06_LT1

I bought a busted targa from someone else here a few months back with a few different ideas for what I might do with it. After pondering with a local upholstery shop, we came up with a convertible targa top. The guy at the shop did a nice job filling in the frame and covering it, so it looks nice without the canvas top.



The canvas fits really nicely. It's fairly hard to get on, but I only plan to use it in dire situations. My Vette is SO quiet with this on! No squeaks from body flex, and no rattles from the acrylic top. I'm stoked!

06_LT1

The canvas is held in place front and back with snaps and velcro, and the upholsterer used plastic ribs on the side that slide between the weather stripping and the metal of the targa frame.

It's amazing how light the targa is without the acrylic panel.

I'll probably hit the canvas with RaggTopp (convertible top treatment), even though it shouldn't ever see water...

stick105

Awesome!!! I love that idea

Vett4Ted

I agree. This is a great idea.

dukeallen

It looks like this "sport top" that I was thinking about getting. How is the headroom and how does the price compare to this?
http://www.ecklers.com/corvette-rain...1989-1996.html

06_LT1

Headroom is close to the OEM roof panel, since the fabric follows the highest contours of the frame. The acrylic is slightly convex, so there's maybe 1/2 inch less headroom at the center of the cabin... which isn't where your head is anyway. If I smack my helmet into canvas instead of hard plastic at the track, I can live with that. I'm 6'2" and have no clearance issues (sans helmet).

I also looked at that top at Eckler's - but what I wanted was the additional torsional and longitudinal stiffness that I believe the OEM frame provides. The weatherproof aspect wasn't important - if the upholstery shop had said "No way," I would have just finished the frame off so it looked nice and used it as a brace.

I paid $100 for the broken top, broke out the cracked plastic and cleaned it up myself, and spent another $300 at the upholstery shop... a dang good deal for what is essentially two tops. I probably could have bargained the guy down $50 or so at the top shop, but he spent about 8 weeks tinkering in his spare time until he got everything just the way he liked it. I consider that money well spent.

jp2002ls1

Looks awesome. Good idea.

seijack

That Looks GREAT.....I may have to try that.....

pianoguy

Excellent idea, very cool!

scotth48

I posted this idea a couple of months back, glad someone did this. I was going to put a crossmember in the middle and have canvas have a seam. Yours looks really nice and must be a lot lighter. The rain coat you can buy is limited to how fast you can go with it, once installed.

scotth48

Here is the link I had.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...ible+targa+top

ejscarfo

I have this top for my 85. It folds easy, weighs nothing, takes little space to store and goes on fairly easy. There is no structural rigidity however. When the RainCoat is installed its like the top is still off, it just keeps out the elements. For the look, I would definitely consider covering a targa frame with convertible top material instead. The appeal of the RainCoat is that it takes up almost no room when stored in back like the stock top.

tehcarguy

Do want!! That is so cool. Very nice job.

cuejack

Do you have the name or phone number of the guy who did this for u? ive been lookinf fr months to have a top guy try it but the ones I've asked don't get how to support the cavas and wrap it .. thanks

ghlkal

This is a great idea

Can you post a close up pic of how the canvas is attached?

astepup

I too would be interested in this. I've been considering getting a fiberglass top as it's been so hot this year, but to find a good one and have it repainted (unless anybody has a bright aqua metallic one laying around that they don't need) is going to run well over $600. This looks like a GREAT alternative. I'm thinking if enough people become aware of this it could mean quite a bit of business for the man that came up with this

astepup said that

scotth48

I mentioned this a few months back about doing something like this. Looks Great!

AirForceOne!

I like it, now if someone would take this idea and mass produce them, I would buy one!

MRPVette

Lookin good.

RUU

I'm assuming since the canvas on this one is held on with "snaps & velcro", that it can be removed without having to store the frame - should be even more compact.