NCporsche

Having just purchased a Saratoga Top from a fellow Rennlister, I can give some insight.

Some of the PCA regions do not allow Saratoga tops in a DE environment. Check with your local region before purchasing for this purpose.

My local PCA region does allow the Saratoga and the Saratoga does allow me another 1/2 or so headroom. Driving with a helmet, this 1/2" is helpful. I may attach a piece of felt to the top of my helmet in case I do hit the top.

With a black interior, the Saratoga lets in sunlight and my interior was almost too hot to sit in after being parked in the sun.

My new top whistles, where as my old top did not whistle.

If you do own a Saratoga top, you might want to print out an E-bay ad where the top sold for $1,000.00+. If the 944 does get totaled, this information may assist you in receiving additional $ from the insurance company.

I like my Saratoga top and would not resell it for less than $1,000.00. While I may get flamed for this next statement, I consider this purchase probably the only upgrade on my 944 that I may be able to recoup.

cie_lab

Heard back from the fabricator.

Looks like this could be completely do-able. I'm guessing the'd probably go for around $500/ea. Several tints available as well as other finishes, even chrome (to go with your dubs ).

He wants me to take a trip out to their plant for a formal quote. Looks like I'll have to make a 'customer appreciation' visit

tifosiman

Be up front on quantities so that he has a realistic idea on what to expect. Even at $500, if he sells more than 50 over a span of a year I would be greatly suprised.

SamGrant951

I have a good condition stock roof laying around...drop me a pm if ya want.

cie_lab

pm sent

I've been working with these guys for quite some time on other stuff. Quantity won't make that much of a difference whether it's 1 or 100.

Soonest I can get out there is end of October.

In the meantime I'd like to hear some ideas about how we should think about the seal, brackets, latches, etc. Do we need to consider manual vs. automatic?

Calmchaos

MANUAL LATCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or something like the original where you can bolt on either.

Airflite40

yup I like my power sunroof thank you

dark black tinted for me...

GOBOGIE

I don't remember that?

rickb20

I have a copy of Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories from about 1986 and the Saratoga top was sold in that magazine. Fortunately my wife and I have been doing spring cleaning the past few days...er...fall cleaning and I just happened to have come across this. I just went and dug it out. BHMA was a high end supplier of accessories for Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar and even Corvette. I can still see the spots where I drooled on this magazine before I even owned a 944.

Here's what the ad says:

SARATOGA TOP FOR PORSCHE 944
This sunroof for the Porsche 944 is made of mirrored, tempered glass and installs where your stock sunroof comes out. The added sunlight in your car gives you the feeling of being outside. Works on all year Porsche 944s including models with electric roofs. Please specify whether you have an electric or manual roof. $598.00 ($25 shipping)

It could be worse, as the Saratoga top for the 914 sold for $998 with an unspecified collect shipping amount. Even worse was the cost for a top for the Ferrari 308GTS. It sold for $1500 with an unspecified collect shipping charge.

I guess the important questions are,

1) Does this person have the original tooling, or would he have to reproduce it?
2) How much was the markup for the company that distributed this product. Obviously, the full $598 did not go directly to the manufacturer.
3) Judging by the fact that the ad requests the purchaser to specify whether they have an electric or manual roof, there must have been two versions. Would both, or only one be produced again?

I can scan the magazine and post or email to any interested parties but it will be sometime next week as I am on vacation right now.

Rick

tifosiman

There were two versions for the 944 (manual and electric). I've had both.

89magic98

A design patent filed in 1978 and granted in 1980 should be expired now.

cie_lab

scan!


Kevin, your avatar freaks me out.

gtroth

--hard to imagine this ever getting past a product liability assessment, but if it does, I would probably find $500 for it somewhere.

35thSLP

I would be in for a 500.00 Saratoga... Smoke/Black electric.

Pcar944

Jumping in a little later (i've been away) but I would certainly buy one for $500.