Folding soft top for the Convertible

[Hans Efde]

One of the projects on my Convertible is getting a proper soft top on the car. I am not sure where and when this ends, so it may become a long thread. We'll see.
This morning I called a convertible specialist who advertises with custom made hoods. Sounds good, but it turns out it's just a fabric replacement of soft tops on rare cars (anything not produced in large numbers like the MG F or MX5 top). They don't design a folding frame. A custom made soft top is between 1500 and 2000 euro, so too expensive for me.
I looked at modifying the existing frame so it can fold. It is possible to get a "knee" joint in the main hoop, but when folded it will hit the roll over bar. I also tried to fold the standard PVC softtop I have and it didn't like that. Apparently the fabric of a folding soft top is specifically designed to be able to fold. Perhaps it's possible to change the frame so that it will get around the roll over bar when folded, but it needs a specifically designed soft top that will be very expensive. Builders of boat hoods do design the frames, but it's similar to what I have and the fabric is no more than tent like. It doesn't need to insulate against sound and wind speeds of over 100mph on boats. And still at least a 1000 euro for such a top.

An other option is to find a easy available soft top with frame. It should be a close fit as possible on the Midas. I would then adjust the frame to the Midas for final fit and have an upholstery specialist adjust the soft top.
There are several on Ebay and these can be bought from 100 euros/pounds second hand to over 450 pounds new. Examples are the Ford Streetka, MG F, MX5. Perhaps old school soft tops from the MG Midget or MG B. Rarer but possible a good fit are tops from the Kei cars like the Suzuki Cappuccino or Honda Beat.
My first guess was the Ford Streetka. I measured one up at a local car dealer and it looks promising, but not yet perfect. It is 10cm wider than the Midas and the window rail is so rounded I would need to get new glass in the doors. The frame of it is hugely complicated by the way. Friday I'll check a MG F and I am still looking for an MX5 nearby. TBC.

[Alan D.]

The MGF uses an MX 5 folding roof mechanism, which apparently is done under a licence from Mazda. It may not be exactly the same shape but the folding mechanism is the same. Another thing you need to consider is whether the hood clamps will fit the Midas windscreen header rail.

Good luck Alan

[Moneypit]

I was looking into doing the same Hans. The problem (If memory serves me corectly) I initially came across was the distance from the roll over bar to the rear body moulding in relation to the height of the roll bar.For a simple frame like for example the old mgbt, you would have to pivot the frame part way up the roll bar other wise it would be difficult to get the hood to lie inside the body and clear the roll bar when up. Also the body of the Midas, from the roll hoop back, curves inwards creating another problem if you want the frame to easily clear the hoop.

[Hans Efde]

The MGF uses an MX 5 folding roof mechanism, which apparently is done under a licence from Mazda. It may not be exactly the same shape but the folding mechanism is the same. Another thing you need to consider is whether the hood clamps will fit the Midas windscreen header rail.

Good luck Alan

I was thinking of merging (somehow) the grp front piece of the midas soft top into the after market soft top. There is no other way because the Midas has the clamp more or less on top of the A-pillar, while production cars have it on the aft edge. I don't see me modifying the A-pillar of the Midas. If it doesn't work I've ruined the car.

[Hans Efde]

I was looking into doing the same Hans. The problem (If memory serves me corectly) I initially came across was the distance from the roll over bar to the rear body moulding in relation to the height of the roll bar.For a simple frame like for example the old mgbt, you would have to pivot the frame part way up the roll bar other wise it would be difficult to get the hood to lie inside the body and clear the roll bar when up. Also the body of the Midas, from the roll hoop back, curves inwards creating another problem if you want the frame to easily clear the hoop.

That's something I check with my measurements. But if necessary the soft top can fall over the aft edge. I want to get rid of the quick the dot fasteners anyway. It would be nicer if the hood is stored behind the seats, but there are plenty of convertibles that have the folded top lying on the aft deck. The only extra thing needed would than be a sort of cover. As long as it's below the mirror line (a common problem on the Beetle and Karmann ghia convertible) it's okay. Alternatively I could modify the roll over hoop by cutting it and have 2 small hoops behind the seats welded on. It's an old idea I have and it looks like a simple and cheap job when using standard pre-bent parts. Will look much more modern and stylish than the ugly present piece of steel.

[Hans Efde]

Just to scare you, here are a few pics of the Streetka top:
looks neat:


Inside nice scissormechanics although quite heavy executed:


locking mechanism easy and force free (try hooking in a cold Midas soft top without cursing)


And this one will scare you, the central mechanism that attaches to the car and among others a reason not to use this soft top.

It's so complex because the rear of the soft top can pivot as well (to make room for the cover plate) and is pushed down when the front is locked.

[Hans Efde]

Today I measured up the soft top of an MGF. Good things are a much simpler and lighter construction. It comes amazingly close to the dimensions of the Midas. The A frame is exactly the same! (102cm wide, 30cm tall). The softtop is 4cm lower than the Midas soft top at the position of the drivers seat. But to the back things get out of style. At the waist line it's 12cm wider, it's also 17cm longer. Biggest problem is the window shape:



More pics of the MGF softtop in my photobucket dir.
The MGF has a sloping window line (the cardboard is the Midas window shape). On the MX5 pics this seems closer to the Midas design, so the MX5 is next on my list. Would be superb if that one could be made to fit because the MX5 tops are cheap and plentyful.
Also for the MX5 several aftermarket roll over bars exist with the double hoop behind the seats, in round and V-shapes. Would be interesting if that could be made to fit on the Midas as well.