Updated pics of the Gullwing? - Page 4 - LotusTalk

evomind · 01-13-2005, 10:33 PM

so it kinda becomes a t-top rather than a targa top.
just like my z-28 i had in college!

elise seeker · 01-13-2005, 11:57 PM

I still think it could be nice for winter. keep it on in the winter, open it for better access, take off the panels quickly when the weather happens to be cooperating. However, I WILL not give up having an completely open top for summer... Any chance we can get an installation manual for the T section? how long does the stock hardtop really take to remove anyways?

oh yeak, and wtf are the silver things in the center? hinges? they can't be painted too??

Stan · 01-14-2005, 01:10 AM

>>>Any chance we can get an installation manual for the T section? how long does the stock hardtop really take to remove anyways?<<<

Well I suppose you could look up the procedure for removing the bodywork over the roll bar to get some idea.

The stock hard top (which does not require the removal of permanent bodywork during it's install / remove cycle, takes about 6 minutes to change out per Lotus.

heidi528 · 01-18-2005, 08:12 AM

Saw that gullwing yesterday; I don't like it. The same issues that have been mentioned here: the extensions to remove the head take away from the looks, there's very little that actually pops off so not much open space, and it's a semi-permanent mount. I'd rather choose between hard top, soft top or no top. Seems with the gull wing you settle for wings on or off, period. I imagine it's great for anyone who didn't buy a hardtop the first time around, or is just too tall to get in at all with the conventional hardtop. After seeing it I decided I could spend that extra money on some other things - stripes, upgraded headlights, stage II exhaust, and some other things, and still come out ahead.

Here's a quick question. I have the KG, and am thinking about having the black stripes put on by HRM. They suggest painting the wheels black to match as well. If I understand correctly, my wheels are anodized, not painted, already. Is painting a waste of the wheels? Which do you think looks better - the stripes with silver wheels or black wheels?

evomind · 01-18-2005, 08:55 AM

hi heidi....
im the one that ripped bill from valenti on this board for telling me that the car u susequently bought wasent available....
heres what i wound up with and decide on the rims for urself.....
we all got the cars we wanted and im glad i wound up paying a lot less than what bill wanted..

by the way, i think hrm powdercoats them rather than paints them.

David Craig · 06-18-2009, 06:46 PM

I am new to this forum.

I was looking for up-to-date feedback on the Production Glassfibre gullwing top for the Elise.

Is this the best thread or is there another one with better info?

I understand it can take a while to install the gullwing. In my case I already have a softtop. So I would use the softtop for summer and the gullwing for winter.

But I would like to know if I can install and uninstall the gullwing or does it permanently mess up some of the original roll bar or weather stripping etc.

chotto · 06-18-2009, 06:59 PM

Where is a production gullwing roof? Unless I completely missed something, only a handful were ever made.

ads_green · 06-18-2009, 11:03 PM

There was at least one company in the UK that made one (middlemoor mouldings I think?) but it certainly wasn't a lotus endorsed product.

breinhar · 06-19-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Craig

I am new to this forum.

I was looking for up-to-date feedback on the Production Glassfibre gullwing top for the Elise.

Is this the best thread or is there another one with better info?

I understand it can take a while to install the gullwing. In my case I already have a softtop. So I would use the softtop for summer and the gullwing for winter.

But I would like to know if I can install and uninstall the gullwing or does it permanently mess up some of the original roll bar or weather stripping etc.

I would imagine it would be a SUPER pain in the ass to take it on and off. There are two bolts that go up into the roll bar cover that are accessed from inside the clam. I would imagine you would need to unbolt these. Then also if I remember from taking the clam off that you have to take out the seats, and then back panel with the speakers to access two more bolts that go into the roll bar and cover.

If I were you I would just stick with the normal hardtop solution for winter months.

ckugel · 06-19-2009, 07:22 AM

I have one. If I recall correctly, I was told install was a couple of hours. I would not consider taking it off myself. If I wanted the soft top in the summer I would just buy a Hardtop for the other times, as suggested. I do really like the gullwing though. It does leak a little but it is just poorly weatherstriped right now. I plan on redoing this shortly. It is great to be able to get others in and out of the car easily. Also nice to have the headroom when you park and can't fully swing the door open. I love the look of the hardtop and with this I can have that and in 30 seconds have the tops off....AND they fit in the trunk!

David Craig · 06-19-2009, 07:37 AM

Thanks for the previous two posts. Much appreciated.

I had been thinking of looking for a used gullwing.

However, I think I will stick with the formal Lotus hardtop since that will be easy to swap with the softop or with nothing.

01-13-2005, 10:33 PM	#61 (permalink)
evomind J. Caesar Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicagoland Posts: 5,414	so it kinda becomes a t-top rather than a targa top. just like my z-28 i had in college! __________________ Vati. C6 ZO6. THE OBITS, YO! KEEP CRYIN! WHAA! REDNECK = PERSON WHO LIVES IN A DUMP BUT DRIVES AN ELISE! I never played by the rules, and I never really cared My nasty reputation takes me everywhere It is admitted by all that he was much addicted to women, as well as very expensive in his intrigues with them, and that he debauched many ladies of the highest quality; among whom were Posthumia, the wife of Servius Sulpicius; and Lollia, the wife of Aulus Gabinius.

