The differences between the early (pre 73) and later Targa tops is shown below. The most significant difference is the step where the window seals attach. I suspect due to the different windows used in the 73 up cars. I'm checking that out now. The step is noticeably taller or hangs lower on the later tops.

Other differences are shown but I suspect they won't have a major impact.

Thanks for those at WCR who volunteered their tops for the inspection

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1st!

damm, that's one ugly late top you got there ...


wanna trade?
Andy

Yep, like the owners sunburned head, it should have been covered up.....

This is good information. Maybe it would be better suited in the originality forum where it might be easier to find?

My 73 has an early top according to the info here. Is it possible that my 73 came with the early top or is it certain that it was replaced at some point in time? It seams to fit pretty good.

im pretty sure my 73 has an early top too... if thats the case then thats the way my car came.

'73 was a transition year. If you have a '73 with a early top, i suspect you also have the early windows and mechanism, as they go together.
Andy

which month was the turn around? My car was built july 73, so I suspect that august+ was the later then?

Add My '73 to the others with an early top, but definately the late model window mechanism. I've don't believe any '73s came with early windows, so it seems unlikely so many '73s would be running around with the early tops if they were incompatible. (right back at Ya!)

Scott

I've got a late top and early windows and it does not seal right at all.

The top should match the windows ...
Andy

PS: Maybe the transition year was '72, can't remember. Somewhere in there they switched windows and tops ...

.....and there are seal changes as well. Hey Andy, didn't I give you a early top? Or was it a late?

Any yet another difference...the height of the rubber bumper

Resurrecting

When using a late roof on an early car should the early rubber stops be switched over to the late roof? (I have 74 doors on my '71)

Thanks
Paul

So which rubber block is early/late?

Looks like it's early on left and later on right.

If I'm not mistaken.

What about the weight difference?
Mine is insanely heavy to compare to one of friend's one.

Early doors are screw type and late doors are scissor type? Now I gotta go check my top too....

I think it was mentioned recently that early tops are about 17 lbs. Late tops are about 4 to 5 lbs. heavier if I'm not mistaken.

I had heard that there were two different types, but never did check into it.

I have two spare tops, but only have one in front of me at the moment. From what I just read, it appears to be an early one.

I'm pretty sure our '71 has the correct (early) top, being that it was purchased from the original owner, but this thread has me wondering about the tops for our '75. If a PO installed a tail shifter transaxle in this car, as well as some other questionable modifications and repairs (most of which I've rectified), it's quite possible it may have the wrong top(s) too

The smooth black top makes a lot of squeaking noises when driving on bumpy roads, even with a new rear seal. If I push up on the rear section, the squeaking stops. I don't remember if the tan (summer) top squeaks, but it leaked like a sieve in moderate to hard rain

Will be checking the other tops soon

I am building an early car (71) but I picked up a late (75) parts car.

I am moving all the glass from the late parts car to the early car.
Is it possible to just move everything for the top from the late car to the early car? Will all the latches and seals work if I move everything?

The late top hardware probably won't all transfer to an early top, but if you want to try it, let us know how that worked (or not).


However, you can use the complete '75 top on your early car and it should work with the late doors/glass.

My plan is to swap all the hardware from the late body to the early body and then just use the entire late top.

What I was really wondering is if the hardware mounts on the body are different from early to late. If all the hardware mounts are the same, the swap should work perfectly.

That part should be the same. Post your results here ...

My 73 2.0 has Late windows and early top...Made in April 73....Im the second onwer and the first owner dosent remember much accept that he lost some hits of acid in the car at some point....

The good thing about your situation is there are a quite a few people with big stashes of tops and you should be able to find the right one for your car. You may even find someone in the opposite situation and set up a trade.

I have a few late tops available

I think the only difference that makes a difference is the channels(molded into the top or flat/no channels) for the rear seal. They are very different at the end "legs" of the rear seal and i dont think the aftermarket ever properly addressed that correctly. round end seals with molded in plates on 1 type and an all flat all rubber seal on the other type. And that was done to try to correct leak complaints or just to make it cheaper...or both.

The official word from the factory manual.
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I have 2 tops for my resto and I was just looking at 914 Rubber today for seals and found out there was an early and late top. So now I know that both my tops are late tops. Great info, thanks.

So if you're wondering why I need 2 tops I have 2 sets of bumpers: one chrome and one black. My 2nd top has been sanded smooth and I will paint it the same as the black bumpers. Now and can change up the look of the car in about an hour.

Was this ^^^ fully confirmed?

Also, as established from the manual, 73 cars starting from VIN 4732926222 (July 4th, 1973) used the late top, whereas early 73 cars (most 73s) had early top, yet with late window mechanism. This has been correlated by many owners.

Do early 73 cars (with early tops) have the early or late rubber bumpers, any validation on this?

I have two early and two late tops all with short and tall bumpers on each pair, so no way to validate any of this.

In addition to the rubber bumpers being a in different width at the top the rear targa latches are different. The distance between the bums is different.
Best indicator of early or late is the rear latch as it is not likely to get swapped out. It a quarter fits between the bumps of the latch it is early. It a nickle fits it is late.

Oops

Yes Bruce, you have a nice picture of that in another thread. Should be added here.

But what about the rubber bumper? Is the tall one the early? Can this be confirmed? Also, are early 73 cars having the early top fitted with the early bumper (I would assume so, but…)?