New hard top for racing

[normsf]

Hello went and picked a prototype coupe hard top today from ICS. Will make a hard top shell that will be one piece no targa with rear window and side 1/4 glass. Would like to make this for street use, but that going to take longer and I need to make it work with the convertible side glass which is taller and rounded at the rear top edge. First the racer then I can modify it for street. Heres some pics. Its missing trim and weatherstrips and its rough. Oh well its a start. Thanks Norm

[rlhammon]

So this is a one piece replacement for the coupe then, not the convertible?

[kennysabarese]

You have my attention

Originally Posted by rlhammon So this is a one piece replacement for the coupe then, not the convertible?

Please answer

[Fergy]

I believe from what he said that it will be for the convertible, but he is doing the racer first, which won't require modding for the difference in glass height that verts have (taller and rounded at the rear top edge) over coupes. I am guessing racer has no window glass to deal with.

[normsf]

Hello this is the hard top for the coupe, this will not just bolt on a convertible. The side glass is differant, the front attachment is not the same, weatherstrips will not be the same. Yes the outside will work but its far from a bolt on. After the racing version is done, I may and mean may prototype a street version but that comes down to really how many people want it. At least 20 to make it doeable

[perris]

this is terrific stuff and if it ever gets made for the convert it makes it look like the hardtop, it's going to be a great winter add on like the old mercedes sls hardtops you used to store in the garage till winter

[kennysabarese]

Originally Posted by normsf Hello this is the hard top for the coupe, this will not just bolt on a convertible. The side glass is differant, the front attachment is not the same, weatherstrips will not be the same. Yes the outside will work but its far from a bolt on. After the racing version is done, I may and mean may prototype a street version but that comes down to really how many people want it. At least 20 to make it doeable

Do you think there is a big market for coupe owners to want to purchase a racing hardtop? Most people who have a coupe probably don't want to take the risk of hurting it.

I think you'd have a bigger market for people who want to convert convertible to look like a coupe.

[uptownguy]

The initial purpose of this build is to allow roadsters to run as coupes in different Touring car series.

It will allow for better aero with the wing and the window/hatch will allow access to the trunk for a fuel cell and better placment of Roll bar braces.

Wait for upcoming announcement of Solstice Racing Coupes running in the Canadian Castrol Touring Car Champion this summer. The series is a support race at the Toronto Indy, looking forward to seening as many Solstice fans as possable.

Peter Austin
Montreal
Solstice GXP roadracing coupes.

[normsf]

Originally Posted by kennysabarese Do you think there is a big market for coupe owners to want to purchase a racing hardtop? Most people who have a coupe probably don't want to take the risk of hurting it. I think you'd have a bigger market for people who want to convert convertible to look like a coupe.

Hello you are correct, though I need to do the racer top first then I can use that template to modify for the street top. As you can see the rear edge of the glass on a reg. convertible is rounded at the rear, this will require weatherstrips too. The street top, Im not sure at this time may require the removal of the folding top and for sure the rear deck lid. So it can nest inside the rear clip rather than on top as is in the coupe. Thanks Norm

[kennysabarese]

Originally Posted by uptownguy The initial purpose of this build is to allow roadsters to run as coupes in different Touring car series.

This is the exact opposite of what norm just said.

Originally Posted by normsf Hello this is the hard top for the coupe, this will not just bolt on a convertible.

[normsf]

Originally Posted by kennysabarese This is the exact opposite of what norm just said.

Hello Im sorry for the confusion, The top that we picked up is for the Coupe that the factory would have used. We intend to modify this stock top to be used so a normal racing convertible can be converted to look like a factory coupe only lighter, using this rather than the top that is currently run in racing. This allows a fastback version over the notchback giving a better laminer flow to the rear Kamm kick up spoiler. Once this is accomplished then we will have a base to use so that we can modify again for the windows, seals and attachments for the normal street convertible to look similiar to the factory coupe. It wont be exactly as a factory coupe as most will not want to change the door glass, etc. I intend to reshape the rear 1/4 glass windows so as follow the curve of the door glass while improving the rear side view visability over the factory coupe. Thanks Norm

[DaveOC]

Perfectly clear Norm. Exactly what I thought after the first post. As soon as you can retrofit the roadsters, I'm in line!

[kennysabarese]

Would love a version for the Sky. I think I would leave it on all the time if it looked right, or at least use for the track if that was possible

I'd be curious if someone could Photoshop the coupe top onto the Sky. The lines don't really match, but we'll see. maybe a slightly different spoiler would do the trick

[kennysabarese]

Sorry for being confused I just got excited and wanted to be sure!

[Boosted Wicked]

wow that will look nice to bad cant do something to make the convets have this with a targo. will it atleast have a trunk accesss?