The Kuching Hardtop Project Available

[Kuching]

As I no longer have the setup for producing large glass-fibre parts, the time has come for me to relinquish the hardtop moulds. I’m therefore inviting proposals for someone to take over the project. My preference would be for it to stay within the LEC community and that hardtops could again be made available to owners.

It would need to be taken on by someone with good experience of glass-fibre or composite construction. Getting the seals right, in particular, can be quite tricky – it’s not a job for a novice. I’d be happy to advise on layup spec, construction and sourcing components.

The financial value is of less importance to me than the wish to see the project continue in a ‘safe pair of hands’, serving a need that clearly still exists. I think it deserves better than ending up on ebay.

[Jamie N]

Surely someone here would be up for taking this on, a well worthy project for sure, would be great to see it progress.
Like you say though anything deserves better than ending up on ebay but sadly that's where Lotus stuff tends to make its money, not on the forums for some reason.

[theelanman]

not really a project.......as the hard work has been done......
just a opportunity for fabrication and fitting......

[Jeemy]

I've got the space, but not the know-how.

If anybody near Edinburgh wants to take it on I can provide workshop space.

J

[HJ2]

I'm pretty confident i can do the job (and want to do it), but then i don't have the space!

[lotos]

I've got the space, but not the know-how.

If anybody near Edinburgh wants to take it on I can provide workshop space.

J

I'm pretty confident i can do the job (and want to do it), but then i don't have the space!

https://goo.gl/maps/nAxFF Problem solved!

[lotusflasherman]

As I no longer have the setup for producing large glass-fibre parts, the time has come for me to relinquish the hardtop moulds. I’m therefore inviting proposals for someone to take over the project. My preference would be for it to stay within the LEC community and that hardtops could again be made available to owners.

It would need to be taken on by someone with good experience of glass-fibre or composite construction. Getting the seals right, in particular, can be quite tricky – it’s not a job for a novice. I’d be happy to advise on layup spec, construction and sourcing components.

The financial value is of less importance to me than the wish to see the project continue in a ‘safe pair of hands’, serving a need that clearly still exists. I think it deserves better than ending up on ebay.

Hi Simon,

As a satisfied owner of one of your excellent hardtops I'd also like to see it continue to be available, although if production ceased the value of mine would probably increase considerably. My local rural garage, who sprayed mine for 'less than the price of the paint' according to Stratton Motors, frequently do fibreglass repair work and spraying on elderly classic plastic cars like Marcos, Trident, TVR and various other small volume marques so I'd guess they are fairly experienced in fibreglass . All the guys who work there are 'elderly classics' too and the owner seems to run the place without profit it mind, more like a hobby,and they are quite happy to do crazy conversions for the youngsters' hot-hatches too. If you don't find anybody within LEC to take it on let me know and I'll go see if they have any interested at all. They are not far from Bildeston, Suffolk so probably a bit more conveniently placed for most - compared to the trip I made to Cumbia from Suffolk anyway.
regards, Phil Johnstone

[HJ2]

I've got the space, but not the know-how.

If anybody near Edinburgh wants to take it on I can provide workshop space.

J

I'm pretty confident i can do the job (and want to do it), but then i don't have the space!

https://goo.gl/maps/nAxFF Problem solved!

I'm glad you went through the trouble to look that up!

[Kuching]

Many thanks for your kind words, Phil. I'd be happy for you to mention the hardtop to your guys next when you get chance. Let me know if they are interested.

[Rusty Wishbone]

I have a Kuching hardtop, and am happy with it. It would be good if the capacity to make them was retained for the future.

Simon, how big are the moulds? do you have any photos of them? I expect them to be pretty big, so whoever takes this on will need sufficient storage.

[Kuching]

The moulds are about 6 inches bigger all around than the hardtop - but very heavy. I haven't actually weighed them but it takes two blokes to pick them up.

[chrisP]

I hope that you can find a home for these, I have enough skills with composites to be able to fabricate, but like most on here, it is the storage and working space that is the issue.
Best Regards
Chris

[Jeemy]

Well in an interesting development, one of the guys now working for me has experience making custom bumpers and body parts out of fibreglass. So lets wait and see if we can keep them "in the family" and not give them to the idiot brother, but worst comes to worst, I can take them and I think we can make them. If not they can always move onwards but moving them to Scotland is a logistical nightmare, let alone moving them away again. But ready to take the moulds and work with them if nobody else can….

[Rambo]

Dico has a Scania and ventures over the border occasionally