M37 hardtop

[John G]

I have just purchased my second
M37.The first one I owned did not have
a hardtop.Since living in Massachusetts
the winters and canvas are not quite
compatable.So if any member knows
of a used hardtop for sale.Please let
me know.

Thank You

John G

 

[bdean666]

im sorry i dont have the information your lookig for. but if/when you find one please post up the information you get from completing the swap. i would also like to put a hard top on mine some day.

good luck!

 

[wdbtchr]

I think they might be scarce as hen's teeth, or maybe made of unobtainium. I've been looking for years with no luck.

 

[rtk]

Most of the Air Force M37's had Factory hardtops , they are VERY hard to find . The reason I picked up my M37 is because it was EX AF with the hard top . good luck

 

[JimC2]

Have you considered building a hardtop, using your soft top frame as a jig?

 

[John G]

From John G,
Thank's for the replies on the m37 hardtop.
I decided to bite the bullet and purchase the Vintage power
Wagon fiberglass top.It has been manufactured as close
as possible to the original m37 Artic top.So if anyone is
interested just go into Vintage Power Wagon sight.

 

[wdbtchr]

Have you considered building a hardtop, using your soft top frame as a jig?

Actually I had considered fiber glassing my original soft top, but at the time years ago I didn't expect to have a problem finding a hard top. I had covered my top with a plastic tarp but unfortunately that seemed to cause the thread to rot and I wound up with a bunch of torn pieces. More of that 20/20 hindsight thing. If I ever get enough saved I would probably go with the aftermarket fiber glass one. All a matter of priority of funds, too many toys not enough pockets.

 

[JimC2]

I built mine out of steel sheet stock. Doubles as a roll cage. I do a lot of fiberglass work, but prefer steel for this.

 

[nattieleather]

From John G,
Thank's for the replies on the m37 hardtop.
I decided to bite the bullet and purchase the Vintage power
Wagon fiberglass top.It has been manufactured as close
as possible to the original m37 Artic top.So if anyone is
interested just go into Vintage Power Wagon sight.

I've looked at that as I have a M37 hard top, but it's in poor shape. I think the top from VP only has a spot for the rear window, but doesn't have an actual window so you would need to fab up a sliding rear window.

 

[John G]

Yes you are right the Vintage Power Wagon fiberglass top
has the rear window size molded into it.
So you or a glass shop can do the work.
I plan on using a basic sliding window.

Thank's for all the replies


John G

 

[FrankUSMC]

I wish you were closer, I have two hard tops here in North Carolina you could talk me out of. One is home made by a fire department, and the other is a factory one with the rear window unit in it. My M37 came out of the north Midwest, and the two tops came with it.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET

 

[John G]

Frank believe me if I lived closer. I would have been down to NC.
And I would not have made the trip for nothing !!!!

Thank's

John G

 

[jakeblues107]

Took me a day to find it again, but http://www.roscommonequipmentcenter.com/ project 34 is a specific guide for converting an M37 for fire use, but has plans for a hard top in the package.

 

[rosco]

My first hard top was an early one, and used wood trim around the door windows which didn't fit too well. The former owner also had put a larger plexiglass rear window in it. I always thought that the nice rear sliding window out of a M211/135 would fit. Seems the M35 rear window would also do the job for that VP top. As it turned out, I finally acquired a nice parts truck that enabled some nice upgrades. I thoroughly understand your quest. Good Luck