LeMans Hardtop for ERA

[mr bruce]

the Lemans top is correct for the FiA cars, I have the plug just about done for the DragonSnake style top underway, but other paying work comes first, unless sumbuddy steps up to the plate and makes a deposit, but it still is 6 months out. it's real tough in this market to invest the time and R+D work with no serious buyers lined up. out of a hundred inquires, I'm lucky to get one buyer. tough bunch these cobra people

[TN Shelby Cobra]

Looks great!

[FatBoy]

These tops are made by DB Replicas in the UK. They have a glass rear screen with a heating element, that lifts up hatch-back style to allow access to the trunk without having to modify it.



Paul

[mr bruce]

very nice top , but ,price with shipping ,V.A.T. etc, I don't think there is too much demand here in the states . I already make a LeMans top with the opening hatch and getting $800 is tough

[Rickd]

Mr. Bruce. I will buy a "regular" hard top ... similar to the CCX hard top that they offered. I just don't like the Lemans top for my car ... correct for FIA or not. I like the shape of the body and don't want to hide it under an aero "helmet". Any hard top I put on will be on for most of my driving ... primary purpose is as a sun screen. The "Dragon Snake" top, is basically similar to the hard top that was made by CCX. What would I need to do to have one made for my FIA?

[mr bruce]

Like I said , I am almost done with the plug for the Dragonsnake hardtop, but I have other cars and projects in the pipeline at this time, and I work first job in, first job out, so see me in about 6 months for a DragonSnake hardtop.

[Fullchat289]

Some of you know I've been cramming to get this top on the car before my trip to the Tail of the Dragon later this week. Thought I would post a few progress shots of the top:

Here's a picture of the top with the bottom seal installed, a quick shot of paint on the interior, some brackets and fuel filler adaptor installed, and inserts surrounding the rear window opening for screwing down the plexi rear window:



This shot shows the template I made for the rear screen and the piece of rear plexi I cut out.. I will adapt the learnings from making this piece to a proper piece of poly carbonate once time permits:



This shot (skuzzy camera lense and all) shows the clear paint protection film (about 1.5" wide) that I laid down to keep grit that finds its way between the HT seal and body from abraiding the paint:



Next step will be getting the fixings to the windscreen sorted (being made today) and installing the fuel filler tube down to the fuel tank opening in the body. Once that is complete, I'll bolt the top down and install the rear screen. Should be ready for a test run and come semi-completed pictures this coming Tuesday. Paint won't go on the top until it gets some further curing time... I'll update with some more photos later this week.

- Allen.

[CobraBoy]

What about a hard top with buttresses - a la Jaguar XJ-S? That would eliminate the need for the opening rear window but you could keep the sleek lines of the hard top.

Just a thought...

Paul

[Fullchat289]

Originally Posted by CobraBoy

What about a hard top with buttresses - a la Jaguar XJ-S? That would eliminate the need for the opening rear window but you could keep the sleek lines of the hard top.

Just a thought...

Paul

...well, that design trade-off, while very practical, would work against me in achieving my extra 20mph needed for the Mulsanne Straight..

but seriously, I think someone did do that on a Factory Five utilizing a top that Bruce made. I remember the car being yellow. I'll link a pic back here if I can find it on ffcars.

Edit: Found it,



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

- Allen.

[mr bruce]

I'll make you anything you want, Allen steped up with the guappo, and presto, I built what he wanted. Out of a hundred "lookers" only one or 2 wants to spend sum money.

[jolsen42]

Originally Posted by Fullchat289

...well, that design trade-off, while very practical, would work against me in achieving my extra 20mph needed for the Mulsanne Straight..

but seriously, I think someone did do that on a Factory Five utilizing a top that Bruce made. I remember the car being yellow. I'll link a pic back here if I can find it on ffcars.

Edit: Found it,



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

- Allen.

That is NOT a Mr. Bruce top. John O

[*13*]

MR BRUCE,
Looks Great! If I ever need a new top I'll contact you. Awesome!

[JBCOBRA]

Sweet Car Fullchat!
Excellent color choice too

[Fullchat289]

Originally Posted by JBCOBRA

... Excellent color choice too

Back 'atch ya. Although I can't take credit..the first owner made the choice..I'm merely the car's humble steward.

- Allen.

[Fullchat289]

Here's the Semi-complete photos as it stood at 1:00am this morning...Drove it to work today for a shakedown prior to leaving tomorrow afternoon for the Dragon, and could notice no issues whatsoever! These are just some quick shots....I can take more detailed shots later if someone has a specific request.












- Allen.

[mr bruce]

beauty, if you run into any F5 guys down there, let them know it fits onto a Mark4 too.

[jmimac351]

Bruce, I'm starting to get a twitch.

Jim

[jmimac351]

Allen, the car already looks great with no paint on that thing. The air holes in the back window were smart. We ran into similar airflow issues with the Panoz as air comes into the cockpit and turns around and comes forward. Even better was you could feel that it was heated air. The air holes relieve that pressure and make it more comfortable for sure.

[Excaliber]

As many times and pic's I've seen of so many different Cobras, it's still a thrill to see a really good looking good one.

Allen, your car look's bad to the bone.

[Three Peaks]

The top looks great, but how do you get to the trunk with the top in place?
Also, what is the distance at the roll bars from the top of the body to the underside of the top? I'm curious if your top would fit over my dual roll bars.

Bob