Re: alfa-digest V7 #1083 - Alfa Hardtops

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

Lucy,
    There are at least two factory hard tops for late model spiders.  The 
Graduate, Veloce and Quadrifoglio spiders are all basically the same body 
from 70 through 94.  As far as I know, hardtops will interchange from all 
those years.  The  earlier Duetto/roundtail/cuttlebone/pinch butt spiders 
have a different windshield shape and hardtops will not interchange.  
    The factory made the hardtop I have in the mid to late 1970's.  All I 
have seen were in black vinyl over steel.  I guess the vinyl could be removed 
and the steel painted to match the car.  I gave $300 for mine, but had to 
replace all the rubber.
    The other hardtop came standard on (all?) the Quadrifoglio versions from 
1985 through 1990.  These have heated rear windows and a quarter window.  The 
Quad hardtops seem to be more expensive.  I have seen them advertised in Alfa 
Owner and other places for $800 to $1,000.
    Twenty years ago, I bought a new Parrish Plastics hardtop for a Duetto.  
Just yesterday, I saw an old Parrish Plastics hardtop on a 76 spider.  It 
looks a lot like the early factory hard top, but is fiberglass and easily 
painted.  I do not know if they are still in business.  I have not seen their 
ads for some years now.
    There, all the mis information I have about Alfa Hardtops.  Or at least 
about late model hardtops.  I do have one Pininfarina and one fiberglass 
hardtop for my 63 Giulia spiders.
    I know of an early factory hardtop that I have heard MAY be for sale in 
Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I can provide you a phone number if you are interested.  In 
what part of the world are you located?  (One of my pet peeves is people 
advertising to buy or sell something with no indication of where in the world 
it is located.)

    Just as an interesting side story, my wife was driving her former 87 
Graduate spider with the early factory hardtop in place.  She came home from 
work one day complaining about the noise of water sloshing around somewhere 
in her car.  We pulled off the hardtop and found several inches of water 
sitting in the folded convertible top.  It had rained heavily the prior day, 
but how the water got in there, I do not know.  I did order all new 
weatherstipping for the hard top, but it has been in storage ever since then. 
 My wife has both her spiders in the garage and all my Alfas have to go 
outside or at other locations.
Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City
91, 87, 84, 82, & 63 Alfa Spiders
plus some Alfa Sedans and parts cars




In a message dated 10/08/1999 3:06:18 PM Central Daylight Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

<< Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 11:58:02 -0400
 From: lucy lieberman <lucy@domain.elided>
 Subject: ISO hardtop for 86 graduate
 
 i've been looking around for a hardtop for my 86 graduate, preferably in
 black, and have gotten quotes for everything from $100 + shipping for an
 ambiguously described used red top to $975 + shipping for a new, primed
 top. i'm going to try to keep driving her into the fall for weekend golf
 outings in good weather. what's the take on the benefits of a hardtop? and
 does anyone know where i could acquire one? or have any guidelines on what
 model years would fit my car or if a veloce or quad top would fit?
 
 any advice much appreciated.
 
 lucy
 lucy@domain.elided
  >>

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