The Sprite Forum

Is there any different in the sizes of hardtops for the Bugeye between production years or where they pretty much a universal fitment?
I recently came across one, made an offer which the seller was happy with, not sure if I paid to much but it has original hardware.

There were at least 4 different factory hardtops made to fit the different body styles produced over the years. They are not interchangeable. What car do you have? Post a picture of the hardtop.

Rick

I have a 1960 Bugeye, the car the hardtop came off of was a 1959 Bugeye in rough condition.
I will post pictures of the top this weekend, it has 2 hold-down clips/brackets on the front that engage with the top of the windscreen frame, along with 2 metal mounts on the areas of the hardtop near the inner rear bulkhead that appear to bolt to the soft-top mounts.

There was a standard factory hardtop that worked with the factory issued sliding screens. This is the most common.

There was a Donald Healey aftermarket hardtop that required different, taller sliding window screens produced by the Donald Healey company. These are less common.

I've seen an Ashley style top for sale in the UK on Ebay. Don't know much about them.

Later Sprite and Midget tops will not fit on the Bugeye.

MXP

You're good then Scott. The Bugeyes all used the same style top, so if your hardtop was on a '59 it will fit your '60 model.

A few months ago I also bought a hardtop for my '59 that needs a total restoration. Unfortunately it may be some time before I get to it.

Rick

Pictures of the hardtop I picked up for my Bugeye project

Hardtops, took me several years before I found one for my 64 Sprite but I finally bought one that I could afford at the Portland all ABFM meet for $100. Didn't look too bad, thought, about like yours. the plan was a quick re-paint maybe rattle can. Well years later I took a hobby body shop class at Clackamas community college, mentioned a rattle can, I won't do that again mentioned a quickie paint job, I won't do that again. It took me two terms to complete the top had all these little hairline cracks in the gel coat and was about an inch longer than it was supposed to be. The reason for the problems the person had two little children, who for a while used it as a trampoline. The top came out simply beautiful, had a headliner installed and that made the car quieter inside. Would I do it again, you bet! I now have some body shop skills and painting skills. Buy lots of sandpaper, filler and primer it will come out wonderful.

In the right hand window side screen edge there might be a number. Check. Original BMC and Donald Healey hard tops had a number. Yours looks like a BMC original hard top.

Is the rear window glass or plexi? Supposed to be glass but many have been replaced. Are your latches a fold and lock mechanism? The Mk 2 top had bolt in hooks that could only be removed by un-bolting them and I thought those tops would interchange. Experts?


Kurt

There were and are so many different types & styles of hardtops. Almost a book in itself if you included front bonnets etc

Here's a picture of the latch, there's a 4 digit number stamped inside of the window frame and the rear window is glass.
The rubber surrounding the window is shrunken, hard and needs replacement, but will probably take to someone who knows how to replace properly so I don't risk breaking the glass.

Looks like a good find and correct Mk 1. If there is much crazing and cracking of the gel coat cover it with fiberglass tissue. Much easier than the clean out the crack and refill with gel coat that is so often recommended. A good fiberglass supplier will have the tissue. Don't settle for anything that doesn't look like something you would be blowing your nose with. Very thin and not all suppliers will know what you are looking for or be able to supply it. Commonly used on fiberglass cars.

Kurt

Looks like an original BMC. Good buy.

Question - is there a hardtop that was made for the first run of cars with the 9 stud windscreen ( as I'd like to fit one to my Mk1 )

I've not seen one. I've considered modifying an original top to fit. But i never seem to get around to the project.