powertvmark
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<div>Hardtop convertible tops are an interesting lot. Mostly they seem reserved for high end luxury cars from Germany, like Mercedes or Audi. I’ve seen a few muscle car hardtop convertible conversions before, and they certainly stick out from the crowd. But I’ve never considered building one myself; it seems a little complicated. <br />
<br />
But if you consider yourself handy and an entrepreneur with money to burn, than check out this <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/CAMARO-MUSTANG-HARDTOP-CONVERTIBLE-PATENT-FOR-SALE_W0QQitemZ160360701902QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item25563e1fce&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14" target="_blank">eBay</a> auction for the patents to Mustang and Camaro convertible tops.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.streetlegaltv.com/photos/data/547/topstang2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<i>Pictures: <a href="http://fehrarules.com/" target="_blank">Fast Eddy's Hot Rod Art</a></i><br />
<br />
If you did click the link, the first thing your probably noticed is the price - $675,000. That is a ridiculous sum of money for what amounts to a few drawings and the intellectual property that is the patents. After searching the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, only one of the patents came up, <a href="http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week16/OG/html/1341-3/US07520556-20090421.html" target="_blank">#7,520,556</a>. This patent is for a “roof retracting apparatus for a vehicle having reward storage space”. This is not a bad idea, and in fact incorporates few moving parts. <br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.streetlegaltv.com/photos/data/547/topstang.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<br />
The pictures also help the argument, but not enough to convince me this is even close to a good price for the patents. Plus, the conversion isn’t a real convertible; on some the designs the glass moonroof merely slides back over the trunk lid. All these conversions will devour your trunk space as well. Getting the patents is only the start of the battle too, as anyone planning on making a business out of hardtop convertibles is going to need a shop, a crew, machining tools, etc. <br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.streetlegaltv.com/photos/data/547/rangerdrop.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<br />
It is a cool idea, but I think designer Jay Martin is hoping a little too hard for that kind of retirement severance. There are also plans calling for a Corvette, F-150, and Ranger conversion as well, so check out the his <a href="http://www.convertatop.com/" target="_blank">home page</a> for the patents too.</div>
<div>Hardtop convertible tops are an interesting lot. Mostly they seem reserved for high end luxury cars from Germany, like Mercedes or Audi. I’ve seen a few muscle car hardtop convertible conversions before, and they certainly stick out from the crowd. But I’ve never considered building one myself; it seems a little complicated. <br />
<br />
But if you consider yourself handy and an entrepreneur with money to burn, than check out this <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/CAMARO-MUSTANG-HARDTOP-CONVERTIBLE-PATENT-FOR-SALE_W0QQitemZ160360701902QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item25563e1fce&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14" target="_blank">eBay</a> auction for the patents to Mustang and Camaro convertible tops.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.streetlegaltv.com/photos/data/547/topstang2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<i>Pictures: <a href="http://fehrarules.com/" target="_blank">Fast Eddy's Hot Rod Art</a></i><br />
<br />
If you did click the link, the first thing your probably noticed is the price - $675,000. That is a ridiculous sum of money for what amounts to a few drawings and the intellectual property that is the patents. After searching the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, only one of the patents came up, <a href="http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week16/OG/html/1341-3/US07520556-20090421.html" target="_blank">#7,520,556</a>. This patent is for a “roof retracting apparatus for a vehicle having reward storage space”. This is not a bad idea, and in fact incorporates few moving parts. <br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.streetlegaltv.com/photos/data/547/topstang.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<br />
The pictures also help the argument, but not enough to convince me this is even close to a good price for the patents. Plus, the conversion isn’t a real convertible; on some the designs the glass moonroof merely slides back over the trunk lid. All these conversions will devour your trunk space as well. Getting the patents is only the start of the battle too, as anyone planning on making a business out of hardtop convertibles is going to need a shop, a crew, machining tools, etc. <br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.streetlegaltv.com/photos/data/547/rangerdrop.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<br />
It is a cool idea, but I think designer Jay Martin is hoping a little too hard for that kind of retirement severance. There are also plans calling for a Corvette, F-150, and Ranger conversion as well, so check out the his <a href="http://www.convertatop.com/" target="_blank">home page</a> for the patents too.</div>