In a message dated 97-08-02 06:32:30 EDT, tuu@cosmail3.ctd.ornl.gov (Tim
Tucker) writes:
> Who made a repro fiberglass surrey top for a 4?
>
Don't know the name of any company that made repro "surrey tops" which doen't
mean that no-one did. But back in the '60's there were several companies who
made fiberglass "hard tops" for the TR4. These were not "surrey tops" but
were just one piece hard tops which fit onto the standard convertible.
Remember that the surrey top was a semi-permanent fitting for the TR4, TR4A,
TR5 and TR250. It was not easily removed. In effect the surrey top made the
car what we would call today, a coupe with a Targa top. To clear up what
appears to be some confusion here - The "Surrey top" consisted of three main
pieces. 1) a frame (called the backlight) with a glass window which was fixed
to the car around the rear of the cockpit. This was bolted onto studs that
were permanently inserted in the car body. When in place the seats were
still open to the sky. 2) A metal roof assembly (with a headliner) that
covered the space over the seats and could be installed and removed rather
easily. And 3) because the hardtop was too big to fit in the trunk, a set of
three metal rods and a canvas cover. These could be fitted over the space
above the seats if you were on the road without the hard top and it started
to rain. ALSO - if you factory ordered the surrey top, you did not get the
hood sticks and the convertible softtop that came with the standard TR4
(etc.) convertible.
When my car was the family car and we were stationed in NY, I thought of
getting a a one piece "hard top" made of fiberglass - available from
aftermarket sources. My idea was to put it on the car for the winter. These
tops could be put on and removed in minutes and the hood sticks just remained
folded under the inside back surround. I never got one but saw them
occasionally on other TR4's.
These after market HARD TOPS had no removeable mid-sections; when they were
in place the whole cockpit was covered. I think the Miata and other small
convertibles of today have them. The original Ford Thunderbird of the '50's
and '60 also had one.
Art Kelly '64 CT33118L (original owner)
VTR TR4 vehicle consultant
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