DIY HARDTOP RESTO

Removable hardtops are common in the off-road world and can be found on Jeep CJs and Wranglers, International Scouts, Ford Broncos, Chevy Blazers, Land Rover Defenders and Series vehicles, and Daihatsu Rockys.

-  Verne Simons

There are even a few aftermarket sources for Suzuki Samurais and Geo Trackers. Hardtops offer a sealed interior environment when you want it but can be relatively easily removed when you want open-air wheeling. Some tops are made from composite materials like fiberglass or plastics while others are made of steel or aluminum. The focus of this article is an early Ford Bronco hardtop that had seen better days. There was some rust in the top that needed to be patched to keep the top in service and prevent leaks and future damage from the elements.

Follow along as we spend time making this top like new and know that while some of the techniques may be slightly different, most of the ideas we use here can be applied to fiberglass or aluminum tops as well.

What We Started With