Need someone to fit my soft top

allcarfan · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2016, 09:35 AM

Hello all,

My regular interior/upholsterer is booked through May. I am looking for someone that can fit my soft top to my Cobra. It is a backdraft Cobra that has most of the holes drilled for a soft top...because I have a hard top already. I am looking for someone/shop within about an hour's drive of Atlanta that can install this.

Any recommendations?

sllib · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2016, 07:14 AM

You might try a local boat shop; they do soft tops all the time.
Bill

allcarfan · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2016, 10:03 AM

I was really hoping for a recommendation of a shop someone has used. I found a shop I am going to visit on Friday. I am told they do very very good work, but are pricey...oh well. Marietta Trim Shop in Marietta, GA. I am estimating this install to be somewhere between $800-$1000

Cashburn · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2016, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allcarfan

I was really hoping for a recommendation of a shop someone has used. I found a shop I am going to visit on Friday. I am told they do very very good work, but are pricey...oh well. Marietta Trim Shop in Marietta, GA. I am estimating this install to be somewhere between $800-$1000

I forgot you already had the ferrules behind the doors from the hard top. That should reduce the complexity and time a bit. It's relatively easy to get the frame assembled and on the car so do that in advance. Then remove the visors and windwings to save some further time for the installer.

allcarfan · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2016, 07:22 AM

Marietta Trim Shop was a bust. I got there, showed them the top. Assembled the frame for them, explained the install process, was able to answer all of their questions. Showed them that the ferrules were already installed, windshield didn't have to be pulled for the bracket on the dash to be installed, explained enough where there was no guesswork for assembly.

Their response: "well, we will start at $1200 and see how it goes. This is a project for us and we have to charge accordingly. The cost of the car puts a significant liability on our shop and we have to account for that in the price." IMO, the price of the car should not have a bearing on the price charged for install.

I explained that it should take 8 hours...if they had to install everything. Most of the hardwork was already done. They basically, wanted to charge me a shop rate of about $250/hr.

Cashburn · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2016, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allcarfan

Marietta Trim Shop was a bust. I got there, showed them the top. Assembled the frame for them, explained the install process, was able to answer all of their questions. Showed them that the ferrules were already installed, windshield didn't have to be pulled for the bracket on the dash to be installed, explained enough where there was no guesswork for assembly.

Their response: "well, we will start at $1200 and see how it goes. This is a project for us and we have to charge accordingly. The cost of the car puts a significant liability on our shop and we have to account for that in the price." IMO, the price of the car should not have a bearing on the price charged for install.

I explained that it should take 8 hours...if they had to install everything. Most of the hardwork was already done. They basically, wanted to charge me a shop rate of about $250/hr.

Take a couple days and drive to Boynton Beach and have them do it?

allcarfan · #7 (**permalink**) 03-15-2016, 12:16 PM

Boynton is like a 14 hour drive or so. I have a WIDE range of shops around here to choose from. I was just casting out my line to see if any fellow cobra owners could recommend anyone. My normal guy is booked until May. I will probably just end up using him.