Plus 8 Hard top

[Andrew Faulds]

I am looking for a Hardtop for my 1983 Plus 8. I have been trying to contact Dave Rutherford pf Rutherford Engineering in Cheshire but the numbers I have are no longer recognised. Does any one know whether he is still in business because I know he used to manufacture an after market hard top? If so, a phone number would be good! I sent an e mail to his last known address but have not received a reply. Any help would be appreciated or the name of anyone who makes them. Thanks

[Chris Acklam]

I think he retired - and sold the business/moulds to a German Morgan supplier and enthusiast - possibly Matthias Kreyes, who is registered here (so perhaps a private message may get to him).

[Mark Shears]

Hi Andrew,

Chris is quite right. In fact I was only talking about Dave yesterday with the guy who bought my Rutherford competition body. He spoke to Dave about 6 months ago who confirmed he was now retired. Most of his fibreglass Morgan parts went to Sid Watkins but not the hardtop moulds. It may be worth having a word with Vic Champness - he is a bit nearer than Germany and may be able to help/point you in the right direction.

Having said all of this if you look in last months Miscellany there is a Plus 8 hardtop advertised for sale!

Cheers

Mark

[Andrew Faulds]

Yes, I saw the advert but Hard top was sold within days! Thanks for your help.

[Andrew Faulds]

Hi Chris and Mark - thanks for your help - you were right, Matthias has bought the Rutherford molds and is manufacturing them and can ship them over to UK - I will have to start saving up my Christmas money!

[Allan Smith]

Hi Andrew,
In April 2008 I endeavoured to find a hardtop for my 1993 plus 4. The unfavourable euro exchange rate at the time placed a purchase from Matthias outside my budget.
Several members suggested I should place an advert in Miscellany which I did and to my good fortune a well known Morgan dealer answered offering me a top they had taken off a clients car.
Maybe worth trying.
Good luck.
Regards Allan

[Richard Smith]

I am pretty certain that Sid Watson makes hardtops: saw one when I collected my wings a couple of months back. I think he makes the basic roofs, and they are trimmed elsewhere.

[Keith Hodgson]

Hi I have a grp trimmed hard top for sale, are you still looking for one? If so please contact me. i do not want to post my number but Richard Smith or Tim Harrison have it

[Andrew Faulds]

Hi Keith,
Yes I am still looking for Hardtop - I don't know the two gentlemen you mentioned in your reply but could you e mail me privately? Thanks, my e mail is faulds@supanet.com

[Chris Acklam]

It's not really a good idea to post contact details in open forum, so I'd suggest using either

• the board's Private Message function (the PM icon in the right hand column) or
  the boards Email function (little envelope icon in the right hand column).

[Andy Downes]

I am pretty certain that Sid Watson makes hardtops: saw one when I collected my wings a couple of months back. I think he makes the basic roofs, and they are trimmed elsewhere.

Sid Watson and Vic Champness (Black Phey) are good mates - Vic supplies the 'Lawrenctune' +4 hardtops that so many use - Sid sometimes does the fibreglass work for him. They are a sight to behold and a great service from Vic given that the design goes back to the early 60s and TOK. If my memory serves me correctly the mould was taken from a 'proppa' Lawrencetune top (XRX 1 whilst in Daimler V8 guise and owned by Steve Spencer at the time). TOK's original is aluminium but later ones were fibreglass.

However Vic may well have some advice about +8 tops as well - see Miscellany for his latest ad.

Andy

PS - Super Sid does have many of the ex-Rutherford moulds, and his fibreglass work is, well, excellent

[Andrew Faulds]

I appreciate comment re: private messages!

Anyway the good news is that I have found a Hard-top! Came off a 1990 Plus 8, so the size is identical to a 1983 version.

Thanks for all your comments/help.