Читать книгу Convertible Top Restoration and Installation - Fred Mattson - Страница 11

CHAPTER 4

OPEN CARS

Nothing screams hot rod more than the open roadster. The most-recognized open car ever produced was the Ford Model T. This car changed the way Americans traveled and felt about the automobile. The Model T took on many forms during its long production run. The most notable was the bucket-style body with a folding top. But in the blink of an eye, the 1930s roadsters stole the hearts of veterans returning home from war and turned these everyday cars into the hot rods we love today.

Imagine yourself behind the wheel of this all-American hot rod with dual carburetors on top of a flathead V-8 with open headers, ready to make the wide whitewall tires smoke as it tears down the open road. Hang on tight; this is going to be one exciting ride!

Modifying a car to suit the personality of the driver was limitless. High-performance engines, elaborate paint, and big tires would transform the basic car into a street rod that would turn heads and set track records all across America. One big drawback to the open design of the Duce was the top—or lack thereof. Some drivers were content to drive without a top, and many others wanted a top that was less bulky and easier to operate.

Bolt-On Accessories

Because of the popularity of the bucket design, the original steel bodies were getting harder to acquire, and alternative materials (such as aluminum and fiberglass) were now being produced to keep up with the demand from car enthusiasts. These aftermarket bodies were offered without any of the factory mounting hardware for fenders, tops, and windshields, making them the perfect blank canvas to be accessorized to the owner’s specifications.

The plain fiberglass body of this roadster allows almost any accessory to be added, giving it the unique look and features that are desired. Imagination is the key element used to design and build a machine that meets the personal needs of the owner.

Many hours of customization go into the building of such an iconic car. This dream has it all: a big V-8 engine, soft top, super-wide racing tires, and a custom flame paint job. This T-bucket is the ultimate example of the American roadster.

Just the thought of drilling into the new fiberglass body to attach the acquired parts presented other challenges for the car owner. Fenders and running boards were not always desired, but having a windshield and a folding top appealed to many enthusiasts. Choosing the right combination for one’s prized ride was not always easy to do.

The Windshield

Commonplace to most of the bucket roadsters was the standard frame windscreen. This simple design was made up of a metal frame and a single piece of glass. A similar version of this windshield also featured a tilting frame for the glass.

One of the sexiest windshields ever produced for the Deuce was the DuVall windshield frame. The raked-back glass and swooping base anchors made this a real eye catcher, and you either loved the design or hated it. It is my personal favorite.

Probably one of the most ornate windshields ever developed for the 1932 roadster was this swept-back design created by George DuVall Jr. In the early days of customization, creative minds would combine ideas from many sources to develop classic designs.

The BopTop

If you had access to original hardware, you could buy a premade top or have one custom tailored to fit your car. Many top frames were either neglected and fell into severe disrepair, or they were removed and discarded by a previous owner who saw no value in having a top.

As the 1932 roadster grew in popularity by hot rod owners, the desire to put the top up became an accessory that many felt was a useful option for the unexpected rainfall or just to get the blazing sun off the back of one’s neck.

Drilling into a fiberglass body could mean chipped paint or a cracked gel coat. And neither was a desired option for someone who loved to show off his or her car. To avoid drilling into the body, an alternative was needed.

In 2000, a new concept soft-top design was created by Sid Chavers. He understood that the practical side of owning a roadster was to have the option for a top. His revolutionary design did not require any additional holes or hardware to be added to the body of the car, and this eliminated the risk of damaging a flawless paint job.

The unique top design was called the BopTop. It was a fully collapsible frame design that could be stored in the trunk of the car when not in use and installed within minutes if you needed protection from the weather. Anchoring the top frame required the standard anchors that were already on the car. Sid also created special B-pillar anchors that can also be added to a car that does not have them. The BopTop frame is designed so that it does not touch the painted body of the car and does not require any additional snaps or fasteners to secure the top to the car.

This roadster has been fitted with the classic BopTop developed by Sid Chavers. Adding the classic look of the roadster soft top to a modern hot rod without modifying the body or disturbing the paint has always been a challenge, and this removable top is the solution.

Sid Chavers works on the fit of a BopTop frame. The body of the car has been covered to protect the painted surface while the new top is being worked on. Getting the top frame to fit perfectly is simple, and it can be done with basic tools.

When the BopTop is not in use, it can be disassembled and stored in the trunk of the car. Each BopTop comes with its own storage bag to protect the top and keep it safe when it is not on the car. The Bop-Top is easy to put together and it can be reassembled in just a few minutes.

Begin installation of the BopTop with the fitting of the wood header bow. Each bow is custom crafted from seven layers of oak and then contoured to fit the windshield of the car. Standard mounting hardware holds the header bow securely to the windshield.

Standard brackets are used to mount the BopTop to the car. Sid Chavers Company offers these custom mounting brackets that can be removed when the top is not in use to leave a flush and smooth appearance to the roadster.

Sid Chavers Company offers these custom-made mounting brackets. Many times, the aftermarket bodies do not include this necessary hardware. Sid gives you a choice of the standard mount or a custom mount that can be disassembled into a flush mount.

Sid also offers many options to customize the BopTop. He designed the HotSlot™ rear window that actually can be installed in the rear curtain without causing the top material to pucker once it has been assembled and installed. Sid later created the Cool Slot™ rear window that opens to allow air to flow through the car.

There is a removable rear curtain option for the BopTop as well. This design appeals to old-school enthusiasts who like the traditional two-piece top design.

Carson Tops

Another style of top that was popular in the late 1930s through the mid-1960s was the Carson top. These were custom-built tops that could either be removed or permanently built on the car. The sleek and smooth design originated in California by Glen Houser in 1935.

Most rear-curtain, mail-slot windows have a fixed piece of glass inside of a metal frame. The frame is then set into the double-blind curtain of a convertible top. This unique Cool Slot™ design by Sid Chavers allows the window to be opened for addition airflow through the car without dropping the curtain.

What a beautiful 1937 Ford sporting an extremely fine example of the Carson top. The custom top has all the vintage details you would expect to find on a classic like this, plus the contrasting tan color of the Haartz Stayfast canvas complements the superb paint on the body.

Glen worked at the Carson Top Shop for Amos Carson, the owner of the shop. Glen created the smooth, padded tops by modifying the roof-line of a stock convertible that would transform the car into a rolling work of art. The basic look of the top took on a chopped or lowered look with a rounded sweeping profile.

The tops were constructed by adding a framework of metal banding to the original header bow of the convertible top. The metal pieces were then shaped and welded together to make the top rigid. Adding to the custom styling, new side rails were created to fit the side door glass of the car, eliminating the rear quarter window.

After the general structure of the top frame was completed, the frame was then padded with cotton, and a new headliner was added to the inside of the frame. Finishing of the outside of the new top was done by covering the structure with Haartz top material to form a smooth and unique roofline.

This drawing from Dan Post’s Blue Book of Customization shows the beginning process of how the Carson top frame was constructed. The top used elements from the original frame, while it was styled to fit the car.

The detail in the upholstering of the Carson top is shown quite well in this illustration from Dan Post’s Blue Book of Customization. Note the detail that was taken to finish the top so that it would look like it could have been a factory option.