Summertime hardtop for MGB...just finished it

limey222 · April 16, 2018, 02:24:09 PM

Just finished resurfacing the vinyl portion in an off-white color. Made this from an old Snug top. Got sick of the sun beating down on my head last summer, but I dislike my soft top even with the zip-out rear window . The aim is to run it with the windows down making things very airy. Last year I used a canvas "Bimini" top which was quite well designed except that it still allowed the sun to reach the side of my head as it was too narrow. Not sure yet if I like the look of my new design, when it finally stops raining for a day or two I plan on getting the car out of my garage so I can step back a bit from it to get a more balanced view of the whole car, and see how it performs on the road. It definitely feels very study.

kstevusa · April 16, 2018, 05:01:59 PM

I Like It! good job. More pics when SUN SHINES

limey222 · April 18, 2018, 10:37:18 PM

Y'know after spending all that time working on it I'm not sure that I like it's look. It's OK from the side but I'm not keen on it when standing at an angle towards the rear of the car

rficalora · April 19, 2018, 12:53:49 AM

I hate to say it, but to me it looks awkward. I know you have a lot of work in it but I think if it were me, I'd try relocating the back pillars to the back corners - making the lines of the back window cutout flow into them. Of course, you'd then also need to figure out how to deal with attaching it to the car.

limey222 · April 19, 2018, 11:41:36 AM

Moving the side pillars to the back would be impossible with what I have. I would have to source another used Snugtop as a new pallet, and then as you say, the side anchors would be a problem. I think the overall problem is the way your eye ae drawn to that area of the top. I might look at changing the the color to a matt black in a small area on each rear corner to fool the eye that there is a smooth blending from the side to the rear. I'll make a mock-up on a photo to start.

Dan B · April 19, 2018, 12:16:43 PM

Draw attention to the area you are automatically drawn to anyway, and put something cool there. A chrome strip, fancy graphics or something subtle, just to make it look like you did it on purpose.

limey222 · April 21, 2018, 12:39:01 PM

OK, I'm now really happy with the look of the top. I used color (black) on the two protrusions that gave it a strange look. I then added a chrome strip and also blacked out the rear portion of the side supports that had previously been finished in an off-white gel coat. I think that you will agree taht these small touches have made a huge difference.

RMO 699F · April 21, 2018, 10:27:05 PM

Michael..my thought is the glaring color contrast between the top and body is what draws attention to the specific angles that you do not like. If you paint the top the same color as the body, those features that you do not like now will be greatly diminished...

BlownMGB-V8 · April 21, 2018, 10:33:38 PM

Yes! (Or black. Black would be much less striking to the eye.)

Jim

limey222 · April 22, 2018, 11:54:44 AM

Errr.....it was originally black, I purposely chose the off-white color, kind of a "west coast" look, seen it done to great effect on many cars.
However, I do appreciate all of your comments and suggestions, if nothing else it does prove that we are all uniquely different. For instance I think that my black Robbins soft top looks horrible on the car, makes it look like an oversize baby carriage from the 50's. I guess I'm just drawn to out of the ordinary.
I'm actually thinking of selling my Robbins, its been on my car only twice since purchasing it new about 2-1/2 years ago..been sitting in my finished basement most of the time. I will keep my factory hardtop, which is ironically appears to be the original color...off white.

Moderator · April 22, 2018, 11:23:30 PM

Michael wrote: "I used color (black) on the two protrusions that gave it a strange look. I then added a chrome strip and also blacked out the rear portion of the side supports that had previously been finished in an off-white gel coat."

Yes, I do agree these changes have made a very dramatic improvement!

I'm looking forward to seeing it in person.