Defender soft top to hard top

[nsthompson]

I really want to swap out the stock soft top on my 97 Defender for a permanent hard top. Any suggestions? Thanks

[TerryS]

The hardest part is actually locating one, unless you import it. All soft tops can have a HT bolted on, as they're all born topless.
Wayne Gayre, in Atlanta buys wrecked defenders.
There's always the slim chance someone had a station wagon and removed to top, and may also be dumb enough to sell the HT.
If you know an skilled sheet metal worker, you might convince him to modify an 88 top to fit. The width is the same, but the tub length is different, and they attach to the windscreen differently.

[bjf]

The metal hard top is hard to find but if you really want to do the switch there are at least 50 people that would trade you a full metal hardtop for the soft top cage. I woudn't do it though. The soft top cage is impossible to get and worth more. If you want a hard top that badly get a fiberglass one. Not my recommendation but it can be done. If you really want to trade it out call ECR. They always have hard tops and would want your cage. East Coast Rover Co.