Carson Top

qmdv

qmdv

Well-known member
Recently I was looking at some old pics of my dad's 34 roadster. First is at Muroc Dry Lake in 1939. The second is with fenders ect. in front of the Road Rebels hang out in Los Angeles. He always raved about his Carson Top.


Now I have completed a 32 High Boy roadster. I would love to have one of these tops. Does anybody out there put the hardware together for one of these for a 32
 

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qmdv said:
Recently I was looking at some old pics of my dad's 34 roadster. First is at Muroc Dry Lake in 1939. The second is with fenders ect. in front of the Road Rebels hang out in Los Angeles. He always raved about his Carson Top.


Now I have completed a 32 High Boy roadster. I would love to have one of these tops. Does anybody out there put the hardware together for one of these for a 32
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528507


528508
 
You hardly hear about a Carson tops anymore. Custom made tops. The old little mags would have builds in them. I recall they had like a tubular frame covered with chicken wire and upholstery. I have a lot of the old mags. I can look if you want.
 
528512


528513


How about a solid Top for your 1932 Ford Roadster?
A friend of mine made this Removable Hard Top for his 1932 Ford Roadster.
It is all hand made and welded together and polished.
 
Check with Karl Wescott on the Carson Top. He may have some ideas on building the frame work. I think his dad built some cars with those tops. Karl is a member on here.
 
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Look at the detail of that rear, mail-slot window, or the flair above and around that passenger-side window. Mon Dieu, that's some talent there!

Coop


528512
 
A Carson top, to be true, was made by Carson Upholstery in Carson CA. Typically a framework of lightweight tubing (often electrical conduit) was made, then padded and upholstered. Hand built so no two were exactly the same.
Really no hardware is needed, a sleeve with a nut welded to it will suffice for attaching to the windshield posts and some means of attaching to the body in the rear (in the period photos it looks like it was held on with snaps).
Later improvements added expanded metal mesh or aluminum panels to support the padding.
The issue with a rigid lift off hardtop is that it is on the car (and the day turns out beautiful) or in the garage a hundred miles away (and the weather becomes rain/hail).
 
528561


To get the achieved shape for the Removable Top, Tony made this mock Template and proceeded from there to create this Masterpiece.
It is hanging on the wall of his shed.
 
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For those who want to know more about this Removable Top, these are the details.
The Roof I made for my 32 Roadster is made of 1.6 mm Aluminium, 5005 Grade. Tony
 
qmdv said:
Now I have completed a 32 High Boy roadster. I would love to have one of these tops. Does anybody out there put the hardware together for one of these for a 32
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For a little inspiration; here is a picture that Nate posted over on the hamb of the framework for his '32 top.
 

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My friend Jack in Prescott made a Carson style top for his 32 roadster using the metal rod buck that Garth Bowie made for forming the metal top for his 32 roadster. Looks good and has stood the test of time.
 
I don’t know if your abilities or the look you are looking for but my avatar came with a fiberglass lift off by the previous owner. A friend of mine on the HAMB, jacksandeuses, might be of assistance on how he did it.built his mostly out of aluminum.

Me personally with my car I run lexan side curtains, stayed dry in in the worst of rainstorms but you cannot take it on and off at will. I take mine off in the summer and put it back on n the winter. Perhaps a fold up Bop Top could be made into a Carson? At least you would have all the bones needed - a good start say

Just a thought ….
 
There are a few making Carson tops out there, the best is Martinez industries out in palm desert. He is an absolute expert craftsman who knows how it was done back in the day
 
Tony said:
You hardly hear about a Carson tops anymore. Custom made tops. The old little mags would have builds in them. I recall they had like a tubular frame covered with chicken wire and upholstery. I have a lot of the old mags. I can look if you want.
Click to expand...

Carson tops are huge in the kustom scene at the moment with many skilled craftsmen applying the trade on a lot of 36 ,35 fords and 39/40 Mercurys. Check out Martinez industries in palm
Desert . His work is amazing
 
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