Soft top or lemans hardtop?

Newsnake · #1 (**permalink**) 05-30-2011, 12:27 PM

Lemans top or soft top. I am on the fence. Can anyone who has either, give me an opinion.

Thanks,
Mike V

LMH · #2 (**permalink**) 05-30-2011, 07:14 PM

The LeMans top is more race car like in my opinion, so if you have a race car like car, I'd go for the LeMans top.
That's my worthless $.02.
Larry

PDUB · #3 (**permalink**) 05-30-2011, 08:07 PM

It's not that simple Mike... some major trunk alterations with the hard top

.

CobraDan · #4 (**permalink**) 05-31-2011, 01:56 PM

A soft top or a hard top give basically the same look but a soft top can be stored in the trunk & the hard top or lemans can not. As far as a passenger is concerned no top will make you more or less comfortable inside the car. They all leak but getting out of the sun or 90% of the rain is nice once in awhile. If you want the trunk to work with a Lemans top you need to change the trunk but since tops are normally made to be removable you could remove the top to get into a normal style trunk.

Slick61 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2011, 02:18 PM

Let me first preface my remarks by stating that I have no top whatsoever, so this is just my opinion...

I'd think you would have to consider what exactly you WANT out of a top... and how you're going to drive with it on. If you're just cruising, & want something to keep the sun off, or want something to have with you in case of inclement weather, I'd go soft top. Tho if memory serves, they're not really recommended for driving above 65-70 mph.

A hard top would probably seal a bit better, & be more aerodynamically stable at higher speeds... but it's not exactly easy on/off, & not readily stored. I could see having a hardtop for colder climates, to extend the driving season. It may keep the sun off of you in the summer, but think it would also trap a bit more heat in the cockpit... so some sort of HVAC system would probably be in order. Good luck with whatever you decide.

sllib · #6 (**permalink**) 05-31-2011, 02:47 PM

I wanted a hard top in the worst way until I watched a guy climb into his car with one on it. I think me and my gut will keep it open-topped.
Bill Stradtner

mr bruce · #7 (**permalink**) 05-31-2011, 04:02 PM

PhotoPost Classifieds - opening hatch LeMans top - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds

*13* · #8 (**permalink**) 05-31-2011, 07:17 PM

What ever floats your boat. 1 of each if I had my choice!!

mdross1 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-01-2011, 05:34 AM

Just learned that you really cannot put a hardtop on if your setup for a soft top and tonneau.For us putting the softop on or taking it off is no problem,getting caught in the rain is much less of a hassle knowing the top is in the trunk.Our .02

mr bruce · #10 (**permalink**) 06-01-2011, 06:26 AM

Wrong, AllenB's ErA has the liftadots for the softop/tonto cover, Lemans top fit rite on

mr bruce · #11 (**permalink**) 06-01-2011, 06:40 AM

LeMans Hardtop for ERA

LMH · #12 (**permalink**) 06-01-2011, 02:24 PM

Doesn't the LeMans top use the soft top ferrules just behind the door for mounting?
Larry

mr bruce · #13 (**permalink**) 06-01-2011, 03:05 PM

correctamundo

Newsnake · #14 (**permalink**) 06-01-2011, 03:40 PM

Mr Bruce, I followed your work for a while, and even talked to you once a about a crazy idea about a Zagato roadster. I didn't want to bother you until I decided. The wife is pushing hard for the soft top, I like the lemans top. It looks like you can have both.

If you ship it to the west coast, what does it take to complete your top. Does it require major auto body skills, or could a person with the limited skill set of a slow baboon do some of the work.

Newsnake · #15 (**permalink**) 06-01-2011, 03:43 PM

Mr Bruce, I have followed your work for a while, and even talked to you once a about a crazy idea about a Zagato roadster. I didn't want to bother you until I decided. The wife is pushing hard for the soft top, I like the lemans top. It looks like you can have both.

If you ship it to the west coast, what does it take to complete your top. Does it require major auto body skills, or could a person with the limited skill set of a slow baboon do some of the work.

LMH · #16 (**permalink**) 06-01-2011, 11:46 PM

Does the LeMans top fit a car with cut-back doors?
Larry

PDUB · #17 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMH

Does the LeMans top fit a car with cut-back doors?
Larry

I think it was originally designed for a car with cut-back doors...

mr bruce · #18 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011, 04:40 AM

Allen B's car is an ErA FiA with cuttback doors, the top fits rite on, look at the pichers in the link

Fullchat289 · #19 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newsnake

....The wife is pushing hard for the soft top, I like the lemans top. It looks like you can have both.

If you ship it to the west coast, what does it take to complete your top. Does it require major auto body skills, or could a person with the limited skill set of a slow baboon do some of the work.

Yes, you can have both. But here's one argument towards the Lemans HT for you to present to the better half. The fuel filler is going to be "inside" the convertable top because of the location on the rear deck. This presents a challenge when fueling, and also I've heard from some FIA drivers that they get some fuel smell inside the car when driving with the top up. Benefit is that the erector set can be disassembled and stowed in the trunk as others have stated. But you see.....you already screwed up by choosing a car that doesn't have the fuel filler on the rear fender....

Anywho...back to the other question about what it takes to finish the top. When Brucey gets done with it, it's a beautiful piece.. Bruce leaves plenty of material to achieve a nicely finished look at the back window opening, the rear deck interface, and the side window/windscreen areas. Here are some photos of what the top looked like fresh from the mold as we were trimming the rear deck interface to fit my car. I will follow these photos by a brief run-down of the "post processing" operations to get the top finished.. here's the photos:

OK, here's the brief run-down of the "post processing" ops...

1. Trim rear of top to lay nicely on the rear deck of your car..(Bruce's trim lines closely match the contour of the original FIA body shape, so if your Unique has any deviation, some trimming will be required - not a big deal...just takes some patience)
2. Make some brackets to attach the top to the furrels behind your seats that accept the main soft-top bow. (See the link Bruce provided to view what I did)
3. Make some "T-bolts" for attaching the top to the front screen. (See the link Bruce provided to view what I did)
4. Make a plexi window for the rear opening. (See the link Bruce provided to view what I did)
5. Source a rear deck seal and misc. fixings from McMaster-Carr.

Now since Unique sells a Lemans HT for their FIA car, I would take a short-cut and see what it would cost you to source the fuel filler modification solution from them. If you are so inclined, you may also want to source a split trunklid from them as well so you can continue to use your trunk. (I don't have this part finished on my car just yet) If sourcing these bits from Unique is cost prohibitive, then add these two items to the list above. I can assist you if you get stuck on the fuel filler thing. I also have an excel sheet with the sources for where I got my extra parts to finish the top and you can see all my Lemans HT related photos here:

FIA HardTop pictures by Fullchat289 - Photobucket

- Allen.

LMH · #20 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDUB

I think it was originally designed for a car with cut-back doors...

I think the original tops were made for CS2131 and CSX2142. Neither has cut back doors.
Larry