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MG Midget and Sprite General - Hard top fitting

I have a hard top to collect from Scotland. The obvious way is to go for it in the Sprite, and fit it to the car for the return trip. The question is, will I have to remove the soft top (MK lV Sprite) or will it fit on over the folded frame and top?
(Craig?)

Guy
Guy

Guy

I think it depends on the top make and brand, but thats what i do place it directly on the cover that protects the top and frame,

Id take some turnbuckles,tools and hardware for just incase... Still what a great excuse to take a fun drive....thats what id do

Good luck how far is the drive

Prop

Prop

Hi Prop, Its only about 170 miles for me. A trip I do quite frequently up through the Borders to Edinburgh. Nice driving roads too!

Not sure which hard top it is. I think it is the style usually referred to a s a "works type". My son has it in storage for me so there is no urgency and I would have time to do some sorting out when up there, although I know the thing needs some repair. It might just sit over the top of the car and fix down with some small ratchet straps anyway.
Guy

Guy, it should fit over the folded top just fine. The header clips to the windscreen frame in the same manner as the folding top and at the rear you need two brackets which bolt on where the folding top frame bolts and a couple of 1/4" bolts. If you don't have the brackets on your car already, you'll have to make some or find some originals.

B Young

Here's a better shot of the lower bracket.

B Young

The works hardtop I bought recently fits with the hood folded down (with no half tonneau fitted).
l snowdon

I fit my hardtop over the folded hood, but with the tonneau cover removed. The rubber seal around the top's base rests on the shoulder around the cockpit rear and doesn't foul the soft top at all. Granted, this is with a period Parrish Plastics hardtop.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

My works Hardtop fits over the installed hood as mentioned above. However I unfasten the half tonneau and then after the hardtop is bolted into place refit the half tonneau over the hood to protect the plastic screens. It also looks quite tidy that way too.

A.
Andrew McGee

Thanks,
Not quite ready to go and collect it yet. But I will fabricate a couple of brackets like those to go on the hood mounting bolts. Then I should be able to get it back home for a bit of refurbishment.
Guy

Hi Guy,

Might be an idea to bring some seals for it so that you can clamp it down nice & tight without damaging anything on your car. Cannot remember if there are still the bottom and front seals with it as we never used it. It also doesn't have a back window fitted!
Come to think about it, I can't remember if it has the front (windscreen) clamps.... Sorry, not much help here, am I?!
Worst case a couple of ratchet straps should hold it onto your car no bother. And a couple of cheap rubber floor mats will protect your hood/bodywork if the need should arise.
It does have the rear clamps though so def. worth fitting those brackets shown above. The bolts are there (as are the brackets on the hardtop) but suspect they'll be rusted/bent so assume they will need replaced.
And it will look seriously scabby sat on your nice car!

-Craig
C Robertson

Hi Craig, wondered where you had got to!
I am not expecting over much of this hard top - after all, Scotsman and all that !

The issue is really just about how to transport it home. As a last resort I guess I could just tie it on with ratchet and bungy straps as it is. Maybe even just placed over the top of the soft top and tied down!

Guy
Guy

When I brought mine home I had the header rail clamps fastened and the fixing behind the door was some thick electrical wire securing the hardtop bracket to the folded down hood frame - good for 75 miles on A roads at legal(ish)speeds.
l snowdon

This thread was discussed between 26/09/2011 and 28/09/2011

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