Aluminum Targa hard top, possibly?

[JMPRO]

I stopped by a local panel beater yesterday and checked into having an aluminum Targa top made. The guy is a legend in the custom and hot rod fabrication department. My idea was to have a panel made to fit on the Targa folding frame and have a brushed finish with exposed rivits as fastners. He liked the idea and quoted me $1500.00 and about a week to make. That does not include installing it on the frame, I have to do that myself. Seems like a lot of money for something I don't really need and only am doing because I think its a cool idea.
Jerry

[Porchcar guy]

It was your idea and if the guy is good, the price is fair ...If he is not so good..bad idea !

[TRE Cup]

Ralph Boothe had a stainless version made , in the same brushed finish as the hoop, for his early targa. It looked great !
If you do it in aluminum, there will be a difference in color between the hoop and the skin (assuming a brushed stainless hoop on your car). Though aluminum is easier for the panel beater to work with, imho I would go with stainless so it matches.
Pricing varies when it comes to custom hand work like this. You will want to check out other panel beaters . Not saying he is expensive as its more work than you think getting all the contours correct

[RSTarga]

Aluminum would also be very prone to dings.

[JMPRO]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

Ralph Boothe had a stainless version made , in the same brushed finish as the hoop, for his early targa. It looked great !
If you do it in aluminum, there will be a difference in color between the hoop and the skin (assuming a brushed stainless hoop on your car). Though aluminum is easier for the panel beater to work with, imho I would go with stainless so it matches.
Pricing varies when it comes to custom hand work like this. You will want to check out other panel beaters . Not saying he is expensive as its more work than you think getting all the contours correct

Thanks for the toughts. The guy has a steller rep and has done parts for Chip Foose and others like him. My hoop is black so I don't need to match anything. I have a factory hard top so he will use it as a buck to get the contour correct. Still not sure I want to go down this road except for the cool factor.

Jerry

[DRACO A5OG]

Very Interesing Jerry.

I wonder if it can be made with a mold and Carbonfiber??? liken to how they make river rafts and stuff like that????

Especially since you have the Factory Hard Top the mold should be simple enough to make.

You need a guinee pig???

[JMPRO]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Very Interesing Jerry.

I wonder if it can be made with a mold and Carbonfiber??? liken to how they make river rafts and stuff like that????

Kaminari, the company I sold my f/g hard top concept to does make a carbon fiber example of the top. Check with your local Pelican Parts rep for a quote on the c/f version.

Jerry

[DRACO A5OG]

oh yeah the Kaminari. now just to find a drame on the cheap

[Winter]

If you already have the factory hard top, why bother?

I love my hardtop. But it's a targa, and I rarely drive it with the top on anyhow.

Interesting idea, though. If you could start to fabricate them, you might find a market here.