480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

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Van
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480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by Van » Sun Apr 21, 2019 6:49 pm

For about two weeks I spotted a black 480 with a sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands. I've never seen a 480 with an opening vinyl roof before.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

jifflemon
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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by jifflemon » Sun Apr 21, 2019 7:01 pm

Please say you’ve grabbed a pic?

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brinkie
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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by brinkie » Sun Apr 21, 2019 7:05 pm

I know whose car that is. Don't have a pic right here, but the roof is from a Renault Twingo.
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

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AleksanderHugo
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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by AleksanderHugo » Mon Apr 22, 2019 7:30 am

I think that some company (Westfalia perhaps) used to make these aftermarket roofs.

Once I came across a photo of a 480 with such a roof:
Image

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dragonflyjewels
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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by dragonflyjewels » Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:52 pm

One of our French 480 club friends has fitted a Twingo sunroof as well, made a cracking good job of it
Image

Interestingly, the French cars don't have a high level brake light, so I took a rear hatch over for him.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

100
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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by 100 » Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:06 am

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:52 pm
Interestingly, the French cars don't have a high level brake light, so I took a rear hatch over for him.
There is a high level brake light?

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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by jifflemon » Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:08 am

100 wrote:
Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:06 am
There is a high level brake light?
Above the wiper - Perhaps more a "mid level brake light"

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Van
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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by Van » Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:59 am

It was driving and there was no time to take a picture, I spotted the 480, and only then the roof. It was the first 480 I'd seen in a couple of years actually.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by arthuy » Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:31 am

Smart looking addition and solution to leaky sunroofs.

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Van
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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by Van » Tue Apr 30, 2019 9:46 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:08 am
100 wrote:
Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:06 am
There is a high level brake light?
Above the wiper - Perhaps more a "mid level brake light"
Often it is referred to as the third, or center brake light.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

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brinkie
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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by brinkie » Thu May 02, 2019 10:33 am

Just a thought. The roof is part of the car's structure and an additional crossmember gives extra torsional rigidity. This is why the roof of a car with moonroof is different, the crossmember is located further aback.
If you take out both the metal roof and the crossmember connecting both B-pillars, will there be enough structural integrity left? Won't the body start suffering from twisting and subsequently negatively impact roadholding, like most convertibles do?
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by Alan 480 » Thu May 02, 2019 11:20 am

brinkie wrote:
Thu May 02, 2019 10:33 am
Just a thought. The roof is part of the car's structure and an additional crossmember gives extra torsional rigidity. This is why the roof of a car with moonroof is different, the crossmember is located further aback.
If you take out both the metal roof and the crossmember connecting both B-pillars, will there be enough structural integrity left? Won't the body start suffering from twisting and subsequently negatively impact roadholding, like most convertibles do?
not sure, on the Reliant Scimitar SE5a the full length sun roof was fitted by chopping the roof out and the roll over bars in roof were cut off and simply bolted to the wooden frame!!!

I fitted a full length opening GRP roof (used a roof from a scrap car in two removable sections) and refitted the two tubes, although they were a 'loose fit' in a mount at bottom of door !!
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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Re: 480 with sliding vinyl sunroof in Haarlem, Netherlands

Post by jamescarruthers » Thu May 02, 2019 11:42 am

brinkie wrote:
Thu May 02, 2019 10:33 am
Just a thought. The roof is part of the car's structure and an additional crossmember gives extra torsional rigidity. This is why the roof of a car with moonroof is different, the crossmember is located further aback.
If you take out both the metal roof and the crossmember connecting both B-pillars, will there be enough structural integrity left? Won't the body start suffering from twisting and subsequently negatively impact roadholding, like most convertibles do?
Having crashed and rolled a 480 quite spectacularly and crediting it with saving my life, I would be very reluctant to remove the roof bar. I imagine the sides will fold over should the car end up on its side.

Don't get me wrong the roof looks great, but it isn't sensible when you think about it from a structural point of view. The roof bar isn't just for show, it will have a designed and calculated purpose!‎
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

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