-----Original Message-----
From: Rex Funk <rexfunk(at)wizzards.net>
To: Ken Bloomquist <kennyb(at)gte.net>
Date: Saturday, October 03, 1998 11:34 PM
Subject: Re: Hard Tops
>Ken Bloomquist wrote:
>
>>Another question, I have a hard top that I purchased a few years ago but
>I'm not sure what series I have. How do you tell the hard tops for the
>different series?
>
>The stock Alpine hard tops come in two flavors. The series I and II had a
>very rounded looking hard top, with a wrap-around plexiglass rear window.
>This is the one that fits your Series I. They are aluminum, are easy to
>handle, and dent easily. They were criticised for trapping a pocket of air
>that buffeted the occupants at road speed. This led to a condition knows
as
>"Alpine Neck". Starting with the Series III, the hard top was completely
>re-designed. Rootes used steel rather than aluminum, and put some hinged
>wind-wings on the side behind the seats to let the air through. The shape
>of the top was more angular, and the rear window was flatter, and did not
>wrap around the sides like the early top. These tops are prone to rust,
>particularly in the dog-legs. The two top styles are not interchangable
>early to late, because the windshields and roll-up windows also changed
from
>Series III on.
>
>There were also a few after-market tops made for the Alpine. Most that I
>have seen are plastic or fiberglass. Look for the manufacturer's name on
>these.
>
>Check to make sure you have all parts for the hard top. Stainless rear
>window trim, particularly, can be expensive and difficult to get. The
>Sunbeam Alpine Web Page
>http://www.team.net/www/rootes/sunbeam/alpine/mk1-5/index.html has
>illustrations of the models.
>
>Let us know what you have.
>
>Rex Funk
>
>
>
>
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