Sell my hardtop?

[Richard Saunders]

I'm getting the funds together for a respray and have been looking at the hard top tucked away in my garage. I took it off the day I bought the car and it's stayed off ever since. I have no idea how much it is worth, but its in great condition, no missing chrome, no rust etc. so I'd expect a few quid for it at least. My dilemma is whether I will regret selling it once it's gone. I don't plan on using it, Stagatha being the pampered dry weather thing it is. And though I don't plan on selling the car you can never say never.

Has anyone sold a h/t and then wished they hadn't?

Any views on whether a h/t is worth keeping just for the sake of it?

[stag8manod]

Hi Richard, No if you have good dry storage and it isn't in the way. The only time my hardtop has been back on apart from when I drove it home was when I trailered my Spitfire to a weekend race meeting 300ks away as I considered it increased the Stags rigidity. Anyway my race days are over but the hardtop is hung in the roof and will stay there. Cheers Ian A

[Staggard]

Surely Richard when you finally come to sell the car it must add value, I've still got mine even though it's not used. Graham

[KOY 23]

Agree with Graham, still hanging onto mine which again is not used.

[jleyton]

NO - don't sell it

I love my hardtop - it gives you two different cars for the price of one

Although storing it through the summer is a bit of a pain, I put mine on in the autumn and then take it off again in the spring. I honestly reckon that it makes you feel like you're driving a different car - the look, sound, feel, everything is altered and both are great in their own individual way.

I know you say you don't use your car when it's wet but why not put it on this autumn and see if you agree with me. If not then you can always sell it next year !

Cheers

Julian

[andy p]

I am the same had to have one, got a good one had it painted took it off the car and its been stored from that day till now. but I would keep it in storage if I was you

[therat04]

I'm getting the funds together for a respray and have been looking at the hard top tucked away in my garage. I took it off the day I bought the car and it's stayed off ever since. I have no idea how much it is worth, but its in great condition, no missing chrome, no rust etc. so I'd expect a few quid for it at least. My dilemma is whether I will regret selling it once it's gone. I don't plan on using it, Stagatha being the pampered dry weather thing it is. And though I don't plan on selling the car you can never say never.

Has anyone sold a h/t and then wished they hadn't?

Any views on whether a h/t is worth keeping just for the sake of it?

No dont sell it Richard, mine lives in the roof of the garage, broke my nose on the shelving it rests on, made my eyes water i can tell you, and i always hit my head on the damn thing when making my way to my spare parts shelf.
Although i have never used it the roof is there should i ever require it ie soft top breaks or is rendered unusable and it is part of the car so should really stay with the car, its just taking a toll on my upper body parts....Steve

[Stagsongas]

Richard,

When I bought my car recently I took it as a plus when finding a car with a HT. It came off as soon as I got home. Now, before I've had time to design a useful trolley/storage thingy for it (I've seen others offered) it is a bit of a PITA, taking up space. I'll have to come up with some interim measure to hoist it up to ceiling height in the workshop. Maybe it can go next to the S1 Jaguar E Type HT I've still got, after selling the car in 1992.

I think the reality is that I'll never put the HT back on as I don't plan to run the car in the winter, I'll just tuck it away and spend more money on it. None of this helps you directly, but if you notice similarities then it might help you make a decision. I certianly think you'd get more enjoyment out of your repaint than having a HT in storage, but on the other hand, it does add value (or make your car sell more quickly) if you want to sell it later on.

Regards

Steve

[Staggard]

No dont sell it Richard, mine lives in the roof of the garage, broke my nose on the shelving it rests on, made my eyes water i can tell you, and i always hit my head on the damn thing when making my way to my spare parts shelf.
Although i have never used it the roof is there should i ever require it ie soft top breaks or is rendered unusable and it is part of the car so should really stay with the car, its just taking a toll on my upper body parts....Steve

i always hit my head on the damn thing when making my way to my spare parts shelf. Steve If you stop wearing stilettoes when your working on the car it won't happen.

[Tdm]

I concur that you should not sell it, even though it is hardly used.
Mine is very useful as my car sits in the open all the time and I have nowhere to store it and my softop is knackered, even though I have a separate tonneau cover.

[jasper]

I gave mine away soon after getting the car, didn't want it clogging up part of the garage
I don't use my stag in very bad weather so couldn't ever see me using it
The two previous owners never had it fitted to the car while they owned it (15 years between them )
with the money i've spent on the old girl over the years ( that I will never get back should I sell her )
the price of the car for resale (with out the hard top ) didn't warren me cluttering up my garage for all the years I intend to keep her
So if you need the space and the cash could come useful towards the respray
Hope that make sense
John

[Stagsongas]

i always hit my head on the damn thing when making my way to my spare parts shelf. Steve If you stop wearing stilettoes when your working on the car it won't happen.

I've taken to wearing slingback wellies this last two years as the weather's been so crap

[Goldstar]

Richard,

It won't surprise you to hear that I am going to go against the advice of the herd. Sell it and put the money to use. Sure if you're going to sell the car it might add value but are you planning to? I doubt it.

If you do sell it will probably not matter whether you get £500 (say) for it now or add £500 to the sale price whenever you sell, if ever that happens - it's not like your car will be tricky to sell.....

At the moment it is taking up room in your (admittedly very nice & spacious) garage and you can't see yourself using it on the car - seems like a relatively easy decision to me

[4x4]

NO - don't sell it

I love my hardtop - it gives you two different cars for the price of one

Although storing it through the summer is a bit of a pain, I put mine on in the autumn and then take it off again in the spring. I honestly feel that it makes you feel like you're driving a different car - the look, sound, feel, everything is altered and both are great in their own individual way.

I know you say you don't use your car when it's wet but why not put it on this autumn and see if you agree with me. If not then you can always sell it next year !

Cheers

Julian

Couldn't agree more.
Hardtop rarely goes on the car - but it is a totally different car with it on.
Mine (of all Stags) should be the ideal winter car with the hardtop fitted - but I have a certain reluctance to take it out on salted/gritted roads.

Keep the hardtop - PITA though it may be to store when you don't need it.
Also - what's it worth?
Well - look how many people have them and don't use them.
Not going to sell for a fortune - but you could do an advanced search on Fleabay and see what they have sold for in the past.

[ChrisLD364]

I'm with the herd on this one (for once in my life). Only had the Stag at home for 2 weeks ( it's been a hanger queen) and first job was to hoist HT above the garage door. Needed a pulley and some help and it'll probably stay up there until I leave the house in a box. BUT I couldn't get rid of it. Parts of the car's originality. And it was certainly different to drive with it on - the kids could see out of the sides (1971 no side plastic in ST). To know that I could drive it out of summer is worth a lot.