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Sardine rag tops aka rollbacks, info wanted.

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bluebaja Officially Full-On Dubber

233 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#943527
Any one have any info on whats involved or a source of a kit?
I bought a 68 convertible and have restored the pan etc but he body is pooed beyond repair. I am thinking of going the way of the Sardine top since it seems a lot simpler and will give the open air top I wanted.
Any pics/close up would be appreciated.
Oh and yes I know that they look average 🙂
Thansk

Birdman Wolfsburg Wizard

428 posts · joined May 2010 ·

#943593
Don't do it!
Buy an aftermarket rag like a britax if you have to but please don't butcher another poor beetle.

You should be able to find one of these for free!

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#943598
as per above DONT DO IT


P L E A S E u will regret it
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

bluebaja Officially Full-On Dubber

233 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#943774
😂

Thanks guys, this is for a baja though and the sedan body is a baja already so..... no "real beetle" will be hurt in the making of this monster.
I wanted a convertible but that conversion is way too involved. I have had a rag top (big sunroof) beetle before but it's not really open enough.

bluebaja Officially Full-On Dubber

233 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#943794


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Whats wrong with that?

bluebaja Officially Full-On Dubber

233 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#944421
Does anyone on the forum have one they are willing to own up to?? I would love to see where exactly it was cut. Thanks

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#944425
Brenton who used to be on here had one (volkswagenboy i think it was), It was a 71 super bug, cut that way for a sardine softtop. but the soft top was connected to the roof via those metal round clips and cut in the same fashion.

I don't think it was a kit, it came iwth his car which was an ex-movie world machine. I think someone just took a neat cut to the roof, lined the cut steel seam with a rubber U-channel seal, drilled holes every 200mm or so and fitted those metal round clips for the vinyl softtop.

There wasn't any roll bars.

wait... here's his thread. i see he didn't get rid of the rear window like your photo though. There are some pics in this for reference.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=55108&page=2
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#944426
Oh! and by not cutting the rear window out, you odn't loose that supporting member just above the rear window.

Cutting that out might make the engineers a bit tight in the collar if that bothers ya.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#944453
Even with that left though his roof used to crack above the rear window regularly.

What it needed was the roof skin welded to the window frame to stop it flexing.
Most sardine tin conversions have that done along the sides.


I always thought those factory Mexican open air Beetles looked ok when the roof was open
The fun of a convertible with the structural intergrity of a hard top.
Pretty sure they are electric too from memory.




Shame they look crap when closed.

Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!

1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#944484
Rear vision doesn't look too good when the roof is down though.

Yogie

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#944489
It's a thing of beauty

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#944500
It was scarily perfect timing, this afternoon walking to the bus station from work in the rain a white 60's beetle with the exact sardine style roof (including vinyl cover with rear window gone) drove past. It had a red vinyl roof.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!