TR250 Hardtop

Several years ago I decided to see about getting a hard top for my TR250. My first choice was an original surrey top but it didn’t take long to realize that I did not want to spend over $1,000 for a top and then restore it! I did not like the original TR250 fiberglass top shown in the sales brochure so I kept on looking. I then saw an ad for a company called Smoothline in British Car. I like the top because it had many of the line of the surrey top. They sent me a catalogue, but again $900.00 plus painting was steep so I kept on looking and checking eBay. Last February, I walked into the British Flea Market and the first thing I saw was a used fiberglass top! It was manufactured by the predecessors to Smoothline, Parrish Plastics. It was in good shape especially the rear plexiglass window, while it came off of a TR-4 it would fit my car. I bought it for $150.

Over the next two months I sanded and filled the top and primered it. I did this in the basement and so our house smelled of paint for several days - oops! When the weather warmed up I finish painting the top in the garage. For the paint, I used a sample left over from the original respray and had a new batch made to match. Since I do not own a compressor or spray gun they put the paint into aerosol cans. This cost $50.00. It took longer to paint and rub out but it was the simplest system for me. A word of caution on what paint you use. Some of the newer paints will attack the plexiglass so you must mask both sides.

Smoothline sells all of the weatherstripping so I replaced the top, windows plus purchased new attachment pieces. They were extremely helpful and even sent me installation instructions. Cost $95.00. NOTE: They make all replacement parts including the plexiglass window.

Once everything was installed, I put the top on the car. Then I used the Novus 3 step system to polish the rear window. That system really works and the window looks very good especially considering the top is 35 years old.

The top turned out very well but it is not concours. It fits my need in that I want to use it for long road trips to cut down noise and I hope to install an A/C system, which is more effective with a hard top, but that is another story. For a total of about $300.00 I think I got excellent value and or course the hunt for the right part at the right price is half the fun. To me a checkbook restoration is too easy!

By Tim Smith