Hard top & Gull wings

thekafer · Post by **thekafer** » June 1, 2006, 10:06 pm

I know it's probably been discussed before, but I think a hard top with gull wing doors is very possible. One reason I've toyed with this idea is Texas's "fair weather" is a bit, shall I say,sultry ( lets face it Hell is a bit sultry. Texas is just plane hot!!). I've even considered the ultimate blasphemy......Airconditioning.......( cue laughter and ridicule...)

I know, more weight,power loss, blah blah blah... but nobody said my mid- life has to be flesh melting hot!8) But back to the hard top. I plan on driving this car a lot and dont plan to autocross it or anything. I have a fair amount of composites experience, and I know I could make it light and water tight and easily removable. I once owned a kit car roadster (MG-TD) and could only drive it when I could touch it, it sucked.

Whadya think? Fletch,

the JoKeR · Post by **the JoKeR** » June 1, 2006, 10:51 pm

Some of the top designs are fantastic looking - something I'd love to have. I'd have no issues with adding A/C under the circumstances you say.

mr.peabody.d · Post by **mr.peabody.d** » June 1, 2006, 10:53 pm

I think the idea is for a "daily driver" right?

My favorite
It is called a donkervoort GREAT PICTURES

Sorry old joke...search for "At-om" and my user name

As found here ,,, http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthr ... 134&page=1

Let start with that....

As a daily driver....your opinion and the DMV opinions matter. I live in So cali in the desert so I dig what you are saying 120 in the summer....SUCKS.

WOW bummer....well copy and paste into your browser but leave out the imag tags....

Post by **chetcpo** » June 1, 2006, 11:26 pm

Those look great D. The tops on the cars are nice too. I think the hardest part of building one of those would be getting a windsheild that would fit and not look like it was an afterthought. The glass almost needs to be rounded like it is in that bottom pic. I wonder if that is a production piece.

locostv8 · Post by **locostv8** » June 2, 2006, 12:34 am

Showing my age a bit but with big tires and brakes I will probably include power steering and brakes, also cruise control which I consider to be proper ticket avoidence.

Philippe · Post by **Philippe** » July 7, 2006, 4:17 am

I am personally intrigued by the idea of a hardtop Lotus Seven with or without gullwings and I plan to look into making my own plug. I am grateful to those of you here who have posted the Donkervoort (and others)photos; I find their green Lotus quite attractive. As to the other comments that were made in this thread I would say: there is no need to apologize to anyone for making a Seven with a hardtop. It was done in the sixties and later as the sites below will show you. I believe that two reasons pushed the Brits to think of a hardtop for the Seven: 1) so that the Seven could race in the GT category, 2) the British climate. My own Seven will be powered by a Ford V6 3.0L, automatic transmission with a race shifter, power steering (which will allow wider tires) and powerbrakes. The weight? For me, the Seven will only be a fun way to cruise...a 1600 -1700 lbs Locost will be just fine.
:lol:

Philippe.

http://www.andersensmith.freeserve.co.uk/series3.htm

KENLUDE97 · Post by **KENLUDE97** » July 26, 2006, 4:00 pm

To bring this back from the dead.

Has anyone made a "soft top" for there locost? It sounds "easy" enough. It would be nice to have something to keep you "dry" when you are are traveling to a track event/auto-x. Here in Upstate NY weather is not often very nice and having a little extra protection would be nice.

Thanks
ken

isomswim · Post by **isomswim** » July 26, 2006, 4:36 pm

im going to use a modified jeep half top for my locost build. best idea i can think of for a soft top. you can use it also havent patened it yet. :wink:

mr.peabody.d · Post by **mr.peabody.d** » July 26, 2006, 5:15 pm

A guy in Colorado has made a retractiable soft top for is locost...More like a jeep top/window shade I dont know how it would hold up to serious weather though. Cool idea for shade....

Searching the UKbuilders site (search "roof") and there is a photo journal of someone building a fiberglass top. A little more work and you could build it out of aliminum. (with access to a welder and tools)

If you are serius about Gull wings I think you would need to build a reinforced fiber glass top strudy enought to support the doors or mount the door hinges to the roll bar.

KENLUDE97 · Post by **KENLUDE97** » July 26, 2006, 10:10 pm

Thanks isoswim!

I was thinking of making one from scratch.... I just want to to keep me mostly dry. I don't need to make a gulwing top. Although it would be dam cool.

isomswim · Post by **isomswim** » July 26, 2006, 10:14 pm

know that youll need to check measurments. it will be too wide im not quite sure of measurements my buddies wont measure their tops for of their jeeps. but u can cut for width and length my be ok . trial and error and there are many inexpensive tops out there so worth the try.

KENLUDE97 · Post by **KENLUDE97** » July 26, 2006, 10:19 pm

Yea i might "make" one from some cheap canvas or something to lay it all out, and not to F-up too many good tops.

I was thinking of how to attatch it.... I could permently fasten snaps to the car.... But that looks unsightly, I have a thought rolling arround in my head, goes something like..

If there was a way to wedge the leading edge of the top under the window frame, and snap the back... and make a "tonue" cover for over the rear and gas tank area... I could zip the "doors" onto the top so that there is someway to get in and out of the car......

Still thinkig this one thru...

isomswim · Post by **isomswim** » July 26, 2006, 10:31 pm

i wish i had some pics ill have to take some if i go back to friends place. the jeep top uses a piece of plastic in the front that runs the width of the canvas. it then slides into a placer on the topof the windshield. either of my friends have had troubles of them flying off and i know they have had them atleast at speeds of about 80mph. the rear just uses a belt tie that runs though the rollcage. pretty easy. just .2 cents for ideas

thekafer · Post by **thekafer** » July 27, 2006, 9:49 pm

The kit car I owned before was a MGTD replica I got it without a top. I fabbed the tubes and the took it to a auto apolstry guy down the street.
With vague discriptions and hand waving (and sketch and the car) he had a plan. I had my top the next day. Did'nt leak ever,folded great, looked great.
He charged me $500.00 and I considered it a bargain for what I got. If I cant make a hard top this is what I plan to do. I do like the way the Donkervoorts doors open about the wind shield stays..easier to do also. :wink:

Fletch.

mr.peabody.d · Post by **mr.peabody.d** » July 30, 2006, 6:15 pm

make a buck

fitted on the car

Painted

3/4 rear painted and fitted

3/4 front fitted and painted

Rear window

Side and door

All pictures as found here...
http://community.rhocar.org/index.php?showtopic=5653

and discussed here
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthr ... 523&page=1

Or you can work with aliminum......

LocostUSA.com

Hard top & Gull wings

Hard top & Gull wings

V6 gulwinged seven

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