MG Sports Cars

It's funny but after viewing so many conversions over the last 3 months or so even though everyone has their own canvas (i.e. car) to work with everyone is either a GT or rag top.

In an effort to add a unique apperance to my car I've thought of converting the body mods to include a Targa top. I've never seen one in all the looking I've done but you all have seen so many more than I have.

Does anyone know of a B that's been converted to a Targa top?

That's interesting, never thought of it before....lack of a b/c pillar would make it difficult on the roadster but I'm sure it could be done since there is an abundance of strength in the roadster tub...perhaps since the gt already has somewhat of a b pillar you could start there...major surgery there though since the roof is where the strength is...

In looking at it closer, I think you'd almost have to make it such that it would become a B pillar. I'm looking at it as a design que for both styling and to reduce wind noise while on long road trips. Can't decide if it should be a T-top or a single top but ultimately it must seal the back edge of the roll up windows to be effective.

The beauty if it works is more storage space and an open top to enjoy sommer driving. Living in South Dakota we don't get much of that so a solid top that keeps the warmth in is a bonus!!!

My car came with a roll bar which got me on to the idea. One of the concerns I have is the importance of the solid pannel between the boot and the passenger compartment. I'm not sure how much frame rigidity is based in that panel but to really gain additional storage and function, i'd like that to come out. I think I could X brace it to return some strength.

Though the motor isn't completed yet, I'm pretty sure I'll be around the 275-310 HP at the wheels with relative torque numbers and rigidity may be an issue!! I don't know the anwser on this and I hope someone out there who has more experience can provide some guidance.

Triumph had a top with a rear section that bolted on and a removable top panel which could also be replaced with a soft panel. Is that what you are thinking of?

Jim

Jim
I haven't seen that before but it's similar to what I was thinking of. When drawing it up, I took the design style from the old Porsche 914 with the flat glass rear window. This Triumph style does address my concern with the large open area where the soft top folds into.

It's a que worth consideration!!

Interesting idea! The thing that will be tough is the transfer of the rounded off windows vs the way the Triumph is. Maybe two small sections that fill the void when it is installed, then when it comes off the car these fold in or slip out of a channel.

Working on ideas for my steel hard top, similar brainstorming going on.

One way around the rear B/C pilar section fabrication dilema might be a soft window approach similar to some older Porsche 911 targas and if I remember Lancia had a clever soft window that folded down in the mid 70's. I like this idea because the soft window could be removed/folded down to allow mucho air to flow through through the rear B/C pillar piece making for a much more pleasant open air experience.
On the plus side of the 914 style targa it was a very pleasant experience with the targa off and normal conversations were very easy at 65 mph.

Lancia Targa top with folding rear window

John
That's exactly what I was concerned with!! The rounded windows on the B make for some interesting engineering issues.

I like the approach Lancia took! I don't want to recreate a GT though. The whole point for me is to reduce the wind noise of a rag top but still have the open air atributes.

I have a CNC plasma cutter but I worry that the kerf will be difficult to get right. That won't stop me though!! The plan now is to do the base in aluminum sheet and wrap with fiberglass. It won't have the strength of a roll bar but should be strong enough to fit an ajoining top to.

The devil is always in the details!! I have a fiberglass company who makes MGB fenders across the street. We've started work on how to build a kit that could be added to a ragtop. Hopefully mine will be the first of many to come.

Sounds like a good start Doug. I have a Parish Plastics hard top that I haven't used much in recent years, mostly because it is awkward to move around. A hoop would make it convenient to add either a rear window section or a top roof panel or both, as well as possibly a fine mesh vertical screen within the hoop for wind control. That Lancia design has potential, though it might need to be abbreviated a little to where it looks more like a roll hoop (and possibly a roll bar could be concealed under it). I like where this is going.

Jim

Quote:

The rounded windows on the B make for some interesting engineering issues.

Will GT glass fit in a roadster door?

It will fit Curtis, but of course it is taller. Not sure exactly how much, and the GT trim caps may be there to cover the extra height.

Jim

Hey Doug,

Definitely keep this idea alive. You may have a market if you can come up with a successful design. Like Mike, my first thought was the TR4 top. Someone makes a similar top for Miatas. I've only seen one on the road in passing, thought it was really cool and instantly reminded me of the Triumph.

Tim

Check out this link, someone made their own:
[www.youtube.com]

Tim

That cut-up Miata hardtop is neat. However, my thoughts turned to all the discussions here and elsewhere about head trauma caused by contact with roll hoops and cages. The corner where fiberglass meets door glass may be a little close.

Doug, You might compare dimensions of the 914 targa. I might be easier to modify the pillar and f-glass top, than building from scratch. You might also consider an MGB roaster lift-off hartop, of a style you like, for a place to start. I went this route with a non-oem hard top, for my Jensen Healey. It will be heavily modded, later-on, but for now, much better than the rag top. I have seen the "PT Cruiser convertable" roll hoop used in other cars. Perhaps some of those parts ? Good Luck, roverman.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2013 11:40AM by roverman.

I am totally on board with the Targa top idea...mostly because I want to see it. :) BUT, have you considered just putting a windscreen on the roll bar behind the driver? This cuts down on wind noise significantly.

Maybe Dave needs to be in on this discussion, it seems right up his alley. I'd picture something in fiberglass along the lines of a simple hoop around 4-6" wide at the top and tapering down a bit larger at the bottom to a secure attachment, perhaps using the stock bow socket and some sort of sturdy tensioner, and just following the rear edge of the window glass all the way across. It could be made with a top panel that dropped into the front channel and latched to the windshield, and either a hard or soft rear panel. Done right it could be possible to store both pieces in the trunk. A soft panel for the top could also be an option.

The hoop could be a sturdy skin with a rollbar recess and/or a padded inner cover. I like the lines of the Parish Plastics top. I realize not everyone likes them but they do have a nice curve across the top as well as very good headroom.

Jim

I like Jim's idea. And maybe the curve needed for the roadster window corners could be incorporated into the removable top panel instead of the hoop.