Subject: [TR] Shrunk top fitting

From: aribert neumann <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2025 17:25:01 -0400

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I strongly suspect the better fitting top mentioned below was either an
original OEM top purchased as a service part or the top pattern was based
on an OEM newish top that had not shrunk.    Twenty years + many years ago
gets us back to roughly when one might be able to buy an OEM top from the
dealer (either to use as a service part or to deconstruct and use as a
pattern by an aftermarket supplier).

I have a custom made Haartz Twill 3 fabric top on my Spit6.  I was employed
by ASC at the time and had one of the prototype trimmers deconstruct my
original (shrunken) vinyl top as a starting point for a pattern.  My fabric
top has not shrunk in the past 32+ yrs (though the vinyl windows have been
replaced several times).

From: DAVID MASSEY <[email-masked]>
To: dave northrup <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <
[email-masked]>, Robert Rochlin <[email-masked]>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:41:48 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [TR] TR6 top R&R
Correction.  I used the term "elastomer" when I should have said
"plasticizer."

Another example:  Many years ago I was given a TR6 top by an acquaintance
who bought it 20 years previously but wrecked his car before he had a
chance to have it installed.  In other words, this top sat in his basement
for 20 years before I had it installed.  This was the easiest top to put up
and down in all my experience.  I believe it is because the plasticizers
had all dissipated and the top did not stretch when the installer got his
hands on it.  So it didn't "shrink" after installation.  It went up easily
in any weather.

So I guess this suggests one should buy a top now and put it away for
several years before installing it.  ;-)

Dave

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div><font size=3D"4">I strongly suspect the better fittin=
g top mentioned below was either an original OEM top purchased as a service=
 part or the top pattern was based on an OEM newish top that had not shrunk=
.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Twenty years + many years ago gets us back to roughly when o=
ne might be able to buy an OEM top from the dealer (either to use as a serv=
ice part or to deconstruct and use as a pattern by an aftermarket supplier)=
.</font></div><div><font size=3D"4"><br></font></div><div><font size=3D"4">=
I have a custom made Haartz Twill 3 fabric top on my Spit6.=C2=A0 I was emp=
loyed by ASC at the time and had one of the prototype trimmers deconstruct =
my original (shrunken) vinyl top as a starting point for a pattern.=C2=A0 M=
y fabric top has not shrunk in the past 32+ yrs (though the vinyl windows h=
ave been replaced several times).</font></div><div><br></div><div><br></div=
><div><br></div>From:=C2=A0DAVID MASSEY &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:dave1massey@c=
s.com" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&gt;<br>To:=C2=A0dave northr=
up &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]=
om</a>&gt;, &quot;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_bla=
nk">[email-masked]</a>&quot; &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:triumphs@autox.=
team.net" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&gt;, Robert Rochlin=
 &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">rrochlin@com=
cast.net</a>&gt;<br>Cc:=C2=A0<br>Bcc:=C2=A0<br>Date:=C2=A0Fri, 11 Apr 2025 =
14:41:48 +0000 (UTC)<br>Subject:=C2=A0Re: [TR] TR6 top R&amp;R<br><div><div=
 style=3D"font-size:16px"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">Correction.=C2=A0 I used th=
e term &quot;elastomer&quot; when I should have said &quot;plasticizer.&quo=
t;</div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Another example:=C2=A0 =
Many years ago I was given a TR6 top by an acquaintance who bought it 20 ye=
ars previously but wrecked his car before he had a chance to have it instal=
led.=C2=A0 In other words, this top sat in his basement for 20 years before=
 I had it installed.=C2=A0 This was the easiest top to put up and down in a=
ll my experience.=C2=A0 I believe it is because the plasticizers had all di=
ssipated and the top did not stretch when the installer got his hands on it=
.=C2=A0 So it didn&#39;t &quot;shrink&quot; after installation.=C2=A0 It we=
nt up easily in any weather.=C2=A0=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><d=
iv dir=3D"ltr">So I guess this suggests one should buy a top now and put it=
 away for several years before installing it.=C2=A0 ;-)</div><div><br></div=
><div><div style=3D"color:black;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal;f=
ont-size:12pt;line-height:normal"><div style=3D"font-size-adjust:none;font-=
stretch:normal;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal"><div><font size=3D"4">Dav=
e</font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

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