Trunkable Hardtop Website.

[Jeff Lemke]

I roughed in a website for the new top. I'm sure it will get refined daily over the next several weeks but it can at least be a good basic reference of what is to come.

www.trunktop.citymaker.com

 

[Newport Viper]

Not bad.

The Viper tax will keep me away.

This is more of what I am looking for. I want some thing that is fast and foldable.

Notice NO VIPER TAX.

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=1399&pf%5Fid=A5062B&mscssid=G02ERP732SSF9LWPUAKDKPW0HJ6KAR75

 

[Jeff Lemke]

Thanks Newport! Glad you like it.

I know what you mean by Viper TAX. My Venzano interior was about $5500! I could have bought a entire car for that much. I was able to sell my old hardtop and make other trades in order to afford it. After I witnessed Tony (Venzano owner) sew this and that by hand to work his magic on the custom interior I understood the time and talent it takes for one man to perform such a task.

Now, if he had a backlog of a few hundred cars to do and was able to hire a dozen talented people and start to mass produce in some manner, I bet the price would get dramatically reduced. That is the downside to owning such an exclusive car, there is not enough volume to make any real money.

Believe me when I say I wish I could sell 100's of tops a year for $500 ea.

Not going to happen with the Viper. Hence, THE TAX.

Jeff

 

[King RT10]

I am looking for the same thing as Newport viper.
Something fast and foldable for emergency use. As long as it stays on up to 55mph is fine because I would only use it in the rain.
Your top does look good but doesnt fit my use or price.

 

[Roadkill]

I'm with the emergency soft top Idea.. Though I think Jeff's design kicks ass (other than the price & window mods) if you are going with a hardtop. Jeff.. A question, your site says that the top mounts to the stock factory bolts in the rear.. Does this mean you have to remove the sport cap in the rear? (your pictures show you with the hardtop over the top of the sportcap).

 

[tim721]

Roadkill -

No need to remove the sport cap - he said that in his original post

Oh, btw, did you get my email????

 

[Jeff Lemke]

The Michigan weather was clear today so I took advantage of the dry roads and went for a hour long tour. Mostly e-way travel at about 85 MPH. Took the car up to 100 on several occasions and the top was steady as can be. Not a hint of instability. There is some weatherstrip mods I want to change to get the wind noise as low as can be. It'll never be a Lexus simply because it's a Viper, and I have to remember that, but I still want it to be good.

In my original post I stated this top is not for everyone. It's not. Some of the reasons are stated right above this post. If rain was my ONLY concern, I would do an emergency top also. I'm a top off guy, that's why I have the RT/10. However, the sun was shining today but it was COLD. I would not have got to drive my car today without being enclosed and I did not feel stupid riding with the top on. That was cool. Long trips with my wife can now be done as we both did not like extended freeway time at 85 with the top off. Now, once we get to our destinaton and tour around, it can be *******.



RoadKill,

Tim is correct, no need to remove it. If you look down through the hole where the rear latches go you will find that it is a hole that passes through. I took advantage of this and a bolt passes up though the hole and into the top. No need for tools as the bolt has a "wing nut" end and you simply tighten with your fingers which draws the top down to compress the weatherstrip a bit until the bolt reaches it's stopping point. There is enough pressure that the bolt will not vibrate it's way loose.

Thanks for the nice comments guys. Sorry the top has to be so pricey.

Jeff

 

[Roadkill]

Thanks for the clearup guys.. I will have to look at mine next time i've got the sportcap on. Tim, the email never came through

 

[malcoll]

How much space is left in the trunk when the top and the windows are stored??? Your website does not have a picture of the top and windows stored.

Thanks,
Lance

 

[GoldMan]

I also agree with Newport Viper...

I want something similar to that Corvette top!!!!

The Corvette top is a lot smaller than the Viper top, so it can't be "adapted" to work for a Viper.

 

[Don]

It would be nice to have something quick to setup. My only "emergency" solution is a car cover or the nearest bridge

 

[Jeff Lemke]

Lance, it should show a picture... Maybe it is not good enough for what your trying to see. If you like I can send you a few pics from different angles.


Sounds like a few of you guys want to re-invent the soft top. I have no intention to do such a thing but I'm sure if it is talked about enough someone will do it. I REALLY like the product I built, but, as I've stated before, it's not for everyone.

I can only assume it is because of price and I would be quite impressed if someone pulled off ANYTHING for a few hundred bucks. Quick and Easy on/off of the one I built should be fast enough. I think my goal might be to find a way to make it more affordable. I do not yet have my final numbers on production costs, so I don't know how low I can get it (I can't sacrifice quality to do this, I want to have a nice product). There are options I can toy with.

I have removed the price from the website until I have final production numbers. I'll never be able to satisfy a "quick raincoat" market because the price would never get that low so a 25% decrease (guessing) probably won't help. I need to do more of a market study and talk with more of you to find what most see as very important.

The first thread I started on this subject most e-mails I received wanted to be sure I built a QUALITY product. This thread has headed toward a CHEAP AS POSSIBLE topic. It's funny to watch and all of the comments and the different directions they take. ALL COMMENTS are so valuable to help me to determine what the final product (and price) will be.

I thank you all for your input.

Jeff

 

[malcoll]

Jeff,
I cannot see the windows in that picture... but I will assume the trunk stowage picture is of the top and the windows in the trunk at the same time?
You are finding that we all want the highest quality for the lowest price! But I have seen that in my development of an emergency soft top.. I call it the E-Top.
I am anxious to see your final price as that will be my final determining factor!
Good Luck,
Lance

 

[GoldMan]

There may also be other people like me that would like both tops... A nice "permanent" folding hardtop that can be removed by one person.. & an also inexpensive "emergency" soft top.

 

[Mopar Steve]

Jeff, great looking top. I finally opened my exhaust today. Thank you, this will work fine.

Steve

 

[Jeff Lemke]

Good, Steve. I hope it works out.


I'm trying to find some way to get the top below 2k. It may also be possible (not sure yet) that the gen 2 design will work on the gen 1 allowing the person to use the soft windows. This will not look nearly as good, but a window investment will not be nessessary. The Gen 1 that I've been showing pics of will be the best looking in my opinion. To start compromising things to satisfy everyone will create watered down styling.

Jeff

 

[Jeff Lemke]

Lance,

I have not yet taken a picture with the windows in the trunk with the top. If it helps, I can tell you it would be like having the soft top and windows in the trunk except it would only be occupying the trunk opening leaving the sides free. Unlike the Soft top than also takes up that room.

Also, good luck on the E-Top, it looks like you've got a market. See guy's, I knew someone would try it! Now if you can meet that price challenge...

Good luck, Lance.

Jeff