Aftermarket and Dealer Add Ons

Tonneau Covers and Tops

These pages contain images of period accessories for the MGTD. Select each image to see an enlarged view.

Softgoods

Hardgoods

Hardtops

See second top below. This is a Dale Runyan top.	The Elvis Top	Plasticon Top	S Carrol hardtop
Astro hardtop. See below.	This may be a one-off hardtop made by Roeloffzen for his own TD which he used extensively in motorsports. (Gert Roeloffzen was a colourful person in Dutch motorsport history: ex-WW2 fighter pilot and frequent participant in the Tulip Rally).	Roeloffzen Hartop	Roeloffzen Hartop
			1952 Nuffield Export Magazine June ( page 7 ) Manufacturer Kuiphuis Oldenzaal for the garage owner Gerard Frans Roeloffzen. Garage Roeloffzen was a Nuffield dealer. - Hans van Veen

The following information was supplied by David Littlefield, Houston, TX.

TWO MGTD HARDTOPS

The Elvis

I've named this one for its black color and its "sideburns." It doesn't have a manufacturer or model name anywhere on it but Mike Walsh says it was manufactured by Astro Fiberglass of El Monte, California (see ad above). Elvis seems to have been designed to withstand arctic winters. A lot of thought and effort went into his design and manufacture. He is heavily lined with a thick carpet-like material. He has rubber gaskets around the window edges (Figure 1) . The top came with side curtains with sliding plexiglass panels. It was a very neat front side curtain and could replace the original front curtain with ease.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

and the around the rear, although only half of the rear gasket is still there. The purchaser could either find a similar gasket to fit, or easily do without it altogether. Although Elvis will fit standard sidecurtains, he apparently came with his own heavy-duty version, of which I have only the driver's side (Figure 2).

The sidecurtain has a sliding Plexiglas window and the bottom part does not flap up, as in standard sidecurtains. It has a hook (protrusion on bottom left corner in Figure 2) with a corresponding loop on the hardtop to hold it shut tight against the window gasket. There were likely two hooks on each sidecurtain at one time, judging by the brackets on the hardtop, although there is only one on the sidecurtain I have. These brackets can be seen in the bottom middle and top right of Figure 1. The sidecurtain is in good condition and would likely not need to be recovered. One of the sliding panels has been broken and repaired, so you can see a line of glue through it.

Elvis is held in place by clamps in the back that are of a unique design (Figure 3). I haven't figured out how his brow is to be held to the windscreen, although he has holes for the posts to fit in. Inside are two brackets around either window that I think were used to secure the sidecurtains, as noted above. However, they may also have served to anchor the top to the car.

Elvis is in very good condition, although he has some scratches, so the new owner likely want to repaint him. There is one hole on the top of less than ¼" diameter that doesn't go all the way through the fiberglass that would have to be filled. I could find no cracks anywhere. It doesn't have a back window, which could easily be made of Plexiglas. The rear window opening is actually quite large, and curves slightly around the sides of the top at either end.

Mike Walsh found a brochure for the Elvis:

The hardtop was manufactured by: Astro Fiberglas, 1535 Potrero Ave, South El Monte, California 91733. The pricelist I have is dated July 1, 1966 and says the TD / TF hardtop with side windows included costs $235.75. All tops are provided in neutral-gray finish. $19.95 extra for choice of lacquer colors. Furthermore, there is a paragrah describing the hardtop. Here it is from the brochure: "We guarantee the best materials available, including, aircraft-type, tinted acrylic, wrap-around, rear window for better vision. Headliner is made of a soft, polyurethane (vinyl treated) for sound-proofing, and better insulation. A full rain-drip chrome, rail around windows, and windshield is standard. (All chrome and stainless-steel mounting hardware is attached to top for easy installation.)

The "Ann Margaret"

I've named this one for its red color and because I called the other Elvis. It, too, does not have a manufacturer or model name, although it does not likely share the same manufacturer as Elvis. (Ed: It appears from other information and the picture above this is a Ruyan top.)

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Ann is designed to be used with the front standard sidecurtains in place, but this leaves a triangular space that won't fit the rear sidecurtains. She is secured to the car with wing nuts in the front (as found in the soft-top) and clamps in the back. The clamps are bolted on two wooden blocks on the sides (Figure 4), which are weakened and should be replaced. She could stand a dye job (repaint). She is also missing the rear window. Ann is in good condition for her age, although there is a hole drilled of about ½" diameter (for some unknown reason) in the top right lip (Figure 5) and a small crack in one corner (Figure 6). The notch seen in Figure 5 is there to clear the windshield wiper arm.

Page last modified: 2025/04/26