Here is a Classic Car Convertible top Assembly that was made from a design that was created by me and Geoff Shootman of Classic Car Buyers Guide.A copy of a 1950's "Drop Head" 120 Jaguar Convertible Top Assembly, It offers a simple and easy way to cover the custom leather interior of the Classic Car .

It was designed and built for use only as a temporary convertible top,(used only as needed)It worked out to look pretty darn good.We have designed Custom tops for Corvetts,Lincoln Custom Convertiables and other Classic Cars.

The first step was to measure all the dimensions and lay out the design on graph paper.

The second step was to fabricate the steel bar rear and center bows,It was easy to cold bend the steel bar corners and Tig weld the side pieces in place.

The side arms and rear top bows are made from 3/4 inch half round hot rolled steel.The center and side rails are 1/2 inch thin wall mild steel tubing.The entire top was Tig welded together and Brass cold rivits were used at the piviot points.

The Front Wind shield header is wood.The top disappears into the top well and completly out of site! 

This Classic Car is a 30's Bugatti with a Super Charged in line 8 cylinder engine. Cast aluminum Lower block and Cast Iron upper cylinder block.A single Up Draft carburator and Custom Crower Crank Shaft!

 

 Heres a close up of the interior

 

 

3-M Masking Tape is used to show the lines of the Top Material

  

Fabricated Top,Tack welded and Taped up to show the top material lines.

This Bugatti T57 was Restored at the Alan Taylor Company in 2006.

The Complete restoration took a little over 2 years.

The body is skined with a T-3 3003 Aluminum at .065 thickness

It was tig welded and hand formed using an English Wheel,TM Planishing and shaping air hammer,and a 1940's PullMax Metal shaping machine.

The wind shield frame was designed in house and hand made from cast brass.

 

The side windows clamped in place and ready to weld into thier position 

The Rear panel with the Lay Out Tape showing the line of the Top Material

 

The fabricated side arms used to fold the top.

This  Side Arm Design was not used because of a clearance problem.

A solid 5/16 Steel round bar is being used to create the window top opening.

The top assembly was Tig Welded and cold riveted together.

 

Here is the final fabricated Design,Painted and in place on the car ready to measure up for the top material.  

 

 

Another view of the complete top assembly.A wood bow was bonded with epoxy to the rear top bow.

 

 

 

Here is the finished top in the Spray Booth.

 

A PPG Single Stage Urethane Paint was used.

Here is the stylish center bow,painted and ready to install.