62 Year Old Autocycle

[DAVID BROWER]

Great information, Thanks David.
I learned something new today, so today is a good day

PRIOR TO THE RAGTOP MODELS , THEY HAD AN ILL FATED "SOFT DOME" .
THIS WAS A DOME MADE OF MATERIAL SO FLEXIBLE THAT YOU COULD
SNAP IT OFF THE CAR AND ROLL IT UP !

THE PRODUCT WAS SHORT LIVED BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE TESTING .
WHEN THE SOFT DOME GOT HOT IN THE SUN , IT WOULD BECOME SO
PLIABLE THAT IT WOULD LOSE IT'S SHAPE AND SINK INTO THE CAR !

THEY RECALLED ALL THE SOFT DOME CARS AND REPLACED THE DOMES WITH THE
ONES THAT WORK . THIS FACELESS MAN DEMONSTRATES THE FITTING PROCESS .

 

[Coss]

Great information, Thanks David.
I learned something new today, so today is a good day

PRIOR TO THE RAGTOP MODELS , THEY HAD AN ILL FATED "SOFT DOME" .
THIS WAS A DOME MADE OF MATERIAL SO FLEXIBLE THAT YOU COULD
SNAP IT OFF THE CAR AND ROLL IT UP !

THE PRODUCT WAS SHORT LIVED BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE TESTING .
WHEN THE SOFT DOME GOT HOT IN THE SUN , IT WOULD BECOME SO
PLIABLE THAT IT WOULD LOSE IT'S SHAPE AND SINK INTO THE CAR !

THEY RECALLED ALL THE SOFT DOME CARS AND REPLACED THE DOMES WITH THE
ONES THAT WORK . THIS FACELESS MAN DEMONSTRATES THE FITTING PROCESS .

That's the method Edd on Wheeler Dealers use on the second top after he cracked the first one by using a small power saw and made the mistake of not fully supporting the back side of it, and the wrong saw blade, It must have taken forever grinding it.

 

[DAVID BROWER]

That's the method Edd on Wheeler Dealers use on the second top after he cracked the first one by using a small power saw and made the mistake of not fully supporting the back side of it, and the wrong saw blade, It must have taken forever grinding it.

THE PICTURE IS FROM A FACTORY MANUAL . THEY GROUND THEM TO FIT BACK IN THE DAY .
THIS IS WELL KNOWN IN MESSERSCHMITT CIRCLES . COULD HAVE SAVED EDD A LOT OF GRIEF !

HERE IS ANOTHER NO-NO . BRUCE WEINER HAD TWO STACKS OF DOMES FOR SALE AT HIS 2007 SHOW .
THEY LEFT THEM OUT IN THE GEORGIA SUN ALL DAY . WHEN THEY WENT TO SEPARATE THEM ,
THEY WERE FUSED TOGETHER ! IT RUINED THE WHOLE STACK . WISH I HAD ONE OF THEM NOW ...........

YOU CAN SEE THEM AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS VIDEO MY DAUGHTER MADE .
MY TWO ISETTAS ARE AT THE END .

 

[Coss]

"THEY WERE FUSED TOGETHER ! IT RUINED THE WHOLE STACK"
Ouch, there's a stack of money gone to waste.
I've done a lot of work with Pelxi and poly carbonite (aka Lexan, bullet proof glass) when I was making windshields for bikes and boats; so I know that empty gut feeling when you crack it. But grinding/sanding it takes sooooo long to do if you're doing a large piece like those tops.
I'd offer to make you one, but I don't have access to an oven large enough to make one.

 

[AriLea]

, but I don't have access to an oven large enough to make one.

Pretty much making the oven is part of the process for the garage DIY'er. Once you have the heater, thermostat and fan, most any plywood box shape will do. But then of course there is form tooling.

 

[Coss]

Pretty much making the oven is part of the process for the garage DIY'er. Once you have the heater, thermostat and fan, most any plywood box shape will do. But then of course there is form tooling.

Yes, but to do a project the size of the Messerschmitt top, I'd need an oven 3/4 the size of a two car garage.
That's a big sheet of plastic to make it all in one piece.
And for doing projects that large, the investment makes it cost prohibitive.

 

[DAVID BROWER]

Yes, but to do a project the size of the Messerschmitt top, I'd need an oven 3/4 the size of a two car garage.
That's a big sheet of plastic to make it all in one piece.
And for doing projects that large, the investment makes it cost prohibitive.

TO THAT END , HERE IS A MESSERSCHMITT PROTOTYPE WHERE THEY
MADE THE DOME OUT OF 8 SMALLER PIECES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
HAVE AN OVEN LARGE ENOUGH TO MAKE A PROPER TOP .

THIS CAR PRE-DATES ANY PRODUCTION MESSERSCHMITTS AND
CARRIES THE NAME OF IT'S DESIGNER , FRITZ FEND

 

[Coss]

Did you want one like that?
It would be expensive because I would have to end up paying close to retail for the plastic, and would need one of those hatches (the part the top fits on) shipped to be and then shipping back (with insurance coverage).
It's really impractical when you can probably find one pre-made cheaper than I could do it.

 

[DAVID BROWER]

Did you want one like that?
It would be expensive because I would have to end up paying close to retail for the plastic, and would need one of those hatches (the part the top fits on) shipped to be and then shipping back (with insurance coverage).
It's really impractical when you can probably find one pre-made cheaper than I could do it.

I DID HAVE A 1960 KR-200 WITH A NICE DOME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO .
I SOLD IT AND KEPT THE '63 RAG TOP . COLLECTORS LIKE THE UNIQUENESS
OF THE DOMES BUT I DRIVE MY CARS , USUALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE .

MY TG-500 WILL HAVE THE KR-201 STYLE ROADSTER TOP .
MY '57 KR-200 MAY GET A DOME BUT I HAVEN'T DECIDED .

 

[Coss]

Did you want one like that?
It would be expensive because I would have to end up paying close to retail for the plastic, and would need one of those hatches (the part the top fits on) shipped to be and then shipping back (with insurance coverage).
It's really impractical when you can probably find one pre-made cheaper than I could do it.

I DID HAVE A 1960 KR-200 WITH A NICE DOME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO .
I SOLD IT AND KEPT THE '63 RAG TOP . COLLECTORS LIKE THE UNIQUENESS
OF THE DOMES BUT I DRIVE MY CARS , USUALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE .

View attachment 11986

MY TG-500 WILL HAVE THE KR-201 STYLE ROADSTER TOP .
MY '57 KR-200 MAY GET A DOME BUT I HAVEN'T DECIDED .

They do look pretty trick like that; the only thing that comes close in domestics are these new cars with the all glass roofs; but they don't have the rear matching that "Dome" look which is IMO the coolest part.
But they are impractical in daily driving.