S1/S2 Factory hardtop fixings

[Etienne 7]

Hello all,

For some of you who have an early elan (S1, S2) with a factory hardtop, could you please take some pictures of the way it is fixed to your car? I have a hardtop but it is only fitted with tie-wraps both at the door and at the windscreen.

Thanks in advance,

Regards,

Etienne

[elj221c]

In the absence of the usual Grumpies who have swanned off I will [temporarily, I hope!] take their place.

Use the search facility!

Admittedly it's not great but a bit of perseverance and it will pay off.

I will start you off.......

viewtopic.php?p=80140#80140

[Etienne 7]

Thanks a lot Roy! I tried with the search engine and did not find this one. Most of the other threads were without info on the fixings themselves. You've got skills

Thanks again,

Regards,

Etienne

[Etienne 7]

PS: although, to be a bit anoying, as you say you can't see much, so more pictures if anyone's got any, please!

[Maulden7]

I'm no photographer but perhaps these might help?


One of these on the RHS of the windscreen frame


One of these on the LHS of the windscreen frame


One of these on the centre of the windscreen frame


Centre & RHS windscreen frame fixings


One of these on both sides just behind the doors & bolted into the body bobbins


From the rear


From the front

[BillGavin]

The hardtop attaches to the car at the windshield header and at the body, on each side, just behind the doors.

The hardware. The sleeve nuts and clips attach the top to the windshield header, the bolts attach the top at the B-pillars. The small plastic plug fills the hole for the cant rail socket.

The top has a rearward-facing flange that fits into the slot in the front of the windshield header that is used for the soft top. There are also three threaded studs attached to the top above the flange; a retainer clip fits over each stud and is secured by a nut from inside the car. I remove the cant rail sockets from the windshield, I'm not sure this is needed for all cases, but they interfere with my top. I fill the holes with small plastic plugs to prevent water getting in.

The threaded studs are clearly visible, but the flange is hard to make out.

Windscreen_Fittings.jpg (9.61 KiB) Viewed 1415 times

On each side of the car at the B-pillar, a 1/4"-28tpi bolt secures the top. There is an access port in the upholstery of the top, just aft of the door window opening. Inside the access port, an unthreaded bobbin is molded into the bottom flange; the bolt passes through this bobbin and engages a threaded bobbin molded into the body, also used for the soft top cant rail. Fitting these bolts is tricky, as access through the port is limited. I use a 1/4" ratchet with extensions and universal joints.

The port in the upholstery panel allows access to the bolt at the B-pillar.

The chrome clips that secure the soft top at the rear are not used for the hardtop, there are recesses in the top, below the rear window, to clear these clips.

Edit - Bolt was specified as 1/4"-20tpi in error, should be 1/4"-28tpi UNF

[ceejay]

The original fittings supplied with the S1- S2 hard top were not particularly well made, nor thought out. When
I bought the S2 that I now own, it had no proper fittings as such to secure the hardtop to the body, so, about
three decades ago we decided to redesign and fabricate something better, and less fiddly to use while removing
or attaching the hard top.
http://elantrikbits.com/lotus-elan/?p=296

[Etienne 7]

Thank you very much for all these pictures and informations!

That was worth asking the question

I'll try to do something myself inspired from your pictures and solutions!

Thanks again!

Etienne

[ceejay]

Not a problem, just put your mind to it, I'm sure you
will find a solution.