Hi everybody. Has anyone here had any replacement top installed in their 360/430? If so, can you advise the brand and the results? Many thanks
Haven't done it yet but have done some research. Here's what I found: -The overwhelming choice for a replacement top is one made by GAHH. I got this from several installers, including the one Ferrari of San Diego uses. The GAHH top comes with new cables and springs sewn in and new elastic straps. (There are six elastic straps, which are critical to proper operation - good pics of these in the workshop manual) -Prices are all over the place, even for the same item. The range I have seen is $1800 - $3500. I found eight manufactures who fabricate the top. There are probably more since the pattern is out there. According to my installer, some are truly junk and about impossible to install. So beware the $1600 Ebay special. (I queried five Ebay sellers and only one would provide the manufacturers name.) -Cabrioworld, a site sponsor, has the best price for a GAHH top that I found at $2003.00. By contrast, Convertible Top guys sells for $2700 and Duetto Motors is $2900. -Figure 10-12 hours labor for the installation, so about $1000 in these parts. This from the top manufacturer and several installers. -After I get this done, I'll take the car to the shop to thoroughly ring out the top and verify proper operation. This seems like the thing to do since you have just changed a lot of the forces working on this, e.g. cables, springs, elastic straps and new fabric. Hope this helps and hopefully some responses to your post will be forthcoming. Regards, Andy
Thanks Andy! My top on my 2005 F430 is in desperate need of replacing. This information is very helpful.
Thanks for the info. I had seen this text in another thread and I might just do that. Have you ever seen one of these GAHH tops? Do you know for sure that they fit, and most important, they actually operate as intended? It worries me to read in most of these suppliers that they will not accept returns if there was an attempt to install. How can you find out if they fit if you don't attempt to install?
From my discussions with installers, particularly Euro Trim of San Diego (Ferrari's installer) the GAHH top is high quality and accurate with no fitment issues. They have done several. I'd recommend giving Cabriot World a call re the return issue. They were very helpful when I discussed this with them. They do warrant the tops for fitment as does Convertible Top Guys. Regards, Andy
You will be happy with the GAHH top. They stand behind their product. I just had my top on my 360 replaced with a GAHH top. The only difference from OEM is the new top is missing the prancing horse in the plastic window. My installer could not complete the install to my liking so GAHH had me bring the car to them and they made it right at no additional cost.
I'm getting ready to replace my top also. All this info is very helpful. Has anyone purchased a top from Topsonline? Their price is about $1700.
OK, this is interesting to me. Where do you see the little prancing horse in the plastic window? I'm pretty sure the window in my car is original, but I can't find a little horse on mine (I do see one on the glass windows, so I think I have an idea what it might look like). Where should I be looking, and are you sure it is on all the original tops? Maybe the window has been replaced on mine, which would be a surprise to me.
Pretty sure there's no horse in my window and I bought my 360 Spider new from a dealer in 2001. As for labor hours, I recently replaced the top on my DBS in my garage. It took me 9 hours, including cleanup, and I had to figure things out on the fly. I'm sure a professional could remove and install the same top in 4 or less. But, hey, I was quoted $4500 to install the top with my own parts, so . . . Finally, I'd say $2000 is cheap for a proven part, so why shop around. The GAHH recommendation seems solid!
Any updates on top replacement outcomes? I'm in SD area looking to replace the top on my 2005 F430. Dealer of course is outrageous ($20k range), but I hear mixed reviews about the after-market tops. Many thanks!
My 430 Spider is currently at the dealers here in the UK for work on the roof. New hinges are on order from Italy but I'm also advised that the elastic straps are worn. They say they can try & fix them but can't guarantee success. The also say that they can't be replaced and a new canvas will be needed. I can't believe that for the sake of 6 pieces of elastic I have to get a whole new roof ! Is anyone aware of the elastic straps being replaced and would the worn straps lead to other parts in the roof mechanism failing? If the only alternative has to be a new roof then I think I would be inclined to just leave the roof permanently down. The car never goes out in the rain anyway.
worn straps will definitely cause issues. However, them telling you that you need a new top to replace the straps is BS. Theres a couple threads here that tackle replacing straps without a new top. It can be done for sure.
I saved these from Ferrari Chat for my personal use and delated everything that wasn't needed to do the actual work to make the document as small as possible, my apologies to the original posters.
I have a 2007 F430, the convertible top is not opening properly can anyone recommend a reputable place in Toronto canada that specializes in ferrari tops?