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MG MGB Technical - Question on Factory Hardtop

Did the factory make different versions of their hard top? I see a guy selling a "factory top", which has side window frames made of fiberglass. In other words, the main part of the top and the side window frames are all molded as one piece. I've seen the factory hardtops with the aluminum frames. Were they all built like that for the entire production range?
Terrence Goodell

Can you provide a link to a picture?
Kimberly

I wasn't sure about the protocol for posting sales links, but what the heck. Here it is:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/pts/325201138.html
Terrence Goodell

Im afraid that isn't a factory hardtop. The side window frames would be of aluminium on a factory top. They style is similar - but Im afraid the story about the top would have to be misleading.

Jeff
J Delk

Terrence,
To answer your initial question the factory only offered one style of top during the production life of the B and C roadsters.

It was always fibreglass (although there was a change of maker during thr run) with the alloy frames you mentioned .

The factory contracted this work out and the tops were both an aftermarket accessory through MG dealers and a factory option on new vehicles.

Pete.

Peter Thomas

Terrence. I agree with Jeff, the hard top you are selling differs from any of the factory hard tops I have seen. It may well have been original to the car when new. Dealers were more than happy to offer both factory and after market parts fitted to a car being sold. If the hard top was sold with the car, it would have been a "dealer fitted hard top" rather than a "factory fitted hard top". Should make little difference to most people looking to install a hard top on their cars, unless they want it for a show car.

Les
Les Bengtson

There was a factory STYLE top available from a couple of different sources in recent years that looked very much like the one in your link. Proper MG offered it in many of their catalogs. The MGOC may have also offered this top...but I cannot verify that fact.

It had the correct shape and contours of the factory top, including the "lip" around the top of the side lites and the sharp edge across the back, but, as mentioned in an above post, was formed with the side lite frames as an integral part of the casting...unlike the true factory tops that used aluminum side lite frames.
rick ingram

Looks like a "snugtop" which is fiberglass covered in some type of vinyl or vinyl paint made in California….I believe they all came black from the manufacturer but I have seen a couple of white ones over the years. I have both one of these and I have a factory top… I prefer the “snugtop” by far (if you have to have a top) for practical use. In my experience they are much quieter. They are also less delicate since they have the fiberglass around the windows. Of course I don’t think they beat the looks of the factory top.
jjralston

re: Of course I don’t think they beat the looks of the factory top.
************

Nice save!

:)

<grin>
rick ingram

Check out Steve's photo gallery of MGB hardtops at
www.mgnuts.com/

The one on Craig's list looks like a "Snugtop" on Steve's site.

FWIW

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Thanks to all for confirming my understanding. And just to set the record straight, I'm not the person selling this top. I am looking for a true factory hardtop though. I had one years ago but sold it on, as I didn't use it. My LBC history is full of regret, for loves lost :)
Terrence Goodell

I've a recent MGB 1976 vintage, which I've just purchased and I've been trawling the web looking for information, as you do, and I came across this site.

Years ago in the 1980's I used to restore MGB's in Merseyside and a couple had works hard tops. But I now work for an old established motor-cycle side-car manufacturer, (we've been going since 1912 in the Cotswold's, but I believe our previous premises up to around 1970 was in Solihull), and I noticed in our old mouldings pile what looks to be like the original mould for the works hardtop, I've also seen a couple of rear side windows in extruded alloy and perspex knocking around the place,we never throw anything away! We might just have been the original manufacturer ( It's the sort of thing our company might have done in the past, but no-one here at the moment can remember ... its a very strange place) It might just be a copy, but if anyone knows the history, please get in touch.

Simon
simon

Simon

Apparently there were several different manufacturers of the 'works' hardtop - i.e. BMC changed suppliers.

Where in Solihull were the company located?

Dave
Dave O'Neill 2

Simon - do you work for Watsonian Sidecar? I thought that the Roadster Factory bought all of those molds and so forth. Interesting - can you place your hands on those items now. That would be interesting material to reference - many of us are interested in the old tops.

Jeff
J Delk

There were only ever two suppliers to the factory for hardtops.

One was Ferranti Laminations based in Wales and the other was I believe Watsonia.
I say believe because my MG related books are in storage and I am unable to check to be sure.

Anyone know for certain?

Pete.
Peter Thomas

Hi

Yes I work for Watsonian, although we are now Watsonian-Squire Ltd having taken over the old Squire sidecar business a few years ago. I've only been working there for 18 months and I know very little of the history, Tom, one of the last from the Solihull days retired a couple of months ago but still pops in occasionally I'll ask him if he remembers anything next time he's in.

I'll check tomorrow what actually is there, but I think we have the two pieces of the clamp together mouldings (this puts the 'diamond' pattern in the inside) I don't think we have the jigs for the side windows but I'll have to check

I'll ask the boss if its ok to take a couple of pictures

Simon
S S Tew

Simon that would be great - I am almost finished with a site for the factory Hard top and those would be nice additions. I'd enjoy speaking with Tom as well. Let's stay in touch,

Jeff
J Delk

A few years ago I had an original factory hard-top. All the aluminum frames were missing. I found a way to utilize this top by cutting and fitting Lexan panels directly to the top.Rubber channels along the bottom sealed it well. I overlapped the lexan to the door glass by 1/2" and a small aluminum clip at bottom forward corner of side window held it solid. I added extra insulation on inside of top using headliner material. As this B had air conditioning it made a very quiet driver. The side view appeared to have a much larger field of view. Unfortunately I lost all photos of car in one of our Florida storms.
The car was sold and went to the Barbados.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

This thread was discussed between 08/05/2007 and 15/05/2007

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