When the side curtain is zippered...
When the side curtain is zippered into place, a water deflector flap bridges the window opening at the rear. This keeps things dry on the inside.
Last month we saw the craftsmen at Rod Tops measure, manufacture, and fit a custom top to my ’27 T roadster. Starting with one of their ’32 top kits, the irons were modified and mated to a Shadow Rods XL27 wooden header from another Rod Tops kit. This month, we get a lesson on how the top attaches and disassembles with ease. Just as planned we were able to put the entire assembly in the trunk of the roadster for a rainy day. The tonneau was an added bonus that works great to protect the interior when the T is parked. The two-piece style of the tonneau enables me to leave the passenger side in place when I am cruising solo.
The interior is now sealed...
The interior is now sealed up for a much more pleasant and quiet drive in adverse weather conditions.
The maiden voyage for the top and tonneau worked out very well. I spent some time rolling around the infield of the Daytona Speedway at the Turkey Rod Run. In January my wife, Mary Ann, and I headed to the Florida Keys for more product testing. While we got lucky and avoided the rainstorms, the chillier days were made more comfortable with the top in place.
There is nothing like the thrill of blasting down the highway in an open roadster. Unfortunately, the reality is that many of us don’t live in sunny California and most of us can’t spend all of our time in Florida. It is always a good idea to be prepared. If you want to enjoy the open air but have some peace of mind in the trunk, check with the folks at Rod Tops. They will be able to get you fit with a top and a tonneau for a T, or for any other type of roadster that you might have in the garage.
The snaps around the bottom...
The snaps around the bottom in the back make installation and removal of the top an easy task.
The rear window easily zips...
The rear window easily zips out for flow-through ventilation on those hot days when air circulation is a necessity.
When the rear window is removed,...
When the rear window is removed, a top tensioning flap keeps the canvas tight and top buffeting to a minimum.
When the time comes to remove...
When the time comes to remove the top, all of the rear snaps are unfastened and the canvas assembly is rolled forward to the wooden front header.
For removal of the front header...
For removal of the front header rail, the large head Allen bolt needs to be loosened and the stainless quick-release pin removed.
With the quick-release pin...
With the quick-release pin removed, the side irons are easily detached from the header.
The top bows are easily removed...
The top bows are easily removed from the side iron mechanism by simply pushing in the self-contained release button on each crossbar.
The stainless clevis is removable...
The stainless clevis is removable and keeps the top edge of the body smooth to avoid bumped elbows and bruised arms when the top is off.
The base of the side rail...
The base of the side rail attaches to the body with a stainless quick-release pin.
The final side-iron assembly...
The final side-iron assembly is then removed to complete the process.
With all of the pieces removed...
With all of the pieces removed and folded up, the entire top assembly easily stores in the standard trunk of the ’27 T roadster.
The finished top has just...
The finished top has just the right look when mounted on the roadster. The fit, finish, and flow with the body of the T are exactly what I was looking to achieve.
I decided to have a tonneau...
I decided to have a tonneau made for the T while it was at Rod Tops. Continuing with the vintage look of the roadster it was determined that a split lakes-style top would be the best choice.
The steering wheel pocket...
The steering wheel pocket lets the tonneau fit tight again the body. The zipper down the middle allows the use of just the passenger side tonneau during chilly days when I am travelling solo.
The steering wheel pocket...
The steering wheel pocket lets the tonneau fit tight again the body. The zipper down the middle allows the use of just the passenger side tonneau during chilly days when I am travelling solo.
With the driver side removed...
With the driver side removed there is plenty of room to operate the vehicle safely. The tonneau makes use of the snaps that were installed for the top.