Mk1 cloth sunroof trade? Any steel-sunroof Mk1s for sale,trade?

[bhonnold at pac-cap.com (Brian Honnold)]

Yes, there is more windnoise with the ragtop but really not enough to
matter.  It's not like the cars a quiet anyway.  At highway speeds you
definetely notice the roar from the roof though.

And, without some type of deflector there is a lot of noise and chattering
from the pulled back top when it's open at 40+mph.  I used to keep my Thule
rack with the fairing on to minimize the noise and flapping.

Brian Honnold
Director of Multifamily Acquisitions
Pacific Capital Investments
Phone:  916.773.3300
Fax:  916.773.3208


> -----Original Message-----
> From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org 
> [mailto:scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org] On Behalf Of David Utley
> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 2:22 PM
> To: Brian Honnold
> Cc: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> Subject: RE: Mk1 cloth sunroof trade? Any steel-sunroof Mk1s 
> for sale,trade?
> 
> 
> Brian,
>   Thanks for all the details, it helps me have a more 
> educated opinion on that 
> particular car...  One last question:  Do these cars have 
> more wind noise, 
> either with a good top, and I assume definately with a bad 
> top?  I am just 
> trying to figure out whether or not this is something I am 
> even interested 
> in....
> 
> Thanks again,
> -- 
> Regards,
> David Utley
> -----------
> Cable Volkswagen
> 405-470-3129
> 1-800-522-6793
> 
> 
> Quoting Brian Honnold <bhonnold@pac-cap.com>:
> 
> > The sliding vinyl tops were installed on about 1500 MkI's 
> between 1978 
> > and 1981.  This was a dealer option most often found on cars on the 
> > west coast.
> > 
> > As the story goes, the tops were originally manufactured by 
> a British 
> > company called Weathersheilds LTD.  These early roof are 
> identified by 
> > a Weathershields plaque on the front of the frame around the latch 
> > hole.  In 1979 Brittax bought out Weathershields LTD then 
> proceeded to 
> > distribut the remaining stock of tops and disposed of the 
> molds.  Most 
> > of the tops found on cars post 1980 are Brittax.
> > 
> > The original top is approx a 30 inch square with a chrome frame and 
> > black vinyl top.  There was/is a plastic wind deflector 
> that could be 
> > rotated up when the top is open to reduce noise.  Most cars 
> no longer 
> > have this deflector.  Underneath the headliner there are to flimsy 
> > supports riveted to the upper body channel at each end of 
> the sliding 
> > top frame.  These rivets will become weak over time and will break 
> > leaving the roof unsupported and prone to developing cracks at all 
> > four corners.  Typically this failure is found on MkI's 
> with ragtops 
> > that have been modified with stiffer springs and sway/stress bars.  
> > Jeff T and I have been working on a way to strengthen the roof 
> > supports and lessen potential for cracking.
> > 
> > The other weakness is leaking.  Without a tight top, water 
> will travel 
> > under the vinyl and leak onto the drivers lap and or seat.  
> Over the 
> > course of 25 years it can lead to rust under the carpet and all the 
> > problems associated with floor rust.  Especially bad in the 78 that 
> > had brake lines running inside the car.
> > 
> > Most ragtops still on the road have had the top recovered at least 
> > once. Any good local shop can recover the sliding part and use a 
> > modern canvas top material that is far superior to the 
> original vinyl.  
> > This runs around $350-$500 depending on your location and the shop.
> > 
> > There used to be a shop in SoCal called Sunroof Performers that did 
> > many original dealer installs and up till a few years ago had spare 
> > parts.  I believe the lister Jeff T tried to contact them 
> recently and 
> > sadly could not locate them.
> > 
> > BcH
> > 78 MkI Ragtop ABA 16vT boxes of parts
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: David Utley [mailto:mr.utility@highstream.net]
> > > Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 1:33 PM
> > > To: Brian Honnold
> > > Subject: RE: Mk1 cloth sunroof trade? Any steel-sunroof Mk1s 
> > > for sale, trade?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > So, what are they like, then?  Is a hard top quieter?  Do
> > > they tend to leak?  
> > > I am interested in any info you decide to share with me...
> > > 
> > > Thanks,
> > > --
> > > Regards,
> > > David Utley
> > > -----------
> > > Cable Volkswagen
> > > 405-470-3129
> > > 1-800-522-6793
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Quoting Brian Honnold <bhonnold@pac-cap.com>:
> > > 
> > > > Sorry man, no one around here knows anything about soft 
> top MkI's
> > > > 
> > > > BcH
> > > > 78 MkI Ragtop ABA 16vT boxes of parts
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org 
> > > > > [mailto:scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org] On Behalf Of David 
> > > > > Utley
> > > > > Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 1:08 PM
> > > > > To: Julie Macfarlane
> > > > > Cc: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> > > > > Subject: Mk1 cloth sunroof trade? Any steel-sunroof Mk1s for 
> > > > > sale, trade?
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > List,
> > > > >    I am considering a possible trade with a fellow 
> cross country 
> > > > > who has a mk1 with a cloth sunroof...  Can anyone tell me the 
> > > > > good, bad and ugly about
> > > > > these?  Has anyone owned these before?  What are the concerns 
> > > > > about this type 
> > > > > of roof?  Is wind noise a problem?  Anything to be 
> > > cautious about it?
> > > > > 
> > > > >   The car appears to be in good condition, 'cept it is black
> > > > > (ick)...  We are 
> > > > > entertaining the idea of a trade, for one of my hardtops (I 
> > > > > have two)...  
> > > > > 
> > > > >   I should also ask, is there anyone selling their
> > > > > metal-sunroofed mk1?  Or 
> > > > > perhaps a trade for one of my hardtops?  I am not sure which 
> > > > > way I need to go, 
> > > > > but I should examine all avenues before I jump in...
> > > > > 
> > > > > Thanks for your help,
> > > > >    David Utley
> > > > > 
> > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > 
> > > > 
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