40 series soft top?

petefj40 · Post by **petefj40** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:26 am

Has anyone had a soft top made for their FJ40? If so, I'd like some advise please? I live in Chch. So I guess there won't be that many outfits that can do the job, nicely. :shock:

Thanks for any help.

lockie · Post by **lockie** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:56 am

why not look to the USA for a soft top from there. Bestop make them or do you have a custom roll cage set up that requires a special soft top

http://coolfj40.stores.yahoo.net/softopsupertop.html

http://www.4wdworld.com.au/products/softtops/fj40.htm

http://www.quadratec.com/Showcases/Bestop/soft_tops/toyota_fj40.php

Goose · Post by **Goose** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:26 am

A mate of mine could possibly make you one, he's a canvas-maker by trade, and has done some cool stuff for other mates. I asked him about making a soft top for a mate's 40, and he said he'd "have a look..."
He's got all the equipment at home, it would depend on how elaborate you'd want it. He likes speights...... alot........

On another note, havn't seen you round for a while, still got those 33's?

petefj40 · Post by **petefj40** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:25 am

lockie wrote:why not look to the USA for a soft top from there. Bestop make them or do you have a custom roll cage set up that requires a special soft top

http://coolfj40.stores.yahoo.net/softopsupertop.html

http://www.4wdworld.com.au/products/softtops/fj40.htm

http://www.quadratec.com/Showcases/Bestop/soft_tops/toyota_fj40.php

Cool. I'll look into it.
The roll cage is custom built but fits nicely inside the hard top.
Cheers.

petefj40 · Post by **petefj40** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:28 am

Goose wrote:A mate of mine could possibly make you one, he's a canvas-maker by trade, and has done some cool stuff for other mates. I asked him about making a soft top for a mate's 40, and he said he'd "have a look..."
He's got all the equipment at home, it would depend on how elaborate you'd want it. He likes speights...... alot........

On another note, havn't seen you round for a while, still got those 33's?

Is he local? Is it pos to see some work he's done?
I sold the 33's.
Thanks.

Goose · Post by **Goose** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:32 am

Yeah, he is local, he's made marquee's and stuff, re-upholstered chairs, car seats etc... (he doesn't do it for a living anymore) I'll ask him tonite or tomorrow (he's away for the w-end) if I can give you his number.

petefj40 · Post by **petefj40** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:36 am

Goose wrote:Yeah, he is local, he's made marquee's and stuff, re-upholstered chairs, car seats etc... (he doesn't do it for a living anymore) I'll ask him tonite or tomorrow (he's away for the w-end) if I can give you his number.

Thanks!

tlc4x4 · Post by **tlc4x4** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:26 pm

Hi Pete, Ive got two FJ40's both factory soft tops, '70 & '72 one has a knackered soft top and good frame while the other is bit of a minter.
Have recently got two prices for replacing the knackered top; In canvas the price for a top was $800 +gst from North Shore Canvas in black canvas to match the factory one. The other price I got was from Vintrim who are high-end vintage car trimmers, they were going to make it out of material used on BMW tops. Their price was $2500. I also looked at Ih8mud.com's forum on soft top's and seems there is a guy in Pakistan who makes replicas for about $1200 USD.

Personally I think the Bestop ones look cr---p, the nicest of the lot are made in California and are available from tlcicon.com and cost $5000USD
about 2 times what I paid for both my cruisers! Im probably going to get the canvas one made.

skid · Post by **skid** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:32 pm

tlc4x4 wrote:Hi Pete, Ive got two FJ40's both factory soft tops, '70 & '72 one has a knackered soft top and good frame while the other is bit of a minter.
Have recently got two prices for replacing the knackered top; In canvas the price for a top was $800 +gst from North Shore Canvas in black canvas to match the factory one. The other price I got was from Vintrim who are high-end vintage car trimmers, they were going to make it out of material used on BMW tops. Their price was $2500. I also looked at Ih8mud.com's forum on soft top's and seems there is a guy in Pakistan who makes replicas for about $1200 USD.

Personally I think the Bestop ones look cr---p, the nicest of the lot are made in California and are available from tlcicon.com and cost $5000USD
about 2 times what I paid for both my cruisers! Im probably going to get the canvas one made.

those prices seem a litlle on the extreme side. I'm sure there was a best top soft top for a cruiser on Trade Me a while back and they only wanted $1200. I got mine made for about $1000.

Any good automotive trimmer should be able to make one at a reasonable price. just work out exactly what you're after before you go asking for quotes.

petefj40 · Post by **petefj40** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:20 pm

tlc4x4 wrote:Hi Pete, Ive got two FJ40's both factory soft tops, '70 & '72 one has a knackered soft top and good frame while the other is bit of a minter.
Have recently got two prices for replacing the knackered top; In canvas the price for a top was $800 +gst from North Shore Canvas in black canvas to match the factory one. The other price I got was from Vintrim who are high-end vintage car trimmers, they were going to make it out of material used on BMW tops. Their price was $2500. I also looked at Ih8mud.com's forum on soft top's and seems there is a guy in Pakistan who makes replicas for about $1200 USD.

Personally I think the Bestop ones look cr---p, the nicest of the lot are made in California and are available from tlcicon.com and cost $5000USD
about 2 times what I paid for both my cruisers! Im probably going to get the canvas one made.

Cheers for that!
I'm still keen for more advise.