targa top on 1988-1991 reattas

[buickboys]

has anyone ever seen a targa top on the reattas. Like the ones used by chevrolet on the 1984---and up Corvettes? I think it would really look sweet. I will be looking at a reatta over the week end. Although i love keeping her stock. I might be tempted to put a spoiler on the rear and in time have a removable Targa Top constructed. Any thoughts?

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Like removable-hardtop? Would be nice, but you'd want to leave some metal there (like a T-top). I predict that the unibody wouldn't like it much and would suffer from the cowl-shake as did/do many factory Reatta convertibles, and those already have extra underbody bracing.

My dad used a spoiler on Maui, which he sold, from a '00 Mustang GT and it looked pretty good, like it was supposed to be there. Maybe a '96 or so would be better since it has more curves instead of angles.

[buickboys]

Thanks --- I didnt think about the lack of structural support. Damn. I had my heart set on having it done because there is nothing better than to be seen driving around in a sweet looking vehicle. Natch-I could get a convertible- but the tops wear in time and they can be broken into EZ plus I prefer the shape of the coupe rear pillar. SURE wish there was a way . But I may end up with T Tops after all.

[Guest EDBSO]

With my compressor, condenser and evaporator dead and some hail dents I have been toying with the idea of converting it into a removable hard top. Speedster bumps would be nice also. Now for the cowl-shake and tail-shake, that would be exciting! Perhaps just a toneau for the rain. Would love to cut the windshield down to.

[Shelby]

I had one of those roofs in a Trans-Am.

It was noisy and it leaked.

If you put on in you will need 3 towels, one for the leaks, one for the tears that you screwed up your nice Reatta and one for how much it cost you to do it and it did work.

Just my 2 cents.

[Guest F14CRAZY]

I think tops need to be done like every 5-8 years, maybe? Reatta tops have a tendancy to shrink and it shows at the edges.

A T-top would be pretty close to a "targa"

[Rawja]

I have often thought about 'T' tops on the Reatta. The headliner almost looks like it was shaped for it.

A targa top would be very cool, I'd definately be interested if someone designed a workable mod for it. It would really set off the cant of the 'B' pillar, and it is in keeping with the original design study:

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Rawja: what book is that? I've seen those pix online before, but haven't found a book with pix of a Reatta.

The real thing came pretty close to looking like the mockup. Thank god they got rid of those proposed wheels

[Don B.]

Even the sheet metal on the inside of the roof looks

like it was setup for 'T' tops.

[Rawja]

I have no idea what book it came from, but as I recall Nic Walker was the originator of the photos of it, though I may very well be wrong. I definately lifted the photo from a posting on this froum, of that I'm certain.

[Rawja]

Just speaking from a pipe-dream perspective, does it seem reasonable that a convertable could be mated with the bubbleback rear window and 'B' pillar of a coupe?

The requisite body strength would already be there and the windshield header would already be equipped with the attachment points and reinforcing structure to accept the roof panel, no?

Truth be told, as pretty as the convertables are I think some of the coupe's design edge is lost with the convertable's conventional rear roof line.

[Guest joereatta]

Agree 100%. The distinctive coupe design with the large rounded rear window is lost on the convertible. That is not to say that the vert is not a pretty car, but it does lose something.

[Vincent Vega]

I like the idea. Cover the pillar/roof with stainless like a Crown Vic. That would be fun.

[Hank Ryan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ... Cover the pillar/roof with stainless like a Crown Vic. ...</div></div>

Or, IMHO more correctly, like the original (1966) Porsche 911/912 Targa.

[padgett]

Just one minor difugledy with a hard targa roof. The panel over the windows is 53" wide. The trunk opening is 48" wide and about the same deep. Maybe you could sling it under the hood ?

ps picture is on page 71 of "Prototype and Dream Cars" ISBN1-85076-165-5

[jonlabree]

How about T-Tops then?

[manikmekanik]

Whether T-Tops, or Targa, one would be best-off starting with a convertible car, and add pillars, etc. from a coupe.

Or, add doors, underbody strengthening to a coupe, before cutting top off, from a convertible.

A good fabrication excersize either way, it would test the metal of any fab-man!