Hard tops manufacturers.

[Ranti]

I am thinking in buying a Hardtop, but it is a difficult to find (and expensive to pay) in Spain so, please, will you answer a few questions? thanks

Apart from the original MGR hard top, is there another manufacturer selling this item?

Will a F hard top fit a TF?

What are the differences while driving, apart from obvious? (less noise, more comfortable, etc....)

BR
David

[matho]

I'm not aware of any other manufacturers of Hard Tops, but there are lots of places you can buy them. (Mike Satur was going to be producing a 'Bermuda' hard top, but plans for this seem to have been shelved for the moment.) You can either buy the standard hard top or a race-weight hard top, which is slightly cheaper. Have a look here for the 2 designs.

All hard tops fit both the F and TF - you may find that you need to make some adjustment to the window heights to get a good fit, though.

The main differences for me are the lower noise, warmer car and the way it changes the look of the car into a 'coupe'. On the other hand, they add a fair bit of weight to the car as the soft top stays on when the hard top is fitted.

What are your reasons for wanting a hard top? If it's to get a glass rear screen, then you can get a soft top (in the colour of your choice) with one fitted from BAS, but not sure what the postage costs to Spain would be...

HTH!

Ian

[Ranti]

Thanks Ian

The main reason to buy a hard top is to decrease the noise into the car in long journeys. If I drive 700 Km the noise became excessive (IMO). The glass window will be a plus but not the main reason.

BR
David

[Cyer_ricki]

but isn't spain a hot country? i love driving in the sun! =p when i have the hardtop on i feel abit depressed lol

[LeginTF]

Earplugs would be a lot cheaper than a hard top. I have used them before in noisy cars, but appreciate that other folk think that they are not a good idea.

Nigel

[iaross]

I got my hard top from an MG Rover dealer, but the parts chap said it was an aftermarket one. It was a lot cheaper than the Rover one.

I paid a 250 deposit, which was apparently the cost of having it sprayed BRG from black, and then I paid a further 500 on collection.

Its obvious that its an aftermarket one, as it is slighly out (a few mm) on one side when its fitted.

I haven't put it on the car since buying a BAS glass screened hood in Janurary.

That said, I love the look of the car when its on, its like bombing around in a coupe. It makes the car much more quiet on my many motorway journeys.

[Ranti]

Originally Posted by Cyer_ricki

but isn't spain a hot country? i love driving in the sun! =p when i have the hardtop on i feel abit depressed lol

Yes It is, but not allways!!!!!

The main reason is prevent soft top damage during winter frosts and reduce noise in long journeys.

The hard top will be in garage most of the time, so I ask for non Rover manufacturers to get one cheaper than the MGR one. Not sure if the quantity deserves the time will be use......

Thanks for all

David

[Mikef]

There are a few hard tops for sale on Ebay, tho being in Spain might make it hard to pick them up..tho one place was offering some sort of delivery service....

On this topic..will a hard top for an MGF fit a TF? Are they pretty much the same thing?

Theres one seller on Ebay with a 'heritage' hard top, not worked out yet what the difference is with a 'normal' hard top. I fancy a hard top as I will be using the car all year round, tho I also want a soft top with a glas screen!! Has anyone else noticed a black hole forming around their credit card since they got an MG...?

mikef

[Chris T]

F and TF HT’s are the same although the rear clips are different on the very early F HT’s. The heritage HT’s are not regarded for their quality and are known to warp and have general problems with fitting, just ask Tim F what he thinks of them.

[Tim F]

Originally Posted by Chris T

F and TF HT’s are the same although the rear clips are different on the very early F HT’s. The heritage HT’s are not regarded for their quality and are known to warp and have general problems with fitting, just ask Tim F what he thinks of them.

yup,my brand new heritage one's going back due to manufacture defects, was going to reject it anyway because i wanted a o.e HT to replace my sunstorms one that was stolen, the only good thing about it is the leather headlining

[iaross]

My aftermarket one has a leather headlining, I have no idea of the manufacturer tho. The chap who worked in the parts dept at the Anthony Betts in hemel (formerly CD Bramall) has left, I was told, under a cloud.

Originally Posted by Tim F

i'd rather push an MGTF than drive an MX5

I love that!!

[Chris T]

I thought we were going to have to push an MX 5 this afternoon on the Fpower Sunday lunch run, it was going so slow in front of us.

[Petevick]

Originally Posted by iaross

My aftermarket one has a leather headlining, I have no idea of the manufacturer tho.....

ian, has your HT got 'gutter lines' running front to back on the roof section (this is a heritage), if its smooth then its an oem HT. You can of course fit a leather head lining to an oem HT

[iaross]

Yup it does have kindof rain channels. Might explain the dodgy fit?

[Petevick]

Originally Posted by iaross

Yup it does have kindof rain channels. Might explain the dodgy fit?

that would be the dodgy fit heritage HT then

[Chris T]

Heritage HT’s normally have small MG badges on the B pillar but if it has been repainted then these may have gone AWOL.

[iaross]

This? Rain channel marked in pink!



Got a pic Chris?

[Chris T]

Thats it.....

[hughf]

Bought my hardtop from Smith and Deakin a couple of years ago. It had a headliner like a normal car and a heated rear window. Just had a look looks like they still do them.
www.smithanddeakin.co.uk

[Scarlet Fever]

Heritage hard tops
Designed and made by Krafthaus, who became KH Fabrications (like the KH splitter), who went bust. Not sure who has the moulds now but they are still being made (poorly IMO).

Leather headlining and roof ridges distinguish the Heritage hard top, was originally commissioned by Rover as part of the Heritage options on the MGF. Originally only available in Gloos Black or Old English White (red car + white hard top is Abingdon Works racing colours from the 1950's / 60's / 70's). Colour keying rapidly became an option though.

Tend to be a great deal of variability between tops, some fit, some don't (my one doesn't - it also leaks terribly). They also tend to creak, rattle and even crazy pave more than the other factory hard top.

Currently available from a anumber of sources including the MG Owners Club

OE Factory Hard Top
Originally made my Express Plastics in Norfolk, i lost track of the manufacturer circa 1999 or so, sadly i know not who makes them these days (could be Smith and Deakin, appears to be the same design).

Will have a velour headlining and will be a flawless 'dome' with no moulded features.

These are far more likely to fit, the manufacturing tolerances appear to be significantly tighter. Being GRP though they can suffer from the usual creaks etc, but are less likly than the Heritage version.

Was originally only avialible in gloss black - this is because the Mark 1 MGF windscreen surround is also gloss black and the idea behind it was to make the car look like is had a glass panoramic roof (like the MG EX-E prototype that inspired a lot of the design). Colour keying became an option shortly before the introduction of the MY2K F (with a colour keyed windscreen surround)