Thread: Car Weight/Windshield

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I forgot to mention that all the roadsters noted are highboys.

I recommend a heater for roadsters.
Even without a top it helps.
Especially so for the passenger.

Windwings help, make them from Lexan (trade name for Polycarbonate).
You can get Poly at Home Depot.

I also have Lexan rear quarter windows in my 32.
It stops the highway speed generated wind from turning in and hitting you in the ear.

I've been thinking about side windows.
Folks may wonder why in a roadster, but last time I had it out, it was 19 degrees F. when I left the house.
Looks like hinging a window at the top and folding it in and up towards the inside will work.

There'll still be some air leakage with side windows, but dressed properly for cold weather and running the heater usually does it.
Surprising too, how much a blanket across your lap helps.

Strange as it sounds you need to weather strip the doors.
More than likely you'll have the windshield W/stripped top and sides, but once you get a top on it creates a low pressure area within the cockpit and sucks air in through the door gaps.
Hot air from the louvered hood sides in summer and cold air in the winter.

Be sure and get a top that has a snap-open rear window.
It makes a heckuva difference in the summer.

I recommend you do not use glass in the top or windwings.
It's too heavy.
Lexan works well here and generally speaking if a modicum of care is used, Lexan doesn't scratch.
The windwings on my 32 are about ten years old and the only scratch on them is where some clown dragged his diamond ring across it . . . just testing, ya know?

In the pic you can see the top folded up into the three retaining snaps.

The top - and top irons - are available at LeBaron-Bonney.
Nice people to deal with and the top is a kit you can do at home and in fact is what most upholstery shops install.
Some of them allude to making the top at the shop, but I've seen a few of these "shop tops" and they're identical to mine.