hardtop

[I_wish]

Hello all,
I have been searching for a good hardtop. came across ape product etc.. But then I landed on the arntz butler hardtop (which looks like a softop) and I really like the fit and finish.

Anyone know if these are still floating around?


Dan

[my427cobra]

Hi Dan. I bought a Butler top many years ago from someone here on the forum I love the look of it. Ron Butler lives just south of me and I contacted him about the top I have.

He only made about 20 tops so they are rare.

Good luck.

Cheers
Greg

[Bill E]

Look at Mr Bruces stuff on this site. His is easy to modify to fit most any car. You can see some under tops in my photos

[mr bruce]

I make 7 different styles of hardtops for Cobras, I have them on ERAs, EMs, F5s, CRs, A+Cs, Hurricains, and theres probably a coupla real ones out there with one of my tops, one of them might fit your tastes, send me your e-mail and i can send you pictures

[lal Naja]

I spoke with Ron Butler yesterday and he has a hard-top in his inventory. Give him a call 805-649-6000. He does not have the glass for the back window.

I understand from Ron that Russ, fellow Arntz/Butler owner, also has the same hardtop and may be looking into having glass made to fit. This would be a great opportunity for everyone
needing glass. I'll also contact Russ to see if this is true.

Arthur

[my427cobra]

I'd be in for a new glass window for my Ron Butler top too. Mine had a crack and delamination in the lower corner when I got it many years ago. I had a plexi window made as a spare.

I haven't done anything to my top yet except store it.

Probably get to it this summer. I'd like to cover it in convertable top material, put in a headliner and start looking at a better (more modern) rear window seal.

Cheers
Greg

[lal Naja]

Originally Posted by my427cobra

I had a plexi window made as a spare.

Probably get to it this summer. I'd like to cover it in convertable top material, put in a headliner and start looking at a better (more modern) rear window seal.
Cheers
Greg

Hi Greg, With this type of Hard Top and mating glass what do you see as a modern seal?

Glue in with hot mastic? I too gave a glancing thought to this process. To do it I would have to mold in a fibreglass support lip in the inside of the hard top to accommodiate the mastic and glass. This would not be too difficult, and the more I think about it, it sounds like a good viable option.

A suitable exterior trim piece will then be needed to hide the mastic seam between the glass and hardtop which is currently about 3/8" wide. If you know of a trim piece that would work please let me/us know.

I already have fitted my glass once as a trial fit and cracked it while doing it. I'm going to have to remove it and install it again after I install a suitable headliner. I'm dreading going through the process with the double rubber channel rubber extrusion and spline lock. It is a PITA.

And for it to really seal water out properly, caulking needs to be pumped into the rubber channels after it's in place with the glass and before the spline lock is installed. Could get really messy.

It was also a time consuming process to grind down the edge of the fibreglass to create an even 3/8" gap all around between the glass to accommodiate the rubber web of the rubber extrusion. But now that it's done casting the fibreglass support lip will be a breeze.

Arthur

[my427cobra]

Hi Arthur. I was thinking to look at the Jaguar XKE hardtop rear window seal because my old seal is very stiff and difficult to work with. Age related?

Perhaps a new Jag seal would be more supple and easier to install the glass.

I'm heading out shortly and will stop at XK's Unlimited to take a look.

Cheers
Greg

[SoTxButler]

Originally Posted by my427cobra

I'd be in for a new glass window for my Ron Butler top too. Mine had a crack and delamination in the lower corner when I got it many years ago. I had a plexi window made as a spare.

I haven't done anything to my top yet except store it.

Probably get to it this summer. I'd like to cover it in convertable top material, put in a headliner and start looking at a better (more modern) rear window seal.

Cheers
Greg

Greg, I just had mine covered in black convertible top material. We were careful to replicate the seams as they were molded in the top. For the headliner I used a saddle colored alcantara fabric. It turned out very nice. I'll post some pics in my photos.

[Rick Parker]

I found this while cruising Craigs list. It is near Sacramento CA.

