• Notice for iPhone users: DO NOT use the image size reduction option when uploading photos to the forum. This causes portrait images to post as landscape. We have added a warning to the image insert pop-up as well.

B-D Company purchases Specialty Top Co. patterns and equipment!!!

JeepScrambler

JeepScrambler

CJ-oholic
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Claflin
State
KS
Several months ago I contacted Bestop asking if they were going to produce any Scrambler specific products like the half soft top and tonneau covers similar to what Specialty Top Co. made. Here is the reply they sent me:

Thank you for writing.

Colby,
Unfortunately, we will not be making a half top or tonneau for this
vehicle. We have heard that B-D Company in Denver may have purchased the
machinery and patterns from STC recently though.


Last week I sent an email to B-D Company out of Denver, CO and here is the response back:

Colby,
FYI, we have in fact purchased some patterns from STC, we
have just started sorting threw the mess. I will keep your
information and keep you updated on a status.

Heather
B-D Company


She didn't say which exact patterns they purchased or what the production plans were but it does look like there is possible hope for us Scrambler owners wanting a half soft top or a tonneau cover, and another source for full length soft tops besides the Bestop! Here is a link to their website but I think much of it is under construction http://www.b-dco.com/ I'm hoping they get everything sorted out and start producing some of the Scrambler products STC did!:bow:
 
B-D tops!

That's awesome, thanks for the info! Hope it all works out, it would be great to have a scource besides BesTop. We'll be keeping an eye on their web site as it progresses.
 
I will bet that they will also be able to hire off a good portion of the workers from the Best Top site.

Whenever I talked to them at Camp Jeep they always seemed to be more interested in the commercial sales to Jeep than actually helping out Jeep Owners. I guess that the corporate sales were enough for them. Seemed like they really did not care about providing replacement tops for older jeeps.

Really turned me off to the company.

Hope that B-D has a good attitude and is will to work with Jeep Owners. There is still a pretty big market out there for Jeep and Truck Tops.



Carl
 
B-D Company

I've been looking for a Kayline soft top for quite a while and it looks like B-D Company out of Denver, Colorado will be using the Kayline/STC pattern for full soft tops some time in late summer 2011. Currently building the dyes and need to verify that the final product fits correctly. Talked to an associate at the B-D Company and they were requesting any old covers or hardware so they can verify the pattern and dyes are correct. Might be able to work a deal out with them for a new top???? I spoke with Heather.

http://www.b-dco.com/
1.800.748.2244

1361 South Broadway
Denver, CO 80210
 
I emailed Heather back telling her I have an extra STC soft top w/ zip out windows complete with hardware, as well as my STC tonneau cover I would lend them to check patterns with. I should probably tell her I have two STC half soft tops as well! I also asked her if the tops were going to be made in Colorado. Sure would be nice to have all of these available again!
 
that would be sweet!! I love my Kayline top... Have a brand new bestop in a box in the basement, would rather the Kayline when its time to replace the top!!!
 
Interesting, I've never heard of B-D before but I find it ironic that Bestop, which now seems totally disinterested in anyone with a jeep that is no longer in production, used to be Bestop-Dualmatic out of, yes, the Denver metroplex..... If I remember correctly, they Bestop) took over the top supplier contract to Jeep corp from Whitco out of Colorado Springs. Be very interested in watching this unfold, espeially if there is any link to the old Bestop Dualmatic company. Plus I see they need an early scout to use as a pattern development vehicle, may have to get my daughters to them maybe she could get a soft top out of the deal.
 
Well I'm certainly no MBA, but my opinion is that this market is ripe for the picking. Bestop is the only game in town and they've gotten so large that they've essentially washed their hands of the CJ market. Meaning a small specialized company could potentially corner this market. There are still thousands if not millions of CJ's on the road, and an ever growing interest in restoring and preserving them. I see all sorts of specialized tops and equipment for FJ Landcruisers and Series Land Rovers, which are much rarer than Jeeps. Why not a specialty company for Jeep CJ tops and accessories?
 
I spoke with Heather again via email, I am going to be sending them my extra STC top with hardware along with my tonneau cover. They are going to verify that all of their patterns and such are correct. And she did confirm that all the tops will be built in Colorado using only HAARTZ material that is also made in the US! I will keep everyone posted with the info/progress Heather with BD is relaying to me.
 
thanks, thats good news, I'm trying to get the info to my daughter who has a cherry scout 800 that they are looking for as a model, but now i cant seem to get the site open
 
JeepScrambler said:
I spoke with Heather again via email, I am going to be sending them my extra STC top with hardware along with my tonneau cover. They are going to verify that all of their patterns and such are correct. And she did confirm that all the tops will be built in Colorado using only HAARTZ material that is also made in the US! I will keep everyone posted with the info/progress Heather with BD is relaying to me.
Click to expand...

Great news! Do you think it would do any good for some of us to also e-mail her and express our interest in these tops to help show that there is a market for them? I don't want to flood their inboxes unnecessarily.
 
Heather had stated in a previous email that she has had several emails expressing interest in full length soft top. It would probably be a good idea to go ahead and email her if you are interested in a specific item (full length soft top, half soft top, tonneau cover) and if you would need new hardware as well. Probably wouldn't hurt to let her know if you would be needing a specific color and tinted/non-tinted windows too although I'm not sure what their production plans are with the color and window options.
 
E-mail sent! I hope they make a good effort to bring these tops back to the market!
 
hoping their might be a "group buy" discount opportunity here for them to get some reviews/fanbase on the street..

is the email address posted somewhere, or did you just go to their website? I can't link to the company website on my work computer..
 
someone should also link this thread to an email. seems to be alot of interest here.
 
Got my extra full length STC top with zip-out tinted windows and hardware sent out to Heather at B-D, they received the top on Thursday. She is supposed to keep me updated along the way of their progress. I will post updates as soon as I get them! They sent me a whole booklet of sample swatches of the material that will be used on the tops. The material appears much heavier and thicker than my old STC material, and way heavier and thicker than the material Bestop uses in their junk. B-D has a lighter weight material that will be available as well. I'm not sure what colors the tops will come in but if all the colors are available in the sample swatches they sent me, we are going to have a lot to choose from! :thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top