Plastic Rear Window

[JonnyBGood]

Just wait for the summer, leave the top up for a while in the 80 degrees sun, and I bet it gets better after a while

[Ronzi]

The previous owner was probably in the habit of lowering the top without executing the "chop" maneuver, i.e. lowering the top part way, then getting out of the car and pressing down the little peak in the plastic that invariably forms pretty much right in the middle of the window.
Big pain in the tailfeathers to be sure, but it is about the only way to prevent long term damage to the window, and ultimately a split in the plastic.

[wpwalsh]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll wait until the warm weather hits and try JohnnyBGood's idea.

Beautiful car, Ronzi!

[wpwalsh]

Sorry Tomatjs, it was your idea, wasn't it. Thanks again.

P Walsh

Everyones plastic window will crack at some time, the chop method works well but is a little embarrassing.

new windows are easy to replace and takes about 24 hours at a body shop.
£350.00 in total

[Ronzi]

My first sports cars were Healey Sprites, Triumph Spitfires, and sundry models of MGs. On those babies you had to put up an erector set frame and then drape a piece of canvas over it with a multitude of straps and snaps to hold the whole mess together, so chopping the back window on the Box is a negligible problem.

[RandallNeighbour]

I have taken the "chop embarassment" to a whole new level!

Because the elastic straps on my original 1997 covertible top are so worn out and stretched to the max, I have a little routine I must follow each time I take the top down by chopping the plastic window, then chopping the canvas above the window because if I don't, it makes the hole I have in it grow... the switch in the center of the metal piece that comes down to cover the top has made a hole.

Now putting the top up also requires manual adjustments due to those worn out elastic bands. both the left and right side of the top near the window framing comes out from the groove in which it should remain. I must raise the top half way and then run my fingers around the canvas to insure it seats well into that groove on both sides of the car.

Just as soon as I sort out my transmission issues (1st gear has teeth missing) I'm going to replace this top. Grrrr!