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MG MGB Technical - Soft Tops

Has anyone got any recomendations for the best fitting soft tops for a B?
I was going to go for fabric rather than vinyl.
Car is '71 and I would prefer zip out window.

Thanks

Colin
Colin Parkinson

Colin: Absolutely go for the zip-out rear window. My vinyl top is holding up well after ten years. I do apply a vinyl liquid several times a year to keep the vinyl from cracking.

My car is garage kept so the weather does not get much of a chance to do its worst.

Cheers

Gary

79 MGB
gary hansen

Fabric for show, vinyl for go.

Fabric needs a bit more attention to use and with keeping.

Sorry to say don't bother with Don Hoods (Erdington) now.

I was very disappointed with the manufacture, finish and fit (by them at their factory) and then the seams leaked after 3 years. Now still less than 5 years old and it looks worse than the cheap one it replaced which was also easier to erect.

As instructed I keep the roof up when I'm not using the car (I almost always have to anyway as it sits outside 365 days a year) but even yesterday when it was reasonable weather I struggled with the lift-a-dots as the car had been in the shade for an hour or so.

The previous hood I had fitted by them about 20+ years ago when the father ran the business was show condition and fit.



Nigel Atkins

I'm dead against fume sucking zip out rear windows
I lost a good friend because of one, didn't like it right from the start and look what it did
Shouldn't be allowed to sell them---------
William Revit

Nigel, appreciate your comments about Don. That was exactly the sort of info I wanted!.

Willie, an interesting point. Must ponder on that.

Colin
Colin Parkinson

Colin,
previously I'd recommended them based on the excellent previous hood. Another BBSer bought one 3 years ago and found his hood not to be very good, same for his mate. All will be in the midget and Sprite Archives.

It might be that the two others and I were just unlucky and got rare poor quality but when I rang to say my hood was leaking at the stitched seams the business owner said they were looking at using a seam sealer and suggested that, which suggested to me standards had changed from when his father ran the business.

The previous cheap hood that came with my car was on 8 years and never leaked at all, I've never before had a soft-top hood that had any leaks, old or new, three were MGs.

Nigel Atkins

I fitted a vinyl hood from the MGBhive 7 or 8 years ago and it’s still as good as new, it does however spend it’s life in the garage when not in use. I bought one complete with header rail this made it a doddle to fit. Fabric looks good but I think vinyl is more practical but you do need to leave them up when not in use for long periods. Mine does have a zip out window but I think I’ve only ever used it once, unless it’s raining I normally drive with the top down. I can understand the comments about exhaust fumes but if I had the window zipped out I’d also have the side windows down.
R.A Davis

I fitted my own hood from Don about 15 years ago and I've no complaints. Its a bit tight now to get up so I wished I'd left a bit more slack on the header rail. No leaks or drafts though and looks good.
Paul Hollingworth

When I got the roadster 34 years ago it came with a nearly new bottom-of-the-range vinyl. It was a bit wrinkly so I refitted the header rail and it was fine. I was going to replace it with a more upmarket one but after seeing some that left gaping holes at the tops of the drop-glasses you could get your hands in without touching the sides I had second thoughts, and still have the one the car came with which fits well.

If and when I have to replace it it'll be a real headache choosing unless I can see a trial fit, but I would only ever go for quality vinyl, not cloth. Same with carpets and seat covers, you really don't know what the outcome is going to be until it is too late.
paulh4

Paul, Prestige do a larger side window valance which will help that. They do seem to be more expensive than most, but I would like some more opinions please.

Colin
Colin Parkinson

I ordered a fabric top from Prestige last week. I have been very happy with the tonneau cover I received from them about 5 years ago. The Robbins tops sold here in the U.S. are inexpensive and robust but the tonneau I ordered from them last time was too small and they were reluctant to receive the return without a screaming fight. The fit and quality of the Prestige tonneau is perfect.

The Robbins top on the car was installed about 35 years ago and held up well enough in the high UV, dry, extreme temperature desert climate. It split along one of the side lites last winter so, time for a change. I am hoping that the fabric top will reduce noise when it is up. I drive the car year round with the top down unless I am on an extended journey so its exposure to sunlight will be minimal.
Glenn Mallory

Thanks Colin - I have seen pictures of tops with a very deep side piece, deeper than mine which sit nicely flat against the glass. I did wonder whether the deeper side piece obstructs vision.

My gutters sit just above the top of the raised drop-glass, and the flap sits flat against the glass. The ones I had seen have a raised gutter together with a short bowed-in flap that caused the problem I mentioned.

The attached from Prestige also shows significantly raised gutters, but their deeper side pieces do lie flat, and visibility would seem to be about the same.



paulh4

This thread was discussed between 16/05/2020 and 18/05/2020

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