VW Camper Family

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HELP! I need help with my Riviera Top.....

I own a 85 Vanagon with a Riviera top

I finally went after my leaking top on my vanagon! It was a big project which entailed taking the top off, re-fiberglassing some cracks, replacing the wood frame and putting on new canvasse.

I ran into a problem on the re-assembly and need your help!

The back brackets don’t fit any more! Could you take a picture of your pop top back brackets for me? It would also be really helpful to know what the dimension of the brackets are. Where are they placed. What is the length of your back. Any help would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mick Pearson

206-713-2149

Views: 71

Comment by Big Blue's Driver on December 12, 2010 at 2:37pm

Mick - I have a bay window riv top - but I'll take some pictures tonight and get them up for you.

 

-Brett

Comment by Big Blue's Driver on December 12, 2010 at 3:53pm

Mick - here are some pictures. Let me know if you need more or if you have more questions:

 

http://vwcamperfamily.ning.com/photo/albums/riviera-top

 

 

Comment by mick pearson on December 13, 2010 at 8:50am

Blue! thank you so much for responding! WOW! you have a nice van. Your top is slightly different than mine. Your brackets are slanted to shape your van.

My van actually had a pre-made top that allows for the upper section to drop down flat.

I really need to find someone who has a top identical to mine...... Any ideas or forums to go to?

 

Comment by whc03grady on December 13, 2010 at 9:48am

Presumably any of these guys or gals have Riviera Vanagons. If you join the samba, you can get into contact with them.

Comment by mick pearson on December 13, 2010 at 1:42pm

great suggestions with the Samba! I will check in with the riviera searches and see if they can help.

really helpful. thank you.........

 

anyone else out there have a riviera top? how many are left in the world.....

Comment by Big Blue's Driver on December 16, 2010 at 9:13pm

Contact Julia Weber through this site - search for her in fellow bussers - she has a riv top on a vanagon. She may be able to provide pics! - Though honestly I'm not certain you have a Riviera top. Do you know it is for sure?

 

 

Comment by whc03grady on December 17, 2010 at 5:12pm

BB'sD: curious--what makes you think it ain't a Rivie? It looks like the wedding-cake-stepped and big-flat-backed Rivie top to me. But then, I'm more familiar with Westies.

Comment by Big Blue's Driver on December 18, 2010 at 8:03am

Well, I know the Riv tops changed later in their lives, but you see that little switch in the ridge in the top if you follow the door line up? That looks odd to me. Not something I recognize as Riv. And it looks too aerodynamic. But like I said, it may be and that may just be a later Vanagon version. I'd like to see it popped.

Comment by mick pearson on December 18, 2010 at 2:27pm

I would love to see it popped myself! I will take a pic when I am working on it next.

I am pretty positive it is a Riviera top. All the research I have done looks identical to some of the pictures.

the top was rotten when we pulled it out, and it seems like the top was glued to the itself.

 

There are some actual numbers in the back of the van. and the top at one point mentioned westfalia.....

 

I have never seen a westfalia that pops straight up. I have never seen a westfalia that looks like mine....

 

I would love some answers :) I would also love to have my top pop up again.......... 

 

where do you guys live?

 

thanks again for your help.

 

- mick

Comment by Big Blue's Driver on December 18, 2010 at 2:32pm
Mick- I'm in Petaluma, California. Whc03grady is in Montana.

Take more pictures!

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