Solid sliding sunroof mystery....

[Jonny_Jonster]

Can anyone help me unravel the following:

My 1972 crossover bay has a very shoddy custom bodge pop top and being a paddleboarder I was thinking of reverting to the tin top look and putting a rack on.

However on close inspection the large hole on which the Pop-top has been plonked has a really neat rolled, sealed edge from the front all round the sides and a gap at the back between the top and bottom roof skin. It also has a slider track on both sides going right back between the roof skin to a length roughly the same length as the whole.

This makes me think that the bus originally had a solid sliding sunroof which actually slid into a gap under the roof at the back rather than just along the top.

Has anyone heard of this type of roof (I know Riviera roof company make a glass fibre setup which looks good but I think it slides back over the top of the roof)?

Does anyone know if anyone still sells/makes/modifies them?

Does anyone know if this was ever a factory option?

Alternatively does anyone know how difficult/expensive it is to revert to tin top status?

Or... does anyone know of a decent pop top setup that can have big (11 ft plus) boards easily strapped to the top without making it likely to break or get torn from the bus at speed (maybe via a pop-top roof rack if one exists or by just putting on straps that attach to the sills)?

Any suggestions much appreciated.

Jonny

 

[clyde]

If its a original sun roof bus then it will be on your M plate (crack the code on the forum someplace)
If you want to keep the pop top you can get roof rack rails that attach to the gutter and clear the roof.
Pictures might help.

 

[61 stu]

Can anyone help me unravel the following:


Has anyone heard of this type of roof (I know Riviera roof company make a glass fibre setup which looks good but I think it slides back over the top of the roof)?

Does anyone know if anyone still sells/makes/modifies them?

Does anyone know if this was ever a factory option?

Alternatively does anyone know how difficult/expensive it is to revert to tin top status?

Jonny

yep sounds like my roof, mines a 71 Deluxe with a factory sunroof, Scott Wilson on here might be able to help you with parts. Not sure where you are but you're welcome to look at mine mate.

 

[NickB]

It does sound like you've found a sunroof "roof"!!

You can also have a look at my roof if it is in your vicinity. Beware, parts aren't cheap, easily available but worth it!!

 

[RICH-I-AM]

Stick about for a few mins, i may have something on me photobucket

 

[RICH-I-AM]

Rough shots i know but......

Has yours got holes in the front corner like the 1st pic?

Rich

 

[Jonny_Jonster]

Yeah!

Bingo Rich, that's the one!

I assume they are drain holes? Mine have been partially filled in and the whole thing has been a bit bodged/messd up so it would probably need a fair bit of refurbing.

Definitely think I'll try and revert back to this though, really like the idea of that with a full roof rack over the top for my boards!

Does yours leak at all and do you have any idea on how much bits for them cost?

I've gotta dash now but I really appreciate the pics and advice, bit of a cheeky bonus to the bus in my opinion!

Cheers

Jonny

 

[RICH-I-AM]

Yeh i and im sure others will go through it with you.
Look behind your front seats, (cant remember wich one) you should find a couple of riveted plates with numbers/letters on.
Stick the numbers up on here and im sure someone will be able to tell you what you have.
Think you may be pleasently suprised.
2 things
1.Hows the headliner in your bus looking.
2.How deep are your pockets :mrgreen:

Rich

 

[BigG]

A great option but notorious for leaking, basically the drain tubes are steel and rot away in the pillars so many owners end up sealing them or fitting pop tops. I did have a complete spare set up but due to a large repair bill on my bus have had to sell most of it.
Get some pics up of what you have, it almost certainly sounds like an original sunroof bus, if there are cables still in there etc then you may be in luck as these are expensive. I still have a couple of sunroof panels but Slammed on here wants them, (i'll check with him if he still wants them.) I also have a complete winder mechanism I keep as a spare I might part with.
As for the M codes, as far as im aware there is no specific code for a factory sunroof though they where almost exclusively fitted to deluxe microbusses so if yours comes up as one of those then you can pretty much say yours is original ( not sonething you can easily retro fit.)
Early westy pop tops used sunroof busses as a base by the way but they didnt have the drain holes fitted so I think its safe to dismiss that option.

 

[clyde]

As for the M codes, as far as im aware there is no specific code for a factory sunroof though they where almost exclusively fitted to deluxe microbusses

The M code indicates the way in which a particular bus differs from a defined standard version. For example, a Basic Type 24 is a Deluxe Bus with a sliding roof as standard. If a customer did not want this specification, it was possible to order the Type 24 with M130 option, in other words without sliding roof.
A standard Type 22 bus on the other hand didnt come as standard with a sliding roof but one could be ordered, this would be M560 which is the sliding roof "M" code.
So....................

If its a Deluxe with roof it will show. Type 24 on the plate
If its a Standard bus with slider it will show. Type 22 on the plate with 560 also on the plate.

 

[Jonny_Jonster]

Thanks for all the great feedback and advice guys!

Finally got some pics up: http://picasaweb.google.com/113531638545159389566/Heap#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

VIN number starts with 24 and it does have the little holes all round the body for the Deluxe trim so sounds as though you are spot on Clyde.

I guess its going to be down to how much it costs and how feasible it is to get the bits but I'd really love to go original style and get her back to a factory sliding roof.

Any tips on the best place/person to start with when looking to do this?

Cheers

Jonny

 

[Jonny_Jonster]

Spoke to Dan at RCCI Imports and he can get me the metal roof for about £150, unfortunately I don't have some of the rails (such as the whole front section) and the cables and winder mechanism are long gone. Also looks like the drain holes may well have rusted through as Wibbler suggested which is probably why they stuck the rubbish pop top on.

RCCI said getting the cables and rails will be really difficult and I'm a bit concerned about getting it watertight again.

Need to assess my options... would be great to get her back to original but it looks like it could be difficult cost-wise.

Anyone know of a restoration specialist who would deal with this sort of thing?

Jonny