)History lesson:
1961: Triumph bring out the world's first "targa". The metal hardtop is too big to take with you, but is a one piece construction and, though it is heavy, it can be put on the car by one person – fixing is by four bolts (one at each corner), takes about 8 minutes and is waterproof. A simple, stash-in-the-car soft top can travel with you when the hardtop is off. I know because I had a 1965 TR4A identical to the one below.
1972 : Fiat launches the X1/9. The fibreglass hardtop can be taken with you (fitting neatly and securely under the front boot cover) obviating the need for a soft top, is a one-piece construction, is light and can be put on the car by one person – fixing is by four over-centre latches (one at each corner), takes about 8 seconds and is waterproof. I know because I had an 1981 X1/9 1500 identical to the one below.
1977 : Lancia (under Fiat) launches the Beta Spider. The fibreglass hardtop can be taken with you (fitting neatly and securely in the boot) obviating the need for a soft top, is a one-piece construction, is light and can be put on the car by one person – fixing is by four over-centre latches (one at each corner), takes about 8 seconds and is still almost waterproof on my 1981 model which I still own, pictured below.
Being a big mid-engined car fan, when the first pics of the Elise were released I was very keen. When the production version incorporated a real enclosed rool hoop with provision for a roof, I was even keener. When I found that GM were going to offer a detachable hardtop with their Elise-based car, I knew it was time to order. The GM people claimed they were keen to make a more practical, user-friendly car than the Elise but with the retention of all its dynamic thrills – brilliant stuff!
I ordered my Speedster with all options, including hardtop, in early 2000. The car, without the hardtop, was delivered in April 2001. I was informed that the hardtop design was being "improved". Finally, a year later (2 years after I had ordered the car 
), I was asked to bring my Speedster in to have the hardtop fitted, in April 2002. I watched as the team of four mechanics got the collection of strange-shaped bits and pieces and, with the help of the little English-language only
laminated sheet, tried to work out how the fcuk the bits went together and where they fitted. They finally worked out where the bits went and proceded to fasten up the 9 torx-headed bolts. Took them about half an hour. Off I went, and no sooner did I get down the motorway sliproad and acclerate, than there was a heart-attack inducing noise as the top detached itself and lifted on both rear mounts 
. Could have easily been killed if I was of a jumpy nature. One very angry driver 
returned to the dealer for the mechanics to have a second attempt. After completing this task, they sent me on my way without the torx tool – as I found when I got home and phoned them. It was never found and they could not get a GM replacement, so got me a screwdriver-style one.This, so-good-that-it-takes-2-years-to-deliver-and-four-GM-mechanics-half-an-hour-to-fit-and-it-still -isn't-on-properly hardtop was fine for the next couple of weeks until I went of to Hockenheim. At 135mph, the hardtop "popped" again on the rear mountings. 14 months later (!!!) when my clutch failed at Hock. (no, not due to my driving – Opel admitted a material defect) I found an unexplained little package in the car with two black plastic bits in. When I got round to removing the hardtop, I found that those bits were replacement, modified parts – turns out the lipped part the hardtop lugs retain in were originally too small. Fitted them myself.
Summary: Over forty years ago, Triumph made the first targa and it was easier to fit and stayed on better than the VX one! Over thirty years ago, Fiat made a light simple, easy-to-fit and take with you targa top. And the VX leaks the most! AND to add to the perfection (NOT), I ordered a "silver" car so that the "silver" hard top would match, along with the "silver" screen surround and "tie the car together optically. Do they match? Do they Fcuk! It looks so amateur – instead of being the most cohesive colour choice, it quite simply looks wrong.
Getting ready for Hockenheim again, tonight I got my hardtop out of its bag and looked at the laminated instruction sheet to remind myself. First thing I read is, "Installation and removal of the hard top is intended to be a seasonal, rather than as a frequent occurence." (sic). I've done this a few times now and, even though I've written on the bits where they go, I still dont find it funny p*ssing about with various bits of nondescript plastic and arsing about in the gloom under the top trying to get the sodding torx bolts to seat and not trapping the seals and not trapping the bracket tether wires, etc. etc. Having the Lancia as an example of just how easy it can be only frustrates me more.
For God's sake!!! A tin-pot little firm on the edge of bankrupcy did it better over forty years ago. Fiat perfected it. This top is not the user-friendly item I was promised by GM – quite bluntly, its a total and utter P.O.S.! Any aftermarket alternative could hardly be worse!
I just hope those responsible at GM hears my complaints, 'cos they have wasted so much of my time with their incredibly cr@p design, that they should be made to feel uncomfortable about it. I wouldn't employ them to design a brick for me, let alone a hardtop.
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i leave the plastic trim off aswell
and the roof takes mins to fit.
)
Unnecessary!
