Retractable Hardtop with Rear Pivot Decklid and Sections that Separate and Stack for Storage

A method of retracting a retractable hardtop that includes a front panel having an upwardly facing top surface, an intermediate panel having an upwardly facing top surface upwardly facing top surfaces of the disposed behind and immediately adjacent the front panel in an extended position, a back panel that supports and surrounds a back light and is disposed below and rearwardly adjacent to the intermediate panel in the extended position, a pair of sail panels disposed below the intermediate panel and that engage opposite lateral sides of the back panel in the extended position, and a linkage connecting the front panel, intermediate panel, and back panel to the vehicle, wherein the method comprises:

• lifting the front section over the intermediate section with the linkage;
• separating the sail panels from the back panel with the linkage;
• drawing the back panel under the intermediate panel;
• and
• lowering the front panel, the intermediate panel and back panel into the storage compartment with the front panel and intermediate panel remaining in the same upwardly facing orientation through out the retraction cycle.

A retractable hardtop for a vehicle comprising:

• a front panel;
• an intermediate panel disposed behind and immediately adjacent the front panel in an extended position;
• a back panel that supports and surrounds a back light and is disposed below and rearwardly adjacent to the intermediate panel in the extended position;
• a pair of sail panels disposed below the intermediate panel and that engage opposite lateral sides of the back panel in the extended position
• a linkage connecting the front panel, intermediate panel, and back panel to the vehicle;
• and
• wherein the front panel is shifted by the linkage over the intermediate panel and the sail panels are separated from the back panel as the retractable hardtop is retracted from the extended position and is moved toward a retracted position.