Early Style Canvas Top Makers ?

[70th Division]

Hello,

Does anyone know if early style Jeep canvas tops are made, and by what vendor ?
What I mean is, I have the early style brass attaching points on the top of the windshield on my 8/42 GPW,
not the capstan types used on later production.

Do the two types use the same canvas tops, or do the earlier style tops have smaller grommets at the front of the canvas tops for the smaller brass attaching points ??

Thanks,

Ray

[Klaas]

Hi Ray,

Beachwood make a top with the small grommets and 6 rear straps to fit an early jeep. I have one for my '42.
It is a "general" top so not 100% correct if you are a "spot weld-counter" but OK for keeping the rain out.

[70th Division]

Hello,

Thanks Klass,

I am glad to hear that !
Their website seems to be stuck in the pot hole of the internet, back in the 1990's not very user friendly.


Best Regards,

Ray

[Ben Dover]

Correct Grommets can still be a problem today.

[Farrell Fox]

What you have are the early cinch fasteners, which were made to fit the cinch eyelets. While both Ford and Willys changed from using the early fasteners to the capstan studs, they continued installing the cinch eyelets which will fit both types of fasteners.

[70th Division]

Thanks Farrell,

You do impressive work !!!!

That is good to know as I am working on my 42 GPW and will be looking for a top once it is up and running.

I am glad that they will work with the current production tops, with no differences in the cinch eyelets,
so hopefully a new top will stay put on the original brass cinch fasteners !


Thanks to all,

Ray

[Chuck Lutz]

Farrell, WeeBee, Beachwood and various other mfgers here and in England make the "early" top....that being the one for a jeep with no jerrycan.

I don't believe that the slat grill jeep used a different top but someone into slat canvas can look it up.
Standard Top
1944-1945 Winter Top (zippered doors)
Late War 1945 Winter Top (side panels and doors)

The last two having metal window frames back in the day. So if the slat used the same top as later production taller windshields did, that would make it a whopping FOUR types of tops you could access through the Supply Dept. as the war progressed. However, like the period in which jeeps were delivered with a RIM on the spare tire mount with no tire on it....there was a time in which jeeps were delivered with no top on them.

[Farrell Fox]

I am glad that they will work with the current production tops, with no differences in the cinch eyelets,

All that matters is that the inner diameter of the grommets match the outer diameter of the studs. They don't have to be cinch eyelets to work, they just need to fit to be functional. However, if you are doing a factory class restoration, cinch eyelets are a must. Otherwise a motorpool restoration is more diverse in the type of hardware used on depot made tops.

I don't believe that the slat grill jeep used a different top but someone into slat canvas can look it up.

The first batch of low windshield slat grill MBs in fact had a different canvas top with part number A-2909. I believe the only difference between A-2909 and A-3216 is the pitch of the roof to match the height of the windshield. After the first 3615 trucks were made, the taller windshield came into production, and so did the "standard" A-3216 top.

The WO-A-3216 went through a series of changes to include the addition of the hole for the gas can strap, and deletion of the 6th strap, as well as a few assembly pattern changes. However throughout production, the hardware never changed, save for the buckles going from cast to stamped steel.

[70th Division]

Hello,

Thanks Farrell,

I have ordered one from WeeBee .
He said it will work perfect with the early hardware, and it is all USA made
I am greatly anticipating its delivery

After I save up some funds, I will order an M38-A1 top from them as well.

Best Regards,
Ray