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Hardtop BN7 vs BN4 [BN6 vs BT7]

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Jim_Newman

Jim_Newman

Jedi Hopeful
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The 2 seater and the 2+2 seaters have different hardtops due mainly to the raised lip on the rear deck of the 2+2s. Couple of questions.......
1. How does one differentiate a BN6/BN7 top from a BN4/BT7 top based on the hardtop serial number stamped on the roof rail?
2. Since the BN6/BN7 top has a larger rear window, are the cast aluminum braces longer than those for the BN4/BT7 tops?
I's been a long time since I've posted here and any help you guys/gals might have would be appreciated.
Cheers
 
Where the top meets the body (behind the doors), one is flat and the other is curved. At the moment, I don't remember which is which (I have neither one).
 
Thanks Randy. Actually they're both curved but differently. But the real question, aside from the possible different lengths of the braces, is: How does the serial number on the roofs identify for which model it is intended?
 
I owned a '62 BN7 several years ago and it had a 4-seater hardtop on it and it fit just fine.
 
Gilbert: Your 4-seater number seems correct except for not being preceded by the 4/ or 04/. I've had two and neither started with a "0", but they should all have the 4 or 6 and a slash preceding the rest of the number. Both of your numbers are eight characters long, but are not preceded by the 4/ or 6/. Could it be covered up with glue or grime ?

Here's another picture which shows both of my serial numbers:
https://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/image/100011336

The numbers are all individually hand stamped. You'll note that on one of mine commas appear and on the other there are no commas. I've always suspected the 4th and 5th numbers after the slash to indicate year of manufacture. Mine would have been made in the years '58 and '59, while yours were '57 for the four-seater and '60 for the two-seater. These would all be correct years for those tops. The other numbers I'm not so sure about except possibly the last three which look like just an incrementing number. Check yours again for the slash preceded by a 4 or 6.

Mike L.
 
Thanks guys.......Now about the lengths of the BN4 vs BN6 support braces - different or the same length???
Jim
 
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