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Posted by: will Oct 24 2007, 12:33 PM

Has anyone thought about customizing a targa top using plexiglass? Plexiglass can be molded to any shape. This would be a great replacement for the NLA saratoga top.

Posted by: RoninEclipse2G Oct 24 2007, 12:41 PM

sounds like fun, have at it.

my hands are full with bumper rubbers

Posted by: SECHSER Oct 24 2007, 01:14 PM

i saw one for sale on the samba not too long ago, but i can't find the ad now so they might have sold it. not sure if someone already makes that but i think it's a great idea.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Oct 24 2007, 02:07 PM

Will,

Year ago I talked to a Plastics place that specializes in Marine winshield about making up a plexiglass top. Very doable, the tricky part is getting the fittings together. The place is in Costa Mesa on 18th street just west of Placentia.

It is a good idea, you can mold in flat side edges to mount the standard track for ruber seals; the quality of Plastics is much better than in 1973, etc

You may want to touch base with them

Jim

Posted by: will Oct 24 2007, 05:53 PM

Thanks Jim,
I have a couple of plexiglass company in my area that I will contact. I hope it is not too terribly expensive.

Will

Posted by: Two914s Apr 29 2008, 10:27 PM

I have a Saratoga top listed on ebay right now ( April 2008 ).

Item # 200219075560

Posted by: biosurfer1 Apr 29 2008, 10:40 PM

what about cutting away most of an existing top and replacing it with plexi? that way you could use the existing mounting, seal channels, etc.

Posted by: 70Sixter Apr 30 2008, 11:48 AM

I saw it done back in the days of aftermarket sunroof kits. Somebody put a large sunroof into the 914 top. Ugly.

Your thought is much better use of a screwed up top.

Posted by: brer Apr 30 2008, 01:48 PM

I worked on this idea for awhile but never finished the lid.
someday maybe it will get pulled out again.

Posted by: biosurfer1 Apr 30 2008, 03:54 PM

eh, I was just throwing out ideas...I hate having the sun on my head unless the top is completely off

Posted by: JC 914 Apr 30 2008, 05:37 PM

Something like this???

Posted by: Rand Apr 30 2008, 06:14 PM

Unless there's rain falling. I know, that's a dichotomy, but I live in the PNW. So I like having a clear top. And cutting the center out of an old top & riveting plexi over it makes for a nice extra alternative top to have on hand. Depends on where you live I guess, but I'll take all the natural light I can get.

Posted by: TROJANMAN Apr 30 2008, 06:23 PM

You might consider moving...........

Posted by: Rand Apr 30 2008, 06:27 PM

Yeah, Gregor will be here all night... And be sure to try our burrito special.
(As I'm planning my "geographical independence." Seattle summers are perfect, but beware, I may be in your neck of the woods next winter.)

Posted by: brer Apr 30 2008, 10:48 PM

I was just going to cut hole, router out a large area to create overlap, then take to my local surfboard shop and have them reglass the hole with tinted fiberglass.

greenish color I was thinking. Maybe use the graphite colored cloth to cut the sun but still allow light to come in.

Anyway, thats what I was thinking.

Posted by: Rand Apr 30 2008, 11:00 PM

My approach was, hole saw the four corners to make a nice radius in said corners, sabersaw the straight lines, pick up the plexi from Tap Plastics, drill the holes for pop rivets, put a dab of silicone goop in the hole, and pop-rivet to fasten. Do your craftsmanship well and you won't be embarrassed of it.


If you live in the PNW you'll be happy with the sunlight. If you have a thick hide, the teasing of the brothren south of the Cal border won't phase you.

Posted by: brer Apr 30 2008, 11:07 PM

plexi sure might expand and contract differently which is why i was leaning towards reglassing it.

Posted by: Rand Apr 30 2008, 11:11 PM

YMMV. Love new ideas. Post the results.

Posted by: brer May 1 2008, 02:54 PM

someday I just might.

Posted by: dflesburg Sep 23 2008, 10:08 PM

We are currently planning on doing a prototype for a 914 top with a very large section replaced with dark gray lexan. When we get the first one done, if it looks good, we will be making more. We will keep you posted.

Posted by: auerbach Sep 23 2008, 11:48 PM

I'll put dibbs on the first proto type so long as I'm not obligated to donate my top for the first product run.

Posted by: Elliot Cannon Sep 24 2008, 12:03 AM

It's been my experience that you can leave the top off when it rains as long as you don't slow below 38.5 miles per hour. So who needs plexiglass. Just leave the damn thing off.

Posted by: Root_Werks Sep 24 2008, 11:31 AM

Begginers. I think you guys need sunroofs in your 914s.


Attached thumbnail(s)

Posted by: dflesburg Sep 24 2008, 01:50 PM

Thats almost the size of the one we are doing... only about 3" wider on each side and it wont need to open will be glued in...

Posted by: r_towle Sep 24 2008, 02:55 PM

dflesburg....back up the boat a bit.

That pic above is using the 924/944 sunroof.
There are loads of them in jumk yards now...all the hardware is there.
If you reskinned the 924/944 lid...that might be a decent seller...

I kinda like that approach...
You could use metal for the roof, add some structure to the car and still have a pretty big ass hole when you remove it.....


Rich

Posted by: Root_Werks Sep 24 2008, 03:11 PM

Yeah look closer at the picture, that roof is all steel and welded to the car. I think there is a thread on it even.

Posted by: roadster fan Sep 24 2008, 04:41 PM

Hey Dan,

I was just talking about your 944 roof at the last Bay Area lunch. I am thinking about doing this on my 73 project but couldn't find the thread where you posted progress pics. Was it part of someone elses thread?

For others: I was extremely surprised how much I liked this modification. I had seen pictures of it when Dan completed it, but when I saw it in person at WCR08, WOW! When the sunroof panel is removed the opening is huge. Dan's work on the car makes it look like a factory option.

Now to go price a 944 roof

Hijack over. I think a plexi panel in a stock roof could be done nicely too. I have a roof with the sunroof installed like in one of the pics and I dont see the point since it is so small. Open up the size of the panel and I could see why some would like it.

Jim

Posted by: Root_Werks Sep 25 2008, 07:59 AM

This is the link:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=76305&st=0

It's no easy task. Been thinking about doing it again. We'll see. It sure changes the car.