The teenager's daily driver has acquired the OEM hardtop that has been on my track car for the last several seasons. Factory replacements are pricey and heavy so I would like to get an aftermarket fiberglass top for the track beast. A few specific things to state before we discuss:

1. This is a track car. I don't care about weatherproofing or the fine details of the fit or finish.

2. The chassis won't be run in Spec or any other sanctioning body that requires an OEM top.

3. Budget is a concern. I can't fit a baller $4k carbon fiber top in the budget even if it weighs 5# and all the cool guys have them.

I see tons of threads asking if an aftermarket top can be made to fit and function on a daily driver. That's not my intent. I see tons of arguments that OEM is the best value by the time you get the window and doors to seal. I want something lighter and cheaper. I see a bunch of guys suggest CF is worth the extra cost. I'm sure it is, but not on my budget.

Shipping can make a good deal turn into an average deal at best. I'm in Seattle so local pickup somewhere sunny probably won't work. What does the brain trust on MT suggest?

 

I bought the treasure coast HT. It was definitely light, fitment was decent, but shipping was like 150 from FL to OK. I believe there is a west coast company who makes a light weight fiberglass top, but I can't find it right now.

 

I looked at Treasure Coast. I didn't ask for a shipping quote but the basic top is what I'm looking for. Part of the reason for this thread is fishing for the names of any west coast shops that might have better shipping or even something I could pick up.

Carbonmiata tops look nice too but I can't quite justify the $700+ shipping on a $600 top.

 

Mine is from CCP fabrication, also out of florida. It's definitely a race car part, not a street car part, but fit and finish are surprisingly good.

90 05 Mazda Miata Light Weight Fiberglass Race Hardtop | eBay

 

Actually, after looking at the treasure coast pictures a little, I think the treasure coast and CCP tops are the same. I'm going to call them tomorrow and see. I'm buying all of their seals if so.

Worth mentioning: I thought I didn't care about seals and weatherproofing when I bought this top and threw away all the factory rubber seals, but without an enclosed trailer, it's a little more annoying that I expected. I would gladly add 10lb to the car to make it watertight again. (10lb is just a random number I chose... no clue what the seals actually weigh.)

 

Alex Renderos has a few of the lightweight 'skins' in fiberglass on the shelf as of last time I spoke with him. Worth a call to see what his price and shipping is. I just got a dry carbon top from him. I'll PM his number to you.

Also, Sevens Only - a shop based at Buttonwillow Raceway makes lightweight fiberglass skins but I have no personal experience with them. I am not a huge fan of some of their other stuff (not composite parts) but their tops may be decent.

-Ryan

 

Thanks Ryan - I'll give him a call in the morning.

 

Shipping from this link is $269 to my office and almost $100 more to my house. I do like that they have nutserts at the mounting points. I'd like to use my existing miatacage brackets instead of drilling into the windshield frame and through the skin itself. Maybe not full racecar?

My buddy Jmann has one of the Sevens Only tops. He likes it fine and uses pool noodles sliced up to seal around the drop in windows while on the trailer. I don't remember what he paid but he picked it up on the way back from Laguna so he didn't need to deal with shipping.

 

Just a F.Y.I. I have, new in the box, all the seals and cables for a soft top. All together, including the box is well under 5 pounds. I can't imagine the ones for a HT would be much more.

 

I have the Treasure coast top as well and can vouch for it. Would not run on a street car but on a dedicated track car it serves the exact purpose. I kept my seals and after an hour or so of adjusting its basically waterproof.

The turnbuckles that attach the sides are ok but I'm looking to better secure it with a hard piece. I believe I paid around $150 for shipping also from FL to PA business address.

 

I have the CCP top, CCP is who makes the lightweight top that is sold else where. Also have their doors, deck lid, and body kit for the NB. Good people and like previously mentioned parts are great for a track car as that's their intended purpose, light and functional. The complaints usually come from those wanting a street top and OEM quality and try to make it out of top that was built for track purposes.

If I remember correctly (it's been a couple of years) the top weighed right at 10lbs without a window.

 

Sub

 

I posted my experience with the treasure coast top here:
https://www.miataturbo.net/general-m...essions-77259/

Definitely install a rubber gasket/seal around the base of the top. Chassis flex will cause the fiberglass to abrade your paint where the hardtop is sitting against it.

I like that it is light enough that I don't even bother to take it off for auto-x.

 

I bought this for my open trailer Cab Cover for Miata 1999-2005

Its also good to keep the sun out during warm days.

And can be used when my windows are removed. Those treasure coast too are tempting but shipping kills it..

 

How does that cover attach to the car? Do you tow with it on the car or just attach it when you get to the track/hotel?

 

I tow with it.. There's 2 tab in the trunk, 2 Velcro to your door handle and wipers hold the front.

One of my rear tab needed some repair after a pourrin rain and a violent storm but car interior was still dry. One of the best purchase I've made. You could add some soft stuff to the Velcro going to your handle because it can rub the paint finish with wind.

 

We've got one of the TCM tops sitting in our shop if anyone's looking to pick one up in CO. No shipping. Brand new.

DG Motorsports might have something, although he tends to go for a higher level of fit and finish (and thus cost) than superlight track guys look for.

 

What exactly is the noise like with these tops compared to the soft top? Could I drive 3hrs to an event without going insane?

 

If you are worried about it, it's probably too loud for you. Mine squeaks over every bump as the chassis flexes. Wind noise is slightly less than the soft top but its not like an OEM top.

 

i got the Treasure coast ccp(sp?) top. everything seams fine. for a race top i like it a lot. saved a ton of weight at a very high location. so i'm happy. if your looking for a street top i wouldn't recommend it.