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> Saratoga plexiglass roof, MERGED with "see thru top"
gonflyn
post May 9 2006, 09:01 PM
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Anyone know about Saratoga plexiglass roofs??? I just saw one on Ebay...never heard of them. I would like to know where they came from and if there is still available some where?
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chilli
post May 9 2006, 09:09 PM
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QUOTE(gonflyn @ May 9 2006, 07:01 PM) *

Anyone know about Saratoga plexiglass roofs??? I just saw one on Ebay...never heard of them. I would like to know where they came from and if there is still available some where?


Yes they were avail in 70's and 80's, have plexy window in the top. Does not open. I do not remember how the fit was on the 914's. From memory I think they took a regular 914 top and added to "window"
mike (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
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flesburg
post May 9 2006, 09:18 PM
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They were a one piece plexiglass top that replaced the entire fiberglass unit. As I recall, and I only remember seeing one "live", they did not fit that well, they were pretty expensive in 70's dollars, and I did not consider one further...

But they were a great idea, and gave a top off feel even in the winter...
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Dave_Darling
post May 9 2006, 09:18 PM
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Actually, they are a complete top panel made out of smoked plexi. With very few exceptions, they fit like absolute excrement. Plus they take non-stock seals, which are of course NLA. As a result, they are noisy, and they leak like seives. Yes, worse than the stock roof does! Plus they let all the heat in during the summer, without being open-air the way the stock top (removed) is.

They haven't been made for years. Evil-bay is about the only place you'll find them--be prepared to pay in the four-digit range for one! God only knows why...

--DD
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jim_hoyland
post May 9 2006, 09:37 PM
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I found that cloudy overcast days are really great for the Saratoga top. Lots of light comes in and you get a different perspective of the sky, road, and driving. Recently took my top over to the Plastics Place in Costa Mesa that specializes in making custome marine windshields for powerboats to see about having one made up that be more like the regular top. Especially where the side rubber and tracts fit. Seems like the materails and methods have advanced quite a bit since the '70's and it's a very doable job.If a modern version were made with better sealing on the sides, it would be very nice.
Here's a couple of pics from Winter in Seal Beach..


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gonflyn
post May 9 2006, 09:59 PM
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That looks great!!, Is that a Saratoga top or one you had made in So Cal?
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wbergtho
post May 9 2006, 10:20 PM
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If you could get one to fit properly and not leak too bad...I'd be interested. Of course you would have a major amplification of heat during the hottest summer days...but what a treat to have on a cool fall day!

Bill
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pib
post May 9 2006, 10:24 PM
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There was a thread about these a couple days ago...with pics
Read it here...
I just want one for night driving. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Dave, does that mean you have to change the front & back targa seals to use it? Not possible to swap tops without changing seals?
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Dave_Darling
post May 9 2006, 10:45 PM
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IIRC, the difference is on the side seals and possibly the rear. The seals that attach to the roof panel itself, that is. They are not the stock ones and are impossible to find. Not a big deal on the rear seal (if that's one of the ones that is specific to the Saratoga Top) but quite a big deal on the side seals...

--DD
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jim_hoyland
post May 10 2006, 07:44 AM
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Saratoga Tops are definately NOT for hot sunny days. I probably use mine only 10% of the time. As Dave mentioned, the side seals are completly different and do not provide weatherproofing in rain or even car washing.
My inquiry with the marine windshield shop touched on making the sides more like the current 914 top. That way the tracks could be screwed on and 914 rubber seals installed. I didn't take this past the "is it doable stage"; but, these guys say it's very doable, and they work on stuff that is more complex than these tops.
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vertigo
post May 10 2006, 08:56 AM
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I have one for my '73 from the previous owner. It is a smoked glass look and actually fits as well as the stock roof. It can be removed and stored in the rear trunk like the original and is about as noisy as the original. It does leak just a tiny bit more than the original (at corners of window) but not by much.
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Mueller
post May 10 2006, 10:44 AM
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from the other Saratoga top thread:

QUOTE(Eric_Shea @ May 2 2006, 11:42 AM) *

I do think those tops are one of the coolest aftermarket goodies for the cruiser. Too bad they're gone. Must have been mighty expensive to build. I wonder if there's tooling laying around out there?



I've spoken to the original manufacture of the Saratoga tops (they still make tops for 'vettes and some other cars)...the original molds got tossed in the dumpster due to lack of demand. In order to make new tops, one would have to start over with new molds ($2000 for mold), he estimated that the tops would cost approx. about $600 to $800 each if he had a solid order of 50 tops....I'm sure they could be made better with more attention to the sealing issues being resolved....
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jim_hoyland
post May 10 2006, 02:49 PM
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That would be a good price and prolly a lot better product with the improvements in plastics. Certainly cheaper than trying to buy a 30 year old top on E-bay. How about a limited edition ?
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AZ914
post May 10 2006, 03:43 PM
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Mine seems to fit well, a little squeaky but no leaky. During the summer, I just leave it in the garage and use the oem top.
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jim_hoyland
post May 16 2006, 08:06 PM
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If there was enough interest; perhaps this would be good item for the club store since they would not be available any where else.
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McMark
post May 16 2006, 08:39 PM
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Jim, a rough estimate on price would be very good. See if you can get your guys to give you a price to the nearest $100. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
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Dave_Darling
post May 16 2006, 08:48 PM
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QUOTE(jim_hoyland @ May 16 2006, 07:06 PM) *

If there was enough interest; perhaps this would be good item for the club store since they would not be available any where else.


Oh yeah, because that's worked so well in the past. Just ask Mueller (and Brad) about the billet hubs, or Stephen Jacobs about the 904-style combo gauges...

Hey, if you have $20K burning a hole in your pocket, I'm sure that one or two people out there would be happy to buy a top from you and the rest of them would sit in your garage gathering dust...

(Cynical? Naaaaaah!)

--DD
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jim_hoyland
post May 16 2006, 09:35 PM
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QUOTE(McMark @ May 16 2006, 07:39 PM) *

Jim, a rough estimate on price would be very good. See if you can get your guys to give you a price to the nearest $100. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)


After WCC 06 I'm planning on going over and discuss and I'll get a ballpark number.

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pete-stevers
post Jul 22 2006, 01:16 PM
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really...........
does anyone have a pic or two of a see through top........


.......on a teener......
i know they are rare.....
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
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RoadGlue
post Jul 22 2006, 01:18 PM
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QUOTE(pete-stevers @ Jul 22 2006, 12:16 PM) *

really...........
does anyone have a pic or two of a see through top........


.......on a teener......
i know they are rare.....
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)


Search for "Saratoga Top" and you'll find some photos.
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