Have you been Topless and LIKED it

[The Dreamer]

I have heard from two different manufacturers that available side curtains are less than perfect. I would like to hear from both those who have soft tops and those that don't. If you have one, do you use it often and are you glad you purchased it. If you don't have one, are there a lot of times you wished you had purchased one.

I know most will try to avoid the rain, but that doesn't mean you will not get caught in the rain. In addition, I hear that most aren't that user friendly and it will be debatable on whether if caught in the rain one would stop to wrestle with the top.

Dreamer

[Hal Copple]

Here in Upstate SC, i drive my SPF pretty much every day, i don't hesitate to go out under dark clouds, or a thunderhead. We have had over 8 FEET of rain since this time last fall.

I have a three year old SPF, and two of the older style "Munster" top, so called because its height. Now, since spring, i have one of the new fabric SPF tops, much lower, much more sleek looking, three bar, with Velcro wraps on the bars, it has a rear bar thing that allows the top to be loose for the installation, then you flip up the little bar, and it raises the rear bar, tightening it all up. Wide three-piece window, the center zips.

I now can run with the rear window zipped out, sidecurtains out, even over a hundred, and very little buffeting, whereas with the old top, with the fixed rear window, you couldn't drive very fast without the sidecurtains, due to buffetting. My top is a slight custom modification of the new SPF one, to clear my new higher full width rollbar.

My sidecurtains fit pefectly under the top's side flaps, and themselves keep out almost all the rain. My leg gets wet from water coming along the top of the door, and dribbling down on my leg, newer SPF's continue the weatherstripping further up the door than my older car. So i put my top up all the time.

I do store the top and sidecurtains carefully in their cases, with some towels to reduce scratching, though.

So i couldn't imagine not having a top, it lets me go on nightime trips regardless of the weather. By the way, i can comfortabley drive at temps down to about 28 degrees, (SPF's have heaters standard), with gloves and hat and such, but for long cold trips, it is so much toasty warmer with the top up.

The older "Munster" style top was easy to toss on, the newer much nicer fabric one, certainly takes some more minutes to do it right. But worth it, when it is pouring rain, or cold.

My car is much louder inside with the top on, i will often use earplugs with the top up, rarely with the top off.

[terry lee]

WHO CAN FORGET "VIR" THIS SPRING?
ASK PAM MILLER ABOUT COBRAS AND RAIN
AT THE LAST EVENT JERRY AND PAM HAD A TRAILER;
AND A DODGE "HEMI" TO PULL IT.

TL

[DavidWard]

This top is only available for the FFR, but someone should build one similar for the other popular makes. It goes up or down in about two minutes, maybe less if you have a helper. No leaks at all around the windows or windshield, but I do get some drips around the windshield posts and doors.

Windows are even lockable.

There are more pics on my web page.

[G.R.]

Side curtains are less than perfect--even in the old Brit sports cars
but they are better than nothing--even the top works good.
Owned a SPF and probably had the top on 10-12 times, 'cuz we live where it rains or drizzles a lot--if I got another roadster I'd definitely want to have a top and heater

[Lowell W]

Well, heck yeah, they're less than perfect!!! If ya want perfect, buy a Z4! On the other hand, if you want to be able to enjoy your Cobra down into the 40's (forget what Hal says: he seems to like being cold!) or in the rain, you'll love a top. I've had mine off and on maybe 20 times in 8 months and 10,000 miles and it's like having two different cars. Sure the wind comes in and sure, some water comes in when it rains and sure, it's loud, but it's not THAT bad. I'm still driving a Cobra! I can't give you information about other manufacturers' tops, but I agree with Hal that the new SPF tops fit well, look good, seal reasonably well, especially with a little judicious application of weather stripping to the doors, and go up and down quickly. With a little practice, you can have the top and side curtains out of the trunk and covering the car in less than five minutes, with a few minutes' more work from the inside to zip the velcro over the bows and snap up the over-center tighteners. The worst water leaks are the windshield pillars and the top center of the windshield. The pillars are sealable and the top of the windshield can be stuffed with a rag. I bought some garage door bottom weather stripping, cut it to fit the bottoms of the side curtains, punched holes for the pins and used it to seal the curtains to the door. Cheap, works great and looks like it belongs there. If you enjoy driving the car, get the top!

[Excaliber]

I used my top a LOT! Mostly for the "sun" factor, sometimes for the rain. RARELY with the side curtains. It worked pretty darn good too! Left leg wet where the water leaked in, Just like the old Austin Healey did! How "english" can you get!

My next will have a HARD TOP AND A SOFT TOP!

Ernie

[Jake]

I have SPF #390 and was shown how to put the top and side curtains on when I bought it over a year ago. I have never again put them on the car. I must admit I did not buy the car to drive it with the top on but sometimes it may come in handy. I think I might bring it if I were going on a week long trip somewhere. Otherwise I leave it at home. One thing I do like is the the cover that snaps over the entire cockpit. That way if you get stuck at a show or park it somewhere and it starts to rain the inside stays nice and dry. I have used that about 5 times. Also keep in mind that if you go over about 35mph the rain blows up and over the windshield and just touches the last 3 inches of the trunk lid. This again keeps the inside pretty dry. I drove my car home from Oregon (3Hrs.) in a rain storm with my wife sitting next to me with no top or side curtains and was amazed at how dry the inside of the car was.

Jake

[Lowell W]

Jake,

HMMM...Do you suppose SPF redesigned the newer tops to leak more water for greater "authenticity?" Going over 35mph makes my top leak more, not less!

[Jake]

Lowell,
The next time it is raining out really hard take the cobra out for a spin with no top on. That is the key.

Jake

[Lowell W]

I may be stupid but I'm not crazy... well, I may be crazy but I'm not stupid... well I may be crazy and stupid but I don't particularly like being wet!

[Alex Donghi]

I think I have one in the trunk. I guess I need to look

[cobrakit66]

dreamer
my conv. top is a lot of work to put on and off , we used it mostly to store the car during the winter. the side curtains fit a little too tight under the top. so i bought a hardtop what a difference i take it off in two minutesput it on in two minutes plus it keeps the car warmer this time of year. for me the hardtop is the way to go
ron

[The Dreamer]

Thanks for all of the replys. As I thought, it seems it just depends on the owner. I think I will initially forgo the top and see what are my driving habits.

[Edley Rondinone]

My top is fully contained in the trunk when not on the car. I suppose I would use it more often if I lived where it rained alot. Would be better than nothing, I imagine. I ride my Harley in the rain; actually, I ride my Harley HOME in the rain!

[BMK]

Hi all

Just started a T'hread' under the Australian Club Forum on this very issue.

I have had a few different convertible cars and have always had a top. It just gives you so much more freedom and options to take your car out.

Feel it just gives you that option of use the car anytime summer or winter.

I have a folder and pull apart hood bow set and will shortly have a top made. My aim is to have it stored inj the boot.

Just the thing to have when you want to leave late even on a summer night. Keeps the wife happy also.



Cheers

Bernie

Bernie Knight
Mt. Gambier South Australia