DIY Hardtop.

[Readit]

***********************AS SEEN ON EBAY *****************************

Sounds complicated but if you have the time and feel capable of doing a small fibreglass repair to your car you could do this.

Feel free to ask any questions and I will feel free not to answer them until my ad finishes

h3.jpg

Wonderful view of Joss Bay, Kent. (Oh there's an Elan in the picture)

h1.jpg

Heated rear window included (if you know where to connect it) plate not included

h2.jpg

THATS IT FOLKS! Like it or not I think many of you will have them soon. WHAT A BARGAIN!

[Readit]

For those of you who think I have just been photoshopping here is a picture of the hood off the car.

hoff.jpg

Just to prove its real - now how is that ELAN SUBMARINE project going


At the risk of being struck off for advertising the CD contains 13 pages of narrative, pictures and diagrams never before published.

Having been in the architectural drawing business for many years I know how difficult it is to copyright intellectual property so either buy the CD now or wait for the Internet pirate version in the new year.

[superbad]

I think that looks better than the original factory version. How is the clearance at the trailing edge near the leading edge of the boot opening? Looks a bit close there maybe.

[racerstev]

I want one! Were is the link for the CD?

[GeoffSmith]

For those who can't wait for the Jolly Roger: have a read of Ken's advert.

[Steve A]

Nice looking top, I'm liking that a lot, where's the rear screen from or is that on the disc

[lotos]

I'm confused on this one. You found an existing hardtop that fits the elan with minimal work, is that correct? And you're selling that information on ebay?

[Readit]

Superbad - The hardtop is adjusted to just miss the boot lid when opened, providing maximum " in car" space.

lotos - got it in one!

Steve A - CD explains about the rear screen and much more. **** 10% of proceeds will be donated to LEC appeal ****

[lotos]

Thanks, I was following this thread previously on hardtops that may fit: viewtopic.php?f=30&t=13907&start=0 but didn't see a conclusion to esprit's project.

[DeeAitch]

Feel free to ask any questions and I will feel free not to answer them until my ad finishes

Another guess the part comp?

MGF?

[GeoffSmith]

Another guess the part comp?

MGF?

You win Dave!

[Readit]

A STORY.

Every Elan M100 enthusiast knows that Peter Stevens designed this car, when he was employed by Lotus.

Not so many know that after he left Lotus, he set up his own car design consultancy and one of his clients was MG / Rover.

Hardly anybody knows that his first consultancy job for MG / Rover was to design a hardtop for the MGF (probably because it may not be true)

However, rumour has it that he knew GM had given “the chop” to the Lotus Elan M100 because there was not sufficient profit in it. He was aware that he had designed a hardtop for the Elan, which would never go into production, so he pulled the drawing out of a drawer or from his computer, reworked the edges and fitted it to the MGF.(fact or fiction ?)

[GeoffSmith]

Wished we'd known that at Hethel.

[esprit888]

Thanks, I was following this thread previously on hardtops that may fit: viewtopic.php?f=30&t=13907&start=0 but didn't see a conclusion to esprit's project.

Well i did say it was a long term project The guy i had given it to disappeared off the face of the earth after cutting it up. So i gave up last year and pulled the car out in the spring for the roof down season. Its going into a different shop November 15th and hopefully this time it will get done. As its split down the middle i was considering fitting the Exige style scoop as the spine will need to be re-enforced, not sure about the look on the Elan though.

Lotus-Exige.jpg

[Readit]

The way I look at this is Lotus are spending £800million for R&D on just 5 cars.
Think how much the R&D must be for a hardtop of over 4000 cars

I am sure many of you are now looking up the cost of MGF hardtops
(about £300 on Ebay)

Go you own way by all means but I am sure you will save more than £10 by learning from my mistakes in the process
(and you will be helping the charity appeal)

[lotos]

I thought you were going to provide the info here after the auction ended? Maybe I read your posts wrong.

Anyway, I think it looks great - really fits the lines well.

[Readit]

Hi lotos,

It would not be fair to those willing to purchase the CD, for me to post up the information. I am sure someone will also have a try to do another hardtop this way and make similar or different mistakes.

I guess that in time the whole process will become common knowledge with different constructors having differing opinions on the best approach to the modifications.

[Specky]

As an observation a new hood will set you back about a grand ( if you could find one), Simons hard top is over a grand second hand, so it seems to me to be another viable alternative.

I guess like most things... Marmite springs to mind.

It has pro's an con's like all products, IMHO it's aero dynamically better for the rear wing than Simons, but saying that it looks so dated and doesn't fit the look of the rest of the car. I guess it's horses for courses.

I think people wouldn't hesitate to purchase them if they were readly available off the shelf for say £400. ( fit and go)

it's good to see more opptions become available.

Good skills...

TTFN

[racerstev]

If this is off of a MGF I would be out of luck. Never sold in the
states and shipping one from the other side of the pond would be way
too much..

Steve

[theelanman]

A STORY.

Every Elan M100 enthusiast knows that Peter Stevens designed this car, when he was employed by Lotus.

Not so many know that after he left Lotus, he set up his own car design consultancy and one of his clients was MG / Rover.

Hardly anybody knows that his first consultancy job for MG / Rover was to design a hardtop for the MGF (probably because it may not be true)

However, rumour has it that he knew GM had given “the chop” to the Lotus Elan M100 because there was not sufficient profit in it. He was aware that he had designed a hardtop for the Elan, which would never go into production, so he pulled the drawing out of a drawer or from his computer, reworked the edges and fitted it to the MGF.(fact or fiction ?)

very interesting......one of the motoring 'facts' I think....I'll ask him next time i see him.....(or I could give him a bell )