I need a new soft top for my 1750 spider. There are quite a few US suppliers of this product. Does anyone have any experience with them or their products? Any recommendations?
Sorry can't speak specifically about soft-tops, or about soft-tops coming from US suppliers, but I'd like to say I'm very happy with the service and advice coming from Classic Alfa in the UK. (http://www.classicalfa.com/shop/prod1851.htm)
I'd also recommend the service and advice from Alfa-Service Hurtienne in Germany (http://www.alfa-service.com/index.php/cat/c1976_CONVERTIBLE-TOP-1966-69.html).
Very interested in this subject too as i need to get a new one for the Duetto.
If anybody knows the differences between those offered by our favorite 3 UK vendors, the German one and the US ones.. I'm all ears. So far all I've figured out the key differences in materials (vinyl, stay fast, haartz mohair).
I'm really interested in construction, fit and finish eg. What exactly are padded corners, does anybody use a construction process to reduce noises, add insulation, reduce fading?
I note there are presently two for sale on Aust. eBay.. One is priced to closely to a new import for me although the vendor was exceptionally helpful and sent me additional pics, if i was in Melbourne I'd check it out.
I'd love to see pics of the different types if other owners are around and can provide some detail.
Cheers
Craig
I bought mine years ago from EB Spares (back when the exchange rate was shit!). I paid the significant extra for a genuine German Mohair fabric one (but made in UK) and when I gave it to the fitter in Melbourne he was really impressed with the quality of the fabric and the sewing etc. He said may of the newer soft tops that claim to be mohair are actually a replica of the genuine fabric and even though the material is quite good it doesnt last anywhere near as long as the original type Mohair fabric, so maybe ask this question of the suppliers (if they know that is!). The installer advised it fitted on perfectly with barely any adjustment needed which was not the case from his prior experience with other softops he had installed. It has padding etc in corners
This guy is well known in the classic car game in Melbourne and he advised he can make them himself exactly as per original alfa design, the problem is getting your hands on the correct genuine german mohair fabric which is the hard part, however Alfa's only came with normal canvas anyway which is of lesser quality than mohair so I guess its comes down to what you want. I wouldnt touch some of the cheap and nasty ones from the US though, a friend told me he even saw vinyl alfa softops for sale in a the US from a large Department store for a really cheap price but looked terrible.
QuoteSorry can't speak specifically about soft-tops, or about soft-tops coming from US suppliers,
....
If you are going to make a few phone calls, try the usual club sponsors & advertisers:
- Monza Motors should have some info.
The Italian Job as they specialise in Alfa spiders.
Also give Extereme Body Repairs a call as a few concorso winners have come from his workshop (spider included).
Cheeers.