Last month we saw the craftsmen at Rod Tops measure, manufacture, and fit a custom top to my ’27 T roadster. Starting with one of their ’32 top kits, the irons were modified and mated to a Shadow Rods XL27 wooden header from another Rod Tops kit. This month, we get a lesson on how the top attaches and disassembles with ease. Just as planned we were able to put the entire assembly in the trunk of the roadster for a rainy day. The tonneau was an added bonus that works great to protect the interior when the T is parked. The two-piece style of the tonneau enables me to leave the passenger side in place when I am cruising solo.
When the side curtain is zippered into place, a water deflector flap bridges the window opening at the rear. This keeps things dry on the inside.
The maiden voyage for the top and tonneau worked out very well. I spent some time rolling around the infield of the Daytona Speedway at the Turkey Rod Run. In January my wife, Mary Ann, and I headed to the Florida Keys for more product testing. While we got lucky and avoided the rainstorms, the chillier days were made more comfortable with the top in place.
The interior is now sealed up for a much more pleasant and quiet drive in adverse weather conditions.
There is nothing like the thrill of blasting down the highway in an open roadster. Unfortunately, the reality is that many of us don’t live in sunny California and most of us can’t spend all of our time in Florida. It is always a good idea to be prepared. If you want to enjoy the open air but have some peace of mind in the trunk, check with the folks at Rod Tops. They will be able to get you fit with a top and a tonneau for a T, or for any other type of roadster that you might have in the garage.
