Method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body

A method of attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle having a body, the soft top including a pair of side panel, a rear panel, a forward edge and an upper rear corner, the method comprising the steps of:

• attaching a forward support member to the forward edge of the soft top;
• pivotally connecting the forward support member to the vehicle for rotation about a first transverse pivot axis;
• attaching a rearward support member to the motor vehicle for pivotal movement about a second transverse pivot axis;
• supporting the upper rear corner of the soft top with the rearward support member;
• supporting an intermediate portion of the soft top with an intermediate support member laterally extending across the soft top between the forward support member and the rearward support member, the intermediate support member including a pair of downwardly extending ends;
• engaging the downwardly extending legs with the forward support member to vertically support the intermediate support member on the forward support member;
• tension the soft top with a pair of straps interconnecting the downwardly extending ends and the rearward support member;
• securing the pair of side panels and the rear panel to the body of the motor vehicle;
• and
• pivotally interconnecting the intermediate support member to the pair of side bows;
• wherein the step of pivotally connecting the forward support member to the vehicle includes the step of interconnecting the forward support member and the vehicle with a pair of side bows.