Advice on Which make & options I should Buy?

[YerDugliness]

Scaramanga, I realized that I didn't answer your original question regarding what options to get.

First off, if you want to have a ragtop, have the factory drill the holes in the body and install the snaps for THEIR ragtop. I watched it happen at Shell Valley one day, they had a fiberglass pattern that they just laid on the body behind the cockpit and it already had guide holes where they needed to drill for the snaps...it would fit exactly the same from one car to the other, that's the kind of consistency you need!

Another option that SOME manufacturers offer is for a fee they will cut out all the holes on the body...that saves an incredible amount of time and angst...it would be my first option were I ordering a new kit from the factory...of course, if you order a turnkey, this will all be done by the factory, I am just assuming that you will be doing your own work. Getting all the holes right can be a challenge, the factory does the job perfectly with their jigs and you'll appreciate the savings in time.

The last I would recommend, and this again is dependent on whether the factory offers this option or not, would be to have them mount the body to the frame and adjust all the gaps. That usually means the doors, the hood and the trunk on a cobra replica. Getting the gaps even can be a real challenge and if the factory offers this option you are freed from one of the biggest challenges in building a component car.

Hope these few ideas have helped....good luck in your search!

Cheers from Dugly