Removable Roof Panel

Some cars have a removable roof panel(s) which attach, with latches, to the windscreen and roll-bar behind the passengers. First used on the Porsche 911 Targa, and therefore sometimes called a 'Targa Top' (although this is a registered trademark of Porsche).

These panels are often fibreglass and may have a vinyl coating, although they can be metal, glass or acrylic.

Usually there is a special shelf in the boot where the roof can be stored. 

What it means

A removable roof panel is a solid piece of the roof that you can take out by hand to turn a closed car into an open one. Typically it covers the area above the driver and front passenger. The windscreen frame, rear roof section and pillars stay in place, so the car keeps more of its structure than a full soft top convertible. The panel itself is usually metal or composite, sometimes with a headlining on the inside, and it locks into place with latches and locating pins and seals against rubber weatherstrips.

Why it matters

• Gives open-air driving without a soft top: Owners get much of the open feeling of a convertible while keeping a solid roof panel for weather, security and refinement when it is in place.
• Extra seals and latches to maintain: The edges of the panel, the locating hardware and the rubber seals are all potential sources of water leaks and wind noise if they are worn, dirty or misaligned.
• Needs correct handling and storage: Panels are often bulky and relatively heavy. If they are dropped, bent or stored badly they can distort and then never seal quite right again.
• Important for leak diagnosis: On cars with removable roof panels, roof leaks often track in around the panel seals and drains rather than through the body shell itself.

Where you’ll see it

You will see removable roof panels on certain sports cars and GTs, often described as targa tops or lift-out roof panels in sales listings. Inspection and water leak reports may note leaks at removable roof panel seals, wind noise from roof panel or panel ill fitting. Detailing and valeting menus may refer to cleaning and treating seals around removable panels or safe removal and refitting during deep cleans.

Context

Removable roof panels sit in the family of open roof systems alongside full convertibles, cabriolets, folding hardtops and sunroofs. Unlike a conventional soft top, the panel is rigid and usually stored in the boot or behind the seats when removed. Compared with a sunroof, the opening is normally larger and the whole panel comes out rather than sliding or tilting. For leak and refinement work, attention focuses on the condition of the rubber seals, the adjustment of catches and hinges, and whether the body shell has ever been twisted or repaired in a way that affects panel fit.

Common mistakes

• Forcing stiff or misaligned latches when removing or refitting the panel, which can bend hardware and make future sealing and alignment worse.
• Storing the panel loose in the boot without a proper bag or supports, letting it rub, scratch or warp.
• Ignoring tired, flattened or split seals around the panel and chasing leaks elsewhere on the car instead.
• Washing or pressure rinsing directly into panel gaps at close range, which can overcome even good seals and give the impression of a roof leak where technique is actually the problem.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 01/12/2025 15:42