Mike:
I paid $550 for mine on eBay, but shipping and crating added
another $200, so the asking price is right in line with what I paid in
total. There has not been one on eBay for a few months, I bought mine a
year ago.
Things to look for: The head liner, if it is original, will need
to be replaced. The glue used to install the liner bleeds through over
the years, and it will be stained looking even if it is not ripped,
which it almost certainly will be. If it is not ripped, it will be so
fragile that simply pushing on it will cause it to split. If it is a new
liner, then this doesn't apply.
Look for all the stainless trim around the outside edges. Most
of this is all but impossible to source if you need it. New head liners
can be had from the Roadster Factory for $150. Glass should be free from
scratches. The weather striping is probably dried out, and should be
replaced, easily obtained from TRF. There should be some bits and pieces
used to mount it (some spacers, turnbuckle-looking things, odd bolts,
etc). These are not items you can get from a hardware store, and add up
if you need to replace them ($50). TRF carries all of these items.
If there is no headliner, make sure you get all the mounting
bows for the liner. These are long, thin curved pieces of metal that
give the headliner it's shape. There should be 3 or 4 of them (don't
remember exactly). If the headliner is in place, then they will all be
there. But if the headliner is gone or damaged, check that you get them
all.
Look for rusty ventilation grills (in the B pillar) and check
for rust on the outside of the B pillar near the bottom, below the rear
window on the inside, and on the bottom edges of the sheet metal
underneath the rear window (i.e. turn the top upside down and inspect
the edges of the metal).
Check the paint. Mine had been repainted a couple of times, and
it was awful paint. There was dirt, pimples and a couple of small
squirrels embedded in the paint. Nasty. The tops were available finished
in black, white, or (most often) matching body color.
I got an inexpensive manual hardtop hoist on eBay for $20 so
that I can get the thing on the car without an act of congress. You
might consider this, otherwise it is a 2 person job to get it on the
car.
Unless the top is pristine, it will be several hundred dollars
to recondition it. I figure $200 in parts for mine, plus paint. Not
cheap. The overdrive was a much better deal, and I will use it a lot
more often.
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of michael lunsford
Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 5:30 AM
To: 6pack@autox.team.net
Subject: TR6 Hardtop
Listers,
One of our club members has a hardtop for sale for around $750. I have
seen old photos of it and it looks good. I expect to get to look at it
this weekend. He says all of the necessary parts to mount it are
included. I'm generally a top down kind of guy but in Florida it's too
hot to drive the 6 (I'm getting old and like my comfort) for 4 or 5
months during the summer. Obviously if I get this, AC will be in the
offing. I really like the looks of the metal hard top though I realize
it is a PITA to store, install and remove. What are your opinions on
the price and what do I need to look for before I buy it? TIA.
Mike Lunsford, 1970 TR6
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