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Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops

Posted by b33b

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Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #1
b33b Cal Y Maine - Texas, USA	Posted: July 21, 2012 09:12AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 108

I have read some of the recent frustration with VB but their catalog shows a Robbins Everflex top in Biscuit, with zippered rear window for $339.95.

Moss wants $597.95 for their Robbins Everflex in Black 242-657 with zippered window What am I missing??? I know that some of the list's vendors pass on a Moss discount, but not enough to close this large a gap.

I prefer the biscuit top to start the transition of a BRG 70B from black interior to a biscuit or tan interior.

Any reason not to get the VB top?

Cal

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #2
gooser Drake Myers Danville Va, USA	Posted: July 21, 2012 11:32AM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 6,938

i do know that moss periodically runs sales on their upholstery items and when they do it'll narrow the gap. if you go with vb know all the answers to your questions before you call.

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #3
rggavmge roy gavilan Williamsburg, Virginia, USA 1965 MG MGB "My Baby" 1974 MG MGB MkIII "Ruby"	Posted: July 21, 2012 11:42AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 637

I would check out what Little British Car Company sells the top for....just search using the Moss part #. They are a Moss reseller.
LBCC

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2012 11:44AM by rggavmge.

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #4
JohnTF John F Northeastern Ohio, USA 1970 MG MGB 1970 MG MGB	Posted: July 21, 2012 12:23PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 843

My trim shop ordered a Robbins top for my car, the better material, five? year warranty, wholesale I believe was $300, installation $200, though I think he did not know how easy it was going to be for him, he did not have to move a snap or clip, one day service and I think he had a lot of time left over. ;-)

30 years experience of doing tops.

John

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #5
Bob Agar Robert Agar Green Valley, AZ, USA 1953 MG TD "Myrtle Anne" 1957 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "Miss Scarlett" ~ For Sale ! ~ 1974 MG MGB "The Mistress"	Posted: July 21, 2012 12:28PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,998

Same top mfg. Different dealers. Go for the price.

1974.5 MBG Tourer with Weber 32/36 mod and AC.
1957 MGA 1500 Coupe - Stock and original except paint
1953 MG TD - Original car with no mods

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #6
bradyg Brady Gier Lafayette, Louisiana, USA 1979 MG MGB "Ms. Gibson"	Posted: July 21, 2012 03:29PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 32

I recently get a robbins top from moss, and Im happy with it, except one part. I feel like theres too large of a gapbetween the tops of my windows and the top. I get a little water in from time to time.

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #7
cfrench Carl W. French Alfred, Maine, USA 1967 MG MGB 1971 Triumph MC Bonneville 1973 MG MGB GT 1973 MG MGB GT	Posted: July 21, 2012 07:48PM Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 13,996

I was very happy with the top I got from Jeff at LBC. He has his own source of tops and he was able to get me a grey stow away top with a zip out rear window for the 67. I ordered another one after a winter mouse mishap. This one I ordered from Prestige and it was a much heavier material which I guess is good in one way but it does not go on as easily as the LBC one. The material LBC has is much closer to the original as well.
FWIW My $.02

Carl W. French
Alfred, Maine
Southern Maine LBC welfare shelter
67B will be in our will
73BGT Daily driver
73BGT Wife's car
Many more that change often

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y183/leylandauto/

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #8
b33b Cal Y Maine - Texas, USA	Posted: July 21, 2012 09:28PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 108

Thanks for the suggestions. LBC is $447 for an Everflex with zippered window, not sure of their difference between tan and sand. The Robbins sites shows tan and bisque but not sand or biscuit.

I have replaced a Fiat 124 top and plan to do the B's top myself.

Cal

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #9
JohnTF John F Northeastern Ohio, USA 1970 MG MGB 1970 MG MGB	Posted: July 21, 2012 09:47PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 843

I called my insurance after the squirrels nested and ate my top, was pleasantly surprised when they paid for an entire new top with installation, zero deductible. They said they covered mice too.

I thought Robbins made a more traditional top, and one with a bit heavier material.

I opted for the more durable top, looks very good, IMO.

Regards, John

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #10
gclifft Greg Clifft Dardenne Prairie, MO, USA 1974 MG MGB	Posted: July 21, 2012 11:32PM Registered: 10 months ago Posts: 81

I have been using RockAuto for parts for some of my other cars and they just started selling Robbins tops.

