[Spridgets] Story about a hardtop

[Bill L.]

Hello Weslake1330,


Here's my hardtop story..

I saw one on ebay for $600, local pickup only.The guy had completely restored it for his Mk IV Sprite, but after finishing it he found it didn't fit as it was for a MK III. Lucky Me!  It was on the east coast, Florida or the Carolinas, I can't remember exaclty. I communicated with the guy and he agreed to ship to Washington state, if I would pay for the boxing materials. Well, he made the box so big and heavy that it could only be shipped motor freight.  I paid him $400 for the plywood, and he shipped it. That shipping was $500! So now I'm into it for a $1000. They wouldn't deliver it from Portland so I had to borrow a truck from my neighbor to pick it up. The truck got 10 mpg and it was 120 mile round trip so there was another $60. We unloaded the truck opened up the box, took out the top and I went into the house.  About an hour later the police came knocking on my door asking me if it was my truck in the ravine! I had forgotten to set the brake and the truck rolled back, across the street and over the edge! The offered to pull it out, but since I have AAA I called them so it wouldn't cost me anything for that at least. Turns out the frame was bent and the truck was a total loss. Of course I had to replace the truck as my neighbor didn't have coverage for that and either did I. We found a replacement for $1400. All in my top cost me nearly $2500, on a car I paid $2000 for. But it IS a nice top and MK III tops are the rarest of them all. 




-- 
Best regards,
 Bill                            mailto:Zormecteon at comcast.net


Man who pick nose - head cave in.