Cobra Hardtop

[lal Naja]

I have confirmation that Russ (SoTxButler on this forum) is indeed looking into having glass made. He has a rough price of $1,200.00 for the first one.

If the count goes up the price goes down. So far it looks like the order may be as many as five. And here are the players that are interested.
Russ, Greg My427cobra, Ron Butler wants 2, and although my crack is minor I'd consider one as a spare.

To save on crating fees I'd be willing to use the crate I have to ship each glass, then the crate will have to be returned for packing and forwarding on the next person.

Post here if you are interested and we'll see how this shapes up. I'll also copy this in the other Arntz/Butler topic to see if the count can go up.

Arthur

[my427cobra]

Sounds like the price is about the same as Ron Butler quoted me 10 years ago or so. But, he didn't have a mould or a glass source at the time.

I'm still in.

Cheers
Greg

[my427cobra]

What a difference in the two seals. My old one: very stiff and hard which would make the installation of the glass very difficult.

A new one at XK's Unlimited (very similar profile) was soft and pliable.

OK now we've got the kinky stuff out of the way.

I'll see if they'll let me borrow one to check out the fit.

[427 sam]

my top has rear glass with heater element . and is glued into place, totaly weather proof, and resists misting given the heater, regards Sam

[my427cobra]

Great pics Russ. Did your top come with the chrome rear window surround? My top does not have that.

Greg

[SoTxButler]

Greg,

Yes, my top came with the chrome surround.

[SoTxButler]

Greg, I will take some tomorrow and post them. In fact, I'll take pics of both the front and rear ones.

One thing I forgot to mention. We glued the fabric but left some areas loose so that when you walk up and touch it, the fabric is loose just like a soft top would be. Take notice of the picture of the car front on and you can see some looseness in the fabric over the passenger area. There is more of that elsewhere in an effort to allow for the fabric to move a little.

[1screwdriver1]

Originally Posted by 427 sam

my top has rear glass with heater element . and is glued into place, totaly weather proof, and resists misting given the heater, regards Sam

Best quality i have seen so far, the glass window is a one off, produced specialy for this Hardtop, full operating boot.

see pics on DB Replicas Cobra Build Agent

[RallySnake]

Hey Guys,

I have been running my Cobra in competitive rallies for more than 20 years. I bought one of Ron Butler's hardtops to run the last Starlite rally in December 2000. That event used to run the second weekend in December and left Santa Barbara on Friday evening. After 14 to 15 hours, you would hopefully end up in Las Vegas. I ran the Starlite in the Cobra 6 times without a top and nearly died from the wind chill every time. It was more of a survival test than a rally. The 2000 event had a lot of rain and I was very glad to have the new top and windows in place. I was also running Hoosier race tires with very little tread and spent a lot of time sliding sideways around the curves. It was a memorable event even though we spent a lot of time defrosting the inside of the windows with towels.

My son and I made a trip from Los Angeles to Austin for a Texas Cobra Club meet in 2001 and the top was a lifesaver in the rain and snow that we encountered. It permitted relative comfort in high speed cruising.

However, running with the top does have drawbacks. Primarily, your vision is severely restricted. I never thought about how much I look over the windshield until I got the top on. We tried to use it while running local rallies, but it is so difficult to see traffic lights and even tall street signs, that we have given up on it.

The other issue is noise. I covered the car's floor and back panel with 1/2 inch thick insulation. The inside of the top is covered with foam backed fabric. But the reverberation inside the car at speed is just unbearable without earplugs. A headache will kick in after 20 to 30 minutes. The car is so uncomfortable with the top on, that we would rather run in the rain without it (wearing ski clothes), if the weather is warm enough. If the weather is too cold and wet, we just drive a different car.

My top has been collecting dust for at least 5 years, but it (and the earplugs) are ready next time we do another cross country trip.

RS

[lal Naja]

[/quote]

Your car looks great!

Thanks for sharing your hardtop noise issues. I'll be sure to add sound deadening and acoustic absorbing materials to mine.

Arthur