Custom Soft Top

[406Special]

Claude,

Very inspired consideration and as always a thoroughly thought
through. It would in one go remove issues of front and rear glass
cost and rarity for the 406. Would definitely cost more to achieve.
The engine I have in mind could easily run full time on LPG and is a
back stop consideration with the engine builder. Removal of the tank
would provide a massive space in the rear, but is it wide enough for
all the gubbins that would be required. Changing the front screen
would necessitate a substantial amount of work round the bulk head,
for both body work and strengthening, albeit I would be inclined to
give the current screen's dimensions and curvature to a specialist
screen supplier to find the nearest range of potential replacements
to avoid too much of a departure from the 406 profile and looks. As
long as the screen was from a fairly modern convertible, then the
options may be there. Apart from hood frame and mechanism plus
screen attachment parts, there would be no need to take a whole car
just to get these parts (I am assuming). I will run by John Hodson
of Alpine Eagle when I next see him - a large frown and wry smile
will be the initial reaction me thinks. His stock answer is
"...anything is possible, it's just money...".

Clyde

[seanmcs]

Well, I think we should always dream, but total restoration of
Bristols is not cheap, and rebuilding them to a different format is
probably always going to be even dearer, as you will try things
differently from original and they may need to be redone. Maybe in a
recession you could get lots done for less, but I'm doubtful about
that. I agree that putting a soft top onto a rather smart car like a
406 needs to be done with care; otherwise could look quite dowdy.
The 400 of Marlborough looks fine with quite a lot of folded stuff
among the curves and external guards of the body, but in my humble
opinion such folded canvas would look ridiculous on a 406. I'm also
noting caution on the part of top/hood makers as to the outcome
visually. But, with devoted application, anything can be done. Just
wondering about the integrity of the body if the lid is chopped off.
Must need some reinforcement.

Sean

[Claude]

Originally Posted by seanmcs

Just
wondering about the integrity of the body if the lid is chopped off.
Must need some reinforcement.

Sean

Having owned a 405DH for a while and sunk a fortune in the first stage of its restoration, I can assure you that the Bristol is remarkably strong. According to my restoration man in Connecticut, the butcher marks from Abbott suggest the car was built as a 405 saloon by a welder who belongs in the welding hall of fame, and then chopped by a sloppy blacksmith to become a drophead. He showed me the chop work, and it was primitive. Effective, but primitive. There also was no extra support bracing installed in the bodywork.

Keep in mind, the Bristol has a full chassis that provides all the structural integrity, unlike modern monocoque bodies that rely on the body to hold together. In fact, if you examine the car you will find that the body is held on outriggers... in the 405DH the spans were timber. The strength of the car is in the massive steel underneath.

Claude

[Claude]

http://www.villageforum.com/bristol%20406c.jpg

Photoshop montage of a 406 with Corvair Corsa roof. The rear glass may prove to be an interesting challenge unless upper window frame is retained.

Can you email me a better side photo of the 406? The club does not seem to have such a profile.

Claude

[seanmcs]

Claude:

Well I am familiar with the super chassis. But I still wonder if you
chop off the lid, the remaining metal will not be open to distortion/
vibration. The Alivs cars were built with that in mind and they were
fine. So, quite a lot of work in a 406 Bristol.

Sean

[Hydroglen]

It will depend on how the body is mounted / bolted to the frame. Typically
a body sits on rubber circular pads that in turn sit on the frame. There
is movement on the rubber pads and if the body is not rigid enough ( how
much is enough?) then the movement will cause doors to jam and paint to
crack. The door gaps will shift and not be parallel.
Dorien

[Peter.Kent]

I assume that the 412 has it`s substantial hoop between the removable roof
and the soft bit at the back is to keep the body/ chassis rigid. Given
that the chassis etc is much the same on the 406, perhaps that is needed.
P