Wondering if anyone has tried a hardtop that comes apart to store in the boot?

Here is a doodle of what I have in mind.


Basically 3 peices of overlapped aluminum with rubber/foam seals in between. The yellow bits are roughly where I would put clasps on the inside to pull the aluminum down against the bars. I'd like to seal it pretty good. Where I see a problem is in the corners of the doors (circled in green) and I dont know if the peices would be too long to fit into the boot. The red line from windscreen to rollbar would have to be less than the width of the boot. Im planning a +4 so I have some extra width that may help. For me to build the car I will have to be able to drive it in the rain. Vancouver BC is an ex-rainforest so it sure can rain here .

Any comments, ideas, or measurements of the red line would be appretiated.
Cheers.

[edit] Was thinking a solid plexi-glass or lexan peice that seals against the rollbar hoop and boot for the rear.

[Edited on 23/1/06 by C10CoryM]

Like the idea, and thought about it myself but always fell down on the storage problem. I think its worth some further thinking on though as it would be cool. Let u know if I dream up anything.

If the center section overlapped the outer sections (underneath) it would negate the need for support rods near the outer edges ?? Wouldn't help with storing it, but hey, can't have everything !!

Jason

if you made the curve at the top corner of the screen and the rollbar the same as that of the bonet you could store the curver peives downthe inside of the bonet and the flat bit for the middle in passenger footwell

How about storing it behind the seats if you can make room?

V. Nice idea, although

it'd only work if your heads far enough below the roll bar, some peoples aren't

Strangely I've been having very similar thoughts. I was thinking about two ips on the front edge of the hard top that fit arond a lenght of 25mmX25mm RHS welded to the front window top bar. thus creating a tongue and grove arrangement and neagting the need for lots of catches to hold it in place.

Obviously this idea needs further work but what idea doesn't?

Good points from all. Thanks.
Yes I was thinking overlapping the sides over the middle peice with foam to insulate. That should seal well enough. The outside edges would need a rolled lip or some rouond stock welded to it for safety reasons so they should be stiff enough. Dont want to lose a hand in a crash from the thin edge.
I like the under bonnet idea but my planned engine may be too tall to allow it. Maybe if they were tied vertically to the inside of chassis on the non-exhaust side. Something to consider. Im not sure if the curved ones would store well behind the seats. The flat panels would fit well there though.
For the head room..... Im not going to know that until I build it. Im 6ft tall so it would be a tight fit no matter what. No helmet room for sure. I like to sit low though so I think I should be ok. I know from other cars that I need about 37" from floor to roof to fit.
I thought of using a hook and bar on the front. Hook goes into bar on windscreen vertically, then as you lower the back it locks in but the corner edges would hit on the glass. I may use that idea for the center part anyhow.
I think its viable, and its really not hard to do. Just simple single curves. If I can make the bonnet, I can make that.
Also I think making the fronts curve over the windscreen frame a little will help a lot to keep water out while driving in the rain.
I would still like a measurement from the windscreen to the rollbar if someone has that though.
Thanks again guys.

measurement from windscreen to rollbar will change with every car i think because it will depend on angle of screen height of screen height of rollbar etc

If you make it in segments it will be like a venetian blind. If you put foam between the centre and outer pieces water will get in if it rains, some kind of rubber piping on the edge of the lower section would be better.