They list a black EverFlex top for my 74B at $361.79

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #11
DrewM Drew Maddock 74 MGB roadster, Southern California, USA	Posted: July 22, 2012 02:49AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 5,615

The heavier Robbins material seems like a good idea . . . until you have to put the top down and fold it over on itself. It's a lot more difficult to fold away than the previous top I had on the car which had thinner but perfectly good vinyl. The Robbins top is very difficult to fold without getting the windows involved. There was nothing wrong with that older top other than that it didn't have a zip out window. I am very happy I got the zip out window on the new top, but not so thrilled that the vinyl is so stiff and heavy. Tops last for years, and they're not that expensive to replace, so thicker really isn't necessary in my opinion. I'd rather my new top was a little more flexible to fold. Next time, I'll get a less expensive non-Robbins vinyl top to make the folding process a good deal easier. Of course, with the Robbins top it will probably last for decades and I'll never get to replace it as I struggle to fold it.

Drew Maddock
Pasadena, California

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #12
JohnTF John F Northeastern Ohio, USA 1970 MG MGB 1970 MG MGB	Posted: July 22, 2012 08:03AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 843

My Robbins top does not seem more difficult to fold, however, stretching it to those last snaps is not what my hands seem made for.

I have also heard that the side windows make it harder to fold.

I probably would opt for a standard OEM top with the zip down window if I were doing it again, but as you said, it will probably last a decade or more, especially if we get some more summers as we have seen this year, unless the squirrels decide to come for a winter visit?

The first year I had the new top on, I left up, in the sun, etc. to try and fit it better, but have come to the conclusion that it well may not matter, once fitted, it is what it is.

I seem to recall they offered more than one grade of vinyl?

Regards, John

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #13
jmor99 Jack Morris Chattanooga, TN, USA	Posted: July 22, 2012 08:05AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 389

Kinda what Drew said. If you're doing a show car, then the Robbins is the way to go. But if it's a driver, go for the cheapest top out there. Even the expensive ones start to look tatty after about 5 years. I haven't had mine up in about 2 years. So why bother with the expensive ones?

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #14
chris Chris Roop Pendleton, OR, USA	Posted: July 22, 2012 09:18AM Registered: 14 years ago Posts: 30,251

If you want to go for cheap, Moss has their budget top offering. I tried one years ago. It was on a car that saw desert heat, and had a foot or better of snow on it during the winter. It sold on the second summer, but the top looked and functioned as new. It had the thinnest top vinyl the upholsterer had ever seen, but that didn't seem to be an issue. Now maybe if a tree branch was being shoved through it, things would be different.

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #15
b33b Cal Y Maine - Texas, USA	Posted: July 22, 2012 10:14AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 108

I was using Everflex as a constant comparison across sellers. Moss has a crushed grain top that is $430 for a black stow away with zippered window and $347 for a black folding frame, black top with zippered window. Is this the inexpensive line at Moss?

Car is a driver, a mess of POs wiring and body fixes. A summer car for me with the saving grace of starting everytime I turn the key - and it has always brought me home, unlike my brothers TR6. Read enough top comments to prefer Robbins to E Z tops.

I appreciate all the ideas as I circle the wagons before spending the bucks.

Cal

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #16
chris Chris Roop Pendleton, OR, USA	Posted: July 22, 2012 11:37AM Registered: 14 years ago Posts: 30,251

I was actually thinking of 242-685 that comes in black only, but it lists for $479.95. The Robbins 242-295 is tan and lists at $347, a better deal!

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #17
JohnTF John F Northeastern Ohio, USA 1970 MG MGB 1970 MG MGB	Posted: July 22, 2012 02:30PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 843

$479? My trim shop will have a Robbins top on in one day for that price--

Regards, John

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #18
chris Chris Roop Pendleton, OR, USA	Posted: July 22, 2012 02:56PM Registered: 14 years ago Posts: 30,251

Which flavor??

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #19
JohnTF John F Northeastern Ohio, USA 1970 MG MGB 1970 MG MGB	Posted: July 23, 2012 01:10AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 843

In reply to # 2126700 by chris Which flavor??

Not OEM, the heavier material, he gets a discount, and he makes his money off of the labor. I believe it has a decent warranty on the material, I seem to recall three or five year?

John

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Re: Moss vs. VB Robbins Tops #20
fwmar48 Frank Marousek Purchase, USA	Posted: July 23, 2012 03:16PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 23

I HAVE A ROBBINS AND YES, IT IS A MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN THE LESS EXPENSIVE TOPS. HOWEVER IT DOES TAKE MORE TIME TO ADEQUATELY FOLD TO AVOID BREAKING THE ZIP OUT REAR WINDOWS AND SIDE WINDOWS AND DOES NOT FOLD A SMALL AS THE VINYL TOPS. THE ZIP OUT REAR WINDOW IS FANTASTIC AND PROVIDES MORE THAN AMPLE CIRCULATION. THE REAL BENEFIT IS THE LOOK. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF ATTENDING VARIOUS CRUSES AND REGIONAL CAR SHOW EVERYONE COMMENTS ON THE BRILLIANT LOOK OF THE TOP. IF AND WHEN IF NEEDS TO BE CHANGED I'LL DEFINITELY GET ANOTHER.

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