Hard Top - Now Obsolete

[Doug]

Anyone got a hard-on in the last year?

What happened to Fubar's importing plans?

most of the picture links are dead from the old Forum program -- anyone got new pics to post?

[kmckmc]

Hi,

I emailed SPC's Mr. Simon Carrier. www.spcdesign.co.uk
I am sure the company still supplies new hard top for Elan.
Lotus Elan Hardtop including brackets, seals and lining is about 1000+ GBP though.

He is very helpful.

Cheers,

[Sy V]

Hey, looks like Simon did some web designing in his enforced sabatical.

He's gone all commercial on us - good on 'im.

[Stef]

Nice one!

[Kuching]

The occasional enquiry comes through but I haven't supplied one for a long time now. With being so busy with the full-time job and not being able to make as much progress recently as I would normally expect, I have not been pushing the hardtop at all.

It is time I got back up to speed though, and I feel the need to get on with some more projects. I haven't forgotten that I'm supposed to be doing the roll-cage for Sy, and I'm very tempted to do the rear light panel suggested by Doug and Brian.

To clear up any confusion about SPC Design Ltd, this is my own company that I use to do design and development work outside my full-time job (and if Ford ever give up motorsport, it will probably become my main occupation). The web-site was designed a year or two ago by a colleague but I'm sure its overdue for an update now.

[clemo]

hello simon , long time no hear...
keep up the good work.
clemo

[appspaul]

i live in perth australia , and i would be interested in a hard top for my elan s2 , i would have to find out what the shipping would cost . but would be worth looking into thats for sure

[Cesare]

Hi

I m writing from France, and I think few people here have an interest in the hard top build by Simon, I think it looks the best that what has been done.
Any chance to get them produced again ? as from what I understood they are not available anymore.

best regards

Cesar

[Sy V]

http://www.spcdesign.co.uk/

The 'design' and 'composites'.

Then e-mail them through the contacts page and Debbie or Simon will get back to you.

[Cesare]

Thank you !

[Bolsom]

Has anyone considered fitting a sunshine roof to their hardtop?
I find the standard hood gives a very dark cabin. I assume with the larger rear window the hardtop improves on this.
I live in Southern France where it is pretty warm at this time of the year.
I cannot consider the cost of fitting A/C.
A pop-up hardtop would both give extra light and more airflow within the cabin.

Colin

[Bolsom]

Stupid Boy!

Pop-up hardtop indeed! A novel idea, but a pop-up sunshine roof will be
fine for now. Colin

[Nige]

Simon is able to line the hardtop with a light grey foam backed headlining material which lightens the cabin significantly. It's a very professional job. I'm not aware of anyone who has fitted a sunroop in a hardtop. I don't see why it couldn't be done but I think it would be difficult and give more options for leaks as getting a good seal would be challenging.

[Gazza]

I've seen one in an S1 Elise hardtop

[Sy V]

I suppose it might be possible and very practical but the cross section of the hardtop is still fairly curved (both fore and aft, and side-to-side) so I would envisage sealing as the major problem.

[stu]

I have not long had my SECOND hardtop back from SPC due to paint and liner issues.

I found that the paint was bubbling along the top and back of the HT. It was apparently re-sprayed a number of times, but still not really finished to the standard I would have expected having paid £1500!!

The liner is still, to this day not finished. It has just been 'cut' at the corners and stuck together. I think my grandson could have done better at nursery!!

Along the outside edge where the window frame is, the black sealant looks like it has been squirted on and wiped with a finger and not finished professionally as SPC state.

I am really not happy with the finish of it, and will, when we get some decent weather, rectify the problems myself...Along with photos of before and after shots!

I will NEVER EVER take my car back to SPC designs, and would not recommend them to anyone!

If anyone wishes to come and see the car, please just mail me.

[Sy V]

Stu

This is the first derogatory statement we have witnessed about SPC and whilst it's tempting to deride your comments (on the grounds that Simon and Debbie are personal friends and their hardtops have never received anything other than complimentary feedback) I will desist, as this is an open forum and people are entitled to their own opinions.

I trust you have broached the subject with Simon and you're not on some hidden agenda to belittle the reputation of an LEC stalwart.

[ailwyn]

Stu,

I appreciate where your coming from and can relate, however you need to realise that these are hand made and hand finished like the cars, when I had mine painted the guy doing it had to strip off some sections of the gel-coat because there were air bubbles, and also commented that the thickness of the gel-coat was at the minimum thickness he would expect.

All in it cost me £822 to get it finished, which is now looking superb. I just took it on face value that these are not mass produced, machine manufactured pieces, and they won't be perfect.

Simon is running this through his company, but at the end of the day I can't see him making much money on these hard-tops, and the only reason it exists is because of his passion and enthusiasm for the Elan.

Nobody else gives a crap about our cars, Lotus certainly don't, so we need to encourage people like Simon as we will become more and more reliant on the enthusiasts with contacts/abilities to keep our cars on the road.

Ailwyn

[Sy V]

This is a very sad day.
I will expand upon this subject when I have had time to consider the situation.
I have had a full and honest account from Simon that explains the situation and the protracted course of events in full.
Suffice it to say that, due to Stu's decision to post these derogatory comments in an open forum, Simon has told me that he will no longer offer the hardtop to fellow Elan owners. SPC Design BTW is a totally separate entity - Simon supplied the hardtops.
I am in no position to take sides in this discussion and have no interest in promoting an ongoing debate.
I will leave it to the membership to decide where the blame for the recent and immediate obsolescence of this valuable and highly-regarded resource now lies.

[Monty]

Thats a bloody shame as theres no one else that is manufacturing a Hardtop