Webasto sunroof

[mikeeech]

Has anyone had fitted, or seen fitted, a Webasto sunroof to an Elite or Éclat/Excel? I had one on one of my Scimitars back in the day and it was a great addition to summer motoring. The Scimitar was similar in configuration in that it had a strengthening roll over hoop in the b-post that went all the way across the roof but on my car this had been cut to allow the sunroof to open with the large handle that it had.

 

With more modern electric systems the hoop could be left in place and so this may not be such a problem but had wondered it anyone had seen it done?

[MarkS2]

I have just acquired an Elite project and have had the exact same thoughts as you regarding the roof I think it would really suit the car, but I have also not been able to find any pictures of one on an elite.

[mikeeech]

Peeling back the roof to let the hot air out was great and hearing the exhaust note bouncing back from hedge row was what summer used to be about for me.

[Dunc]

do a search on sunroof's - there are a number of threads with good pics.

 

whatever you do, don't cut that roll bar - it is there for a reason. I have a sunroof on the V8 - a glass one and I wouldn't be without it.

 

I have had eclat's without a sunroof and they can be a bit dark and gloomy, and as you say, there is something nice about being able to hear your exhaust note when it is open. I think sunroof fanboys are probably in the minority on here however.....

[Elite7]

i have owned (bought by mistake long time ago, whe i had no clue about those cars) an eclat with full lenght webasto roof...nice fresh air....but the rollbar has been cut ....which i only recognized when the car was at my home....so i immediately sold it again.

 

i would even avoid fitting a glas sunroof...nice to have for fresh air, but they look awfull and  never exactly period, espcecially the cheapish ones which stick-out the roofline.

[mat grant]

That was my first thought on seeing this thread - the roll bar will be in the way, so you'd have to think of a way of making it look good - new covering etc? Not sure how you'd make it work.

 

I personally don't like sunroofs (sunrooves?) on the eclat and elite, partly the look - it looks horrible (imo) like a caravan or something(!) and partly the potential for leaks, but I can totally understand why people would want to fit one to a car without aircon, it's useful extra ventilation, my non aircon eclat was horrible in summer. As Lotus themselves put it "the car was designed to have aircon"

 

The ford type sunroof that tilts and slides and is body coloured is my favourite type of sunroof (if there is such a thing, but that requires a lot of depth for the mechanism and would reduce the headroom. But is the best looking type (imo).

 

Mat.

Edited July 22, 2014 by mat grant

[mikeeech]

My car had a dealer fitted vinyl roof (in black) which would match the vinyl covering of the webasto so it wouldn't stand out too much. I agree that the glass aftermarket types are very poor and look cheap but the webastos are anything but (a serious investment money wise).

 

I would not want to cut the roll bar but the full length opening is great so it would have to be electric to leave the roll bar in place - covering the roll bar wouldn't be that tricky - a bit a of grey board and headlining material would do it.

[Elite7]

please think about the design...a webasto will stick-out the roof, so watching the car from the side, it will look "wrong"

 

if you know some body with photoshop, please ask him simulating a webasto on your car...or maybe somebody from the forum can do that for you?

[mikeeech]

plenty of cars of the period had these roofs from rover p6's to TR7's, MGB's etc  - it would look fine so long as the roll bar is not cut

[MarkS2]

I agree and do think it would look good, its a period look that suits the era of the car.