Mike,
I'm assuming you have a factory hardtop? When I first got my top, I
drove around for quite a while without the socket/angle irons (I have
a fully removeable top--don't know how it works with folding top
frame hardware.)
The top seemed to stay on just fine, although I suppose there is a
little more security in knowing that with the additional brackets, it
might be less likely to come loose (air pressure differences are
probably negligible, body or windscreen flexing not that extreme,
etc.) There are little clips on the latches which should serve as
safety catches. Still, I thought about what would happen if the
front of the top detached at speed--not a pretty sight, though
unlikely.
The brackets on mine actually prevented the top from sittting quite
right, and the top side windows didn't seal quite right against the
body. All part of the handcrafted charm of the car, I guess. It's
nice that Victoria British still sells parts--as simple as the
brackets are-- I couldn't have made them--but they are darned
expensive...
--
Chris Attias
'64 MGB
|