br>Anything is possible!<br><br>It may just use a nut and bolt on the prototype, but I will then look at other options.