Sun Roof

[will7262]

Has anybody had a Webasto Sunroof fitted to a 603 or later model?
I am not sure of the roof construction / frame and if it's possible.

I had one fitted to my V12 E Tupe and it was wonderful.

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

Should not be a problem, as they were able to fit one in my Aston Martin DB6, and it has a smaller roof than the Bristol. I believe they reinforce things if needed to make the whole assembly rigid. The important thing is to find an installer who has experience with these roofs, in other words a specialist, not your average upholstery or top shop. Go carefully on this as it must be right to be leak-proof.

[Janne]

Before you try to have it installed, you need to check where the steel tubes (covered by the aluminium outer skin) are located.
I wanted to do the same, but when I removed the headlining, it was discovered that there seems to be an extra tube in the front half of the roof on my car, and it would be quite tricky to rebuilt the "cage", so I did not do it.

To keep the integrity of the body, you might need to weld extra tubes like a frame around the sunroof. Of course, you need to isolate the tubes from the skin to prevent furure catalyctic rorrosion.

[Nick Challacombe]

I too would like to know about this as it gets very hot in my 407 despite putting heat insulation over the gearbox and floor. My wife get very hot and bothered, her right leg still gets warm. It worries me not as my left left leg does not exist! A Webasto would be a great way of getting cool air in and hot air out and give a sense airiness.
Cost is a consideration, I have seen one fitted in a members 409 and it looks very smart.
Nick

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

These tops have been around for years, and the qualified personnel that install them have seen it all when it comes to do a proper job. If you pick the right specialist, you will be very pleased. That flexible fabric is unique and of high quality and will last a good many years. I cannot think of the name of that material, as it has been a long time. I would stay away from the traditional Hartz canvas used for dropheads. You will enjoy the top, be assured.

[will7262]

Well looks like I will need to look at the roof framing and decied if it's possible.

[will7262]

I see there is a photo, page 354 in Bristol Cars a Very British Story, of Blenheim 3's in the factory without their roofs. There are three roof supporting metal straps shown. The gap between the window head strap and that at the B post might be just big enough for a small Webasto.
This of course assumes that the roof of the 603 is constructed in te same manor. Given the nature of Bristol this is of course unlikley.

As for earlier models this form of roof construction might also be the same.

I will let you know the outcome.

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

The understructure on the Bristol roofs is likely to be small diameter tubing, as is the practice on aluminium bodies, but they may have fabricated a flatter 'slat' sort of thing in an effort to make more headroom, but it is a simple matter to re-inforce what you have with additional material to surround the new opening. Trust to the people who you select to do the work, and ask questions as to how the do it, and by all means, look at some of their work before you commit. Good luck.

[Janne]

Closest to the front and rear windcreen it is a round steel tube. I do not remember the rest, but it would surprise me if they were flat, as the rooflining would not be as flat.
The people cutting through it need to be very skilled, if they make a misstake and the roof sub structure is weaked, or get a different stiffness, the roof can start to move/vibrate and then you will have a problem.

The construction Bristols have is a modified Superleggera on a "standard" stiff Chassis
The Superleggera principle is very sensitive to changes.
Yes, the chassis is stiff, but the body is not.

As I opted out from a sun roof myself, I am not sure if they will fabricate drain channels or how the water is drained away?