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I need a new top for my 73. Thing Shop is 315 plus 75 for installation kit (new retainer, rivets, frame postioner straps and 8 side frame clips. Have contacted JBUGS but really couldn't find anyone who knew very much about their top which is 220. Has anyone bought a top recetnly from either source and what is your opinion? I know Thing Shop is high on everything but they seem to have good stuff and good support. At 400+, I don't want to make a mistake. Thanks Bill bblide@earthlink.net

There are guys from the Topica list that have used the JBuggs top and seem to have had good luck with it. If you go to Thingcentral.com, you can look in the archives for these posts. Pretty big price difference.

Good luck

I just installed one from the thing shop and it came out perfect. Thier video has a few good tips and made the job "almost" idiot proof. I thought about not buying the hardware kit but am glad I didn't as the old parts were unsalvageable. Thier top was alittle more money but it sure looks nice and tight and straight. I would get the thingshop top again.

I'm a guy from the Topica list that installed a JBugs top recently (last fall). Fit was good, quality is good, only major difference I see is that there is not a metal piece through the seam in back (there are metal grommets). I got the installation hardware from Things Unlimited since I didn't have an old top, if you have an old top you can re-use the side clips and front bow bracket.
Anyway, especially for a daily driver that never parks indoors with cats that climb up the back window on occasion, it's well worth the price difference. I don't think the Thing Shop top would last $100-150 longer.

I would think that without the metal bar in the rear of the top the holes would rip out much earlier. To me a ripped top would be worthless,and I would rather pay a few dollars the first time to get something that would hold up. My Thing is no show car and the top is already scratched,but my experience has been that when I try to save a buck on interior parts or anything like that it always come back and bites me in the #$%. JMHO

i just purchased a new the ThingShop top and installation kit. I think it's replacing an old ThingShop top, as the one on my car has the metal bar running across the rear gromits.

Anyway, the old top is servicable, and the only real problem seems to be with stitching coming unravelled above one window, and in the rear, by the metal bar. The bar on the old top also makes it difficult to insert the tabs through the rear mounting slots. This is an older top, so if it is in fact a ThingShop top, they may have corrected these flaws by now - I know I'll find out soon enough.

I would get the Robbins brand top. German Motor Works and Things Unlimited carry them. They look and fit the best. GMW sells them for $300.00. Whatever you decide to get, be sure that you straighten out your top frame and windshield so you get a nice fit.

Loring