I believe there was damage there in the original and Norm had to repair it. Now that i look at this photo again the main top did not extend out to the side leaving room for the edge of the targa bar.
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Two piece prototype Collins and Aikman Dura hardtop
Starting a new thread here regarding this unique top i just acquired thanks to Choptop's FB link and some gentle prodding from 4501Safari (Richard).
Let start with the information from the seller.
-Seller's company specializes in liquidating industrial warehouse when companies go bankrupt.
-Around '08 or '09 they were contracted to liquidate 17 of the Collins and Aikman Factories. Two of those factories were known as Dura Convertible Top.
-Dura apparently had a "North" and a "South" plant.
-When they originally acquired this prototype two piece hard top it was on a functional mock up with electrical actuators that allowed it to be demonstrated as a functional hard top.
Guessing here:
I suppose Collins and Aikman being the softop manufacturer for GM for the convertible Kappa's make this not quite a genuine GM part, but I would assume a prototype they had put together to pitch to GM as an aftermarket option, or possibly an official GM option had it not all gone belly up with the loss of Pontiac and Saturn.
One of the tings that makes this hard top unique is that it is the only one i have seen (outside of Nankoo's one off artistry ones) that allow you to open the trunk with the top still on.
I just closed the deal with the seller and do not have it yet however i wanted to post all the photos i have on it as of this moment.
Feel free to ruminate and speculate below.
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Let start with the information from the seller.
-Seller's company specializes in liquidating industrial warehouse when companies go bankrupt.
-Around '08 or '09 they were contracted to liquidate 17 of the Collins and Aikman Factories. Two of those factories were known as Dura Convertible Top.
-Dura apparently had a "North" and a "South" plant.
-When they originally acquired this prototype two piece hard top it was on a functional mock up with electrical actuators that allowed it to be demonstrated as a functional hard top.
Guessing here:
I suppose Collins and Aikman being the softop manufacturer for GM for the convertible Kappa's make this not quite a genuine GM part, but I would assume a prototype they had put together to pitch to GM as an aftermarket option, or possibly an official GM option had it not all gone belly up with the loss of Pontiac and Saturn.
One of the tings that makes this hard top unique is that it is the only one i have seen (outside of Nankoo's one off artistry ones) that allow you to open the trunk with the top still on.
I just closed the deal with the seller and do not have it yet however i wanted to post all the photos i have on it as of this moment.
Feel free to ruminate and speculate below.
241 - 260 of 333 Posts
Just pulled the targa bar to make some adjustments.
This photo illustrates the issue. The way Norm repaired the original it sits “proud” of the deck lid when it is shut with no notch on the side for the targa bar to sit. Instead the targa bar is on top of the rear lip of the hard top.
Since the targa bar crosses between the deck lid and on over the back of the top, the back edge of the top would have to be flush with the deck lid for this to work.
![Automotive side-view mirror Vehicle Automotive lighting Hood Automotive tire]()
![Automotive side-view mirror Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Hood Vehicle]()
This photo illustrates the issue. The way Norm repaired the original it sits “proud” of the deck lid when it is shut with no notch on the side for the targa bar to sit. Instead the targa bar is on top of the rear lip of the hard top.
Since the targa bar crosses between the deck lid and on over the back of the top, the back edge of the top would have to be flush with the deck lid for this to work.
Here is the problem. When Norm repaired the rear corners of the top he added this section:
![Automotive tail & brake light Automotive tire Hood Automotive lighting Grille]()
![Hood Motor vehicle Automotive tire Automotive lighting Automotive exterior]()
and that is where the targa bar needs to come down.
i messed around with shims and it is obvious that raising the targa bar to sit on top of that lip makes it too tall for the rest of the top.
Plus the gap on the tail of the targa bar to the trunk is crazy.
Logic dictates it has to be that lip.
![Hood Motor vehicle Tent Bumper Automotive tire]()
![Hood Motor vehicle Vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive design]()
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and that is where the targa bar needs to come down.
i messed around with shims and it is obvious that raising the targa bar to sit on top of that lip makes it too tall for the rest of the top.
Plus the gap on the tail of the targa bar to the trunk is crazy.
Logic dictates it has to be that lip.
Yeah around here if the body shop is any good they probably already have a reality show
HH, this pic is throwing me off, would you take a pic several feet away for a better orientation/perspective. TIA
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Do you know if GM supplied Dura with any blueprints or electronic files to engineer this? Say from the SCCA carbon fiber hardtop? Also does it have the subtly double bubble in the roof.
Here's a rear-ish view of my Smoothline hardtop sail panels/buttresses. Note how the bottom of the sail panel area angles from the back of the door to the decklid chrome grommets. I'm trying to figure out how's your halo differers so much from the GM carbon fiber hardtop, and the Smoothline.
![Automotive lighting Hood Vehicle Motor vehicle Automotive design]()
Do you know if GM supplied Dura with any blueprints or electronic files to engineer this? Say from the SCCA carbon fiber hardtop? Also does it have the subtly double bubble in the roof.
Here's a rear-ish view of my Smoothline hardtop sail panels/buttresses. Note how the bottom of the sail panel area angles from the back of the door to the decklid chrome grommets. I'm trying to figure out how's your halo differers so much from the GM carbon fiber hardtop, and the Smoothline.
241 - 260 of 333 Posts
