Fiberglass hardtops

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pappentl

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Does anyone have any experience with Honeybourne Mouldings fiberglass hardtops? http://www.honeybournemouldings.co.uk/sunbeam.htm
I have an original Parrish Plastics hardtop but prefer the look of the factory units, which are now getting pricey. I imagine shipping something like this from the UK would also be pricey, but it doesn't hurt to explore options.

...tom
'65 mk1
 
Tupperware

That's what the guys called the first boats that came out in the 60's made in fiberglass. I have seen several cars for sale locally with the F/G tops, rollers and drivers for pretty cheap. I pass on them as soon as I see they are F/G
I know this was not a response to your question, but there are plenty of the ones that look just like the ones in the other pics in the website on other cars. I am wondering why he has a great pic of a Beam in the main home page and no detail pic. If you ask him for some pics and he sends them post them to your thread.
It would be really nice to see a F/G top without the usual faux vinyl and bowl like corners.
Hard to see from the little pic he supplies, but looks like he goes to the trouble of having the stainless steel garnish as well. Be interesting to see the weight and the structural interior shots too...
 
Rubbermaid Shipping

pappentl said:
Does anyone have any experience with Honeybourne Mouldings fiberglass hardtops? http://www.honeybournemouldings.co.uk/sunbeam.htm
I have an original Parrish Plastics hardtop but prefer the look of the factory units, which are now getting pricey. I imagine shipping something like this from the UK would also be pricey, but it doesn't hurt to explore options.

...tom
'65 mk1
Click to expand...

Several of our customers have expressed interest in these because of their resemblance to the factory originals. Shipping is an issue but could be helped by a dual purchase and sharing the cost of a siamesed crating. So, if a couple of you guys got together . . . .etc. etc.
 
Post something on the STOC website.

The chances of first hand knowledge and some pics will be much improved.
 
I could be wrong, but somewhere I got the impression that the rear quarter windows do not open for flow-through ventilation, like the original factory tops do. I do not know that for a fact, but if true, that would be a major disadvantage in my book.

Gene
 
gene,

you are correct that the rear 1/4 windows do not open. The tops are popular in the Uk. the dont have rear mounting points to the boot hinges and the supplied fixings are rather crude.

i know a few people who have them and they are very happy with them, You could modify them to run the factory clamps if you wanted. They dont have a headlining .. just felt on the fibregalass.

They are water tight and apparently well made. Tony Tomaselli who visits this board has one and sent me pics a while ago.. he might post them here for those interested.

As for shipping, I looked at bringing one down here (australia) and it was comparable price i paid to ship my LAt bonnet from the Uk a few years back... Shipping seemed reasonable.. but USA fellows seem more upset about shipping prices than us here as we are used to having to move things around the globe as we dont have the parts locally... I woud say ifyou are happy with a FG top.. the shipping will be a lot less than even the start f rust repairs ona factory top
 
I inquired and am awaiting a response from Honeybourne. I asked for more photographs and cost for S+H to the west coast, USA. Hopefully they'll send some useful images instead of the tiny file on their website.

I regret no longer having my original HT- an impetuous mistake on my part. So it goes....

The thought of spending $2500-ish on a restored original does not appeal to me, but since I have the hardware, a new rear window replacement and SS headliner kit, maybe it can be done for less? Any thoughts, guys? Maybe there's a decent metal shell out there???? :)
 
Tony's MKII hardtop

I found some of the pics Tony sent me of the honeybourne moulding top

back in 2011 they were quoting 155GBP to ship to Australia and 255 for 2.. so if you are gogin to get one.. good idea to get 2 people locally to do it.
 
If someone is looking for a hardtop that is close in appearence to the originals then this would probably be a nice item for you. I would try and find a better way to fasten them to the car.
 
Spend the dough

Rather barbaric, J bolts really.... A long way better than the early window less vinyl textured 1970's models. Is that what is required to avoid the dreaded hard top footprint in the paint a huge hunk of rubber..

I do not really understand maybe I have been riding bikes too long. If I wanted to ride in a cage in inclement weather I'd take my Civic SI or the family truckster.

A worthy restoration top is out there a pal has found 3 the last 6 months
 
michael-king said:
I found some of the pics Tony sent me of the honeybourne moulding top

back in 2011 they were quoting 155GBP to ship to Australia and 255 for 2.. so if you are gogin to get one.. good idea to get 2 people locally to do it.
Click to expand...

Michael,
Thanks so much for posting those photos- they're a big help!

Shipping info is also useful.
 
Warren Cucarullo said:
Rather barbaric, J bolts really....

....A worthy restoration top is out there a pal has found 3 the last 6 months
Click to expand...

"Barbaric" is an apt way to put it. :) They do employ some disappointing fastener "technology." I suppose that's reflected in the price.

You've convinced me that an aggressive search for an original is the better way- thanks for your note of optimism. :) After many years with just the lovely black canvas soft top (but which was rarely up anyway), I've come to feel that I actually do like the look of the Tiger with the hardtop after all.
 
Michael, thanks for the photos, somehow it looks better at a distance. The attachment points look only slightly cruder than the Parrish Plastics top which uses clasps on the front (to the softtop mounting points) and turnbuckles on the rear (along the b-post). Perhaps I can trade my BON for a factory hardtop. <gr>

Tom
 
I think all of those aftermarket hardtops used the same mounting points- just slightly different hardware...my Coachmen hardtop (on the car in my avatar) from the early 70's used the same mounting locations. It had a glass back window and pop-out side windows.
 
I've had the plastic hardtop for a while now, Honeybourne is only a 3hr drive from me so was able to collect in my wife's truck. The actual fit, despite the rather crude fixings, works quite well. Though it's a 10 minute job to unhook it all. Naturally, it's very very light and a one man task to remove and store! Which is a bonus as Mrs T who helps with my other factory hardtop has no interest in Tigers :D

That black finish you see in the pics is actually the black laquer finish of the fibreglass and not paint, it's very hard wearing and polishable :)

If I remember, Honeybourne do not keep the hardtops in stock, they are fabricated on order.
 
Competition?

Never saw one in the later style. Only the Alpine more rounded Top as on the Sbring Alps
 
TigerBlue said:
Never saw one in the later style. Only the Alpine more rounded Top as on the Sbring Alps
Click to expand...

Atually, all the SI/II alpine factory hardtops are aluminium.. thats why so many survive.. they are also a 1 man job to out on and off... the only down side.. they can get stress cracks around the B post mounts and the thin area where the rear ail below the rear screen joins the rest of the top
 
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