01-18-2005, 08:12 AM	#64 (permalink)
heidi528 Drivin' year round! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 816	Saw that gullwing yesterday; I don't like it. The same issues that have been mentioned here: the extensions to remove the head take away from the looks, there's very little that actually pops off so not much open space, and it's a semi-permanent mount. I'd rather choose between hard top, soft top or no top. Seems with the gull wing you settle for wings on or off, period. I imagine it's great for anyone who didn't buy a hardtop the first time around, or is just too tall to get in at all with the conventional hardtop. After seeing it I decided I could spend that extra money on some other things - stripes, upgraded headlights, stage II exhaust, and some other things, and still come out ahead. Here's a quick question. I have the KG, and am thinking about having the black stripes put on by HRM. They suggest painting the wheels black to match as well. If I understand correctly, my wheels are anodized, not painted, already. Is painting a waste of the wheels? Which do you think looks better - the stripes with silver wheels or black wheels? __________________ '05 Elise -Krypton Green, Touring, Hardtop, Starshield

01-18-2005, 08:55 AM	#65 (permalink)
evomind J. Caesar Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicagoland Posts: 5,414	hi heidi.... im the one that ripped bill from valenti on this board for telling me that the car u susequently bought wasent available.... heres what i wound up with and decide on the rims for urself..... we all got the cars we wanted and im glad i wound up paying a lot less than what bill wanted.. by the way, i think hrm powdercoats them rather than paints them. Attached Images __________________ Vati. C6 ZO6. THE OBITS, YO! KEEP CRYIN! WHAA! REDNECK = PERSON WHO LIVES IN A DUMP BUT DRIVES AN ELISE! I never played by the rules, and I never really cared My nasty reputation takes me everywhere It is admitted by all that he was much addicted to women, as well as very expensive in his intrigues with them, and that he debauched many ladies of the highest quality; among whom were Posthumia, the wife of Servius Sulpicius; and Lollia, the wife of Aulus Gabinius. Last edited by evomind : 01-18-2005 at 09:20 AM.

06-18-2009, 06:59 PM	#67 (permalink)
chotto vv My Awesome Wife vv Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 917	Where is a production gullwing roof? Unless I completely missed something, only a handful were ever made. __________________ 2005 SY-BWR Supercharger, Challenger Grill, AreaP single tip exhaust, Ohlin Double Adjustables, RTDbrace, Custom Kirkey 58 Series seats, Schroth 6 pt. harnesses, Multivex mirrors, Odyssey PC625 battery, Micromirror, HID's, V2arms, Sparco removeable steering wheel, 15"/16" Rota's with RA-1's, Pagid RS 4-2 pads, Cup airbox, Saikou Michi catch cans

06-19-2009, 07:22 AM	#70 (permalink)
ckugel Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 107	I have one. If I recall correctly, I was told install was a couple of hours. I would not consider taking it off myself. If I wanted the soft top in the summer I would just buy a Hardtop for the other times, as suggested. I do really like the gullwing though. It does leak a little but it is just poorly weatherstriped right now. I plan on redoing this shortly. It is great to be able to get others in and out of the car easily. Also nice to have the headroom when you park and can't fully swing the door open. I love the look of the hardtop and with this I can have that and in 30 seconds have the tops off....AND they fit in the trunk! Last edited by ckugel : 06-19-2009 at 09:17 AM.

01-13-2005, 11:57 PM	#62 (permalink)
elise seeker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: bay area, CA Posts: 162	I still think it could be nice for winter. keep it on in the winter, open it for better access, take off the panels quickly when the weather happens to be cooperating. However, I WILL not give up having an completely open top for summer... Any chance we can get an installation manual for the T section? how long does the stock hardtop really take to remove anyways? oh yeak, and wtf are the silver things in the center? hinges? they can't be painted too??

01-14-2005, 01:10 AM	#63 (permalink)
Stan - Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,927	>>>Any chance we can get an installation manual for the T section? how long does the stock hardtop really take to remove anyways?<<< Well I suppose you could look up the procedure for removing the bodywork over the roll bar to get some idea. The stock hard top (which does not require the removal of permanent bodywork during it's install / remove cycle, takes about 6 minutes to change out per Lotus.

06-18-2009, 06:46 PM	#66 (permalink)
David Craig Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 67	I am new to this forum. I was looking for up-to-date feedback on the Production Glassfibre gullwing top for the Elise. Is this the best thread or is there another one with better info? I understand it can take a while to install the gullwing. In my case I already have a softtop. So I would use the softtop for summer and the gullwing for winter. But I would like to know if I can install and uninstall the gullwing or does it permanently mess up some of the original roll bar or weather stripping etc.

06-18-2009, 11:03 PM	#68 (permalink)
ads_green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 361	There was at least one company in the UK that made one (middlemoor mouldings I think?) but it certainly wasn't a lotus endorsed product.

06-19-2009, 07:37 AM	#71 (permalink)
David Craig Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 67	Thanks for the previous two posts. Much appreciated. I had been thinking of looking for a used gullwing. However, I think I will stick with the formal Lotus hardtop since that will be easy to swap with the softop or with nothing.

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