Best soft top

RHDthing · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 8:50 pm Post subject: Best soft top

Hey guys just bought a thing and need a new soft top who sells a good top that won't kill my wallet. Also have the top frame and its in great shape!

Semper_Dad · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:18 pm Post subject:

Thing Shop hands down. All others are a crap shoot.
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Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492

Rev. Scott · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:40 pm Post subject:

I have my issues with TTS. Hands down their top and frame are worth every penny. Do it right...or buy used until you can afford to.
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"I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!"

ghia4me · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 7:45 am Post subject:

hello - All the TTS top is over $400 and the install kit is almost another $100 this is almost twice the price of cheap ones on the net - If you have a beater weekend ride - is there a company that is 80% as good as TTS and 50% the cost ????

Do you need the install kit or are most of the parts reuseable from my old ratty soft top ???? my frame is in good shape ( not straight but not rusty)
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914 ChumpCar endurance racer
WWW.CHUMPCAR.COM
1977 911 - 3.0 liter
In Sunny Savannah, GA

Semper_Dad · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:04 am Post subject:

A top from Robbins is a good selection but they cost just as much as TTS.
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Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492

ghia4me · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:32 am Post subject: thing top

accelerated supply

http://www.acceleratedsupply.com/index.php?sid=2h0...ring=thing

this is the website for the other company on ebay

http://ldzcf.jgkpv.servertrust.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=thing
_________________
914 ChumpCar endurance racer
WWW.CHUMPCAR.COM
1977 911 - 3.0 liter
In Sunny Savannah, GA

cecil · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 11:17 am Post subject:

Got mine from Accelerated Supply. Solomon Grundy got the "whole package" from TTS. Said my top was as good as his. My only complaint is they don't mark the holes for the header bar attachment.
Bottom line: Solomon spent around $1500 and I spent $250. Just about every thing else I have came from TTS.
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I may not be that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented....I forgot where I was going with this
I have this wierd desease called "must tear everything up and put it back together when there's nothing wrong with it...Itus."

GodJockey · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:02 pm Post subject:

I have the same question and was looking at MTMFG canvas window and top combo.
http://www.mtmfg.com/category/view/1821

I know it's not TTS super quality top and windows but I was hoping this would be a more afforable option that will last till I could afford better a few years later on.

When using the velcro curtain's do you have to take the tab off the frame that goes in the door?

CraigInPA · Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:27 am Post subject:

77kafer · Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 7:01 am Post subject:

I love to tell this top story, and it seems like this is the thread to tell it in:

Back in the early '80s, when I was stationed in Germany and I was doing a frame up resto, I needed a top for my THING. I went to a convertible top place a few towns away that I had heard of through one of my German workers.
The guy at the shop showed me some sample material and told me that it would come complete with all the necessary clips, rivets and instructions. During the discussion, he kept leaning toward the white. But I wanted a black top. After picking out the material, he again said "in weiss", and I again said "nein, ich will schwartz". We jokingly went back and forth like that a couple of times, and he finally said that he was out of stock on the black, and that he would have to order it. He said that he would have it by the following week, and that if I was to prepay, he would have it dropped off at my house by a courier service when it came in.
Sure enough, the package arrived the following week. It was a nice white cardboard box that had a couple of square and oval places that looked like labels and postage, etc. had been carefully removed. I wasn't concerned, because I opened the box and there was my brand new (premium quality) black top with all the necessary hardware and instructions.

Anyone care to take a stab at what I saw at the bottom of the instuctions?
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Supposed to be 77käfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard

Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer"

Semper_Dad · Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 7:13 am Post subject:

77kafer · Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 8:35 am Post subject:

Semper_Dad, I believe The Thing Shop didn't come into existence until '85.

The instructions had "Warshawsky and Co." Chicago, IL printed on them.
_________________
Supposed to be 77käfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard

Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer"

GodJockey · Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:58 am Post subject:

77kafer · Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 12:14 pm Post subject:

Sounds good GodJockey, keep us posted.
_________________
Supposed to be 77käfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard

Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer"

GodJockey · Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 4:52 pm Post subject:

I placed my order for the new top yesterday from MTMFG and ordered the hardware from TTS. Is anyone willing to let me borrow The Thing Shop's DVD for installing it I'll pay shipping both ways - PM me please and thank you! Wink

lukesky · Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 10:06 am Post subject:

I bought a Convertible Specialties top about 4 years ago and haven't had any trouble with it. I bought the rivets and rear bar from TTS. The fit isn't perfect, but I was in the same spot of having to go cheap. It has held up well, and I think it was worth it.

What's interesting is that Convertible Specialties has MY PICTURE from thesamba.com gallery on their website.
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You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit.
-Gabi

Ferretkona · Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:10 am Post subject:

74 Thing · Samba Member Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7640

I have had two soft tops on my car (it is a daily driver but the soft top is down for 6 months of the year since I live in CA. Anyways the first top was a Robbins and it lasted 7 years and the second is a Thing Shop and I have had it on for 14 years now.

NOVA Airhead · Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 5:51 am Post subject:

I have a TTS top and frame. It is great.

I lucked out on the purchase. Someone had it for sale here on The Samba. They bought it never took it out of the box and then did something else with the car. I got it at a very nice discount - about half what TTS now charges for their tops.

I then bought the TTS sliders. Expensive but very nice.
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Ghia Owner Emeritus

DougD · Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:45 am Post subject:

I bought one from accelerated supply. Its difficult to install when they don't mark the header holes. The fit is ok but not fantastic. I rarely drive when its not sunny though so it was a good fit for me.


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