Is this a CJ3A soft top???

I got this soft top that was advertised as for an early CJ5 so I was hoping it would fit my 74.
Its a whitco AMC Special Equipment marked top with a 9/16/76 manufacture date. Its in new condition with perfect windows.

The problem is that it doesn't fit. I know how to install soft tops and letting it sit all day in the 115* sun did not get it to stretch anywhere near enough.

The front edge is too short. Its for a narrower windshield. But before you say its for a 76+, the side curtains are also way too short. Like for a tub that's about 32"(CJ3A?) not the 36" of the CJ5s.

Trying to figure out exactly what it is so I can sell it to the right jeep owner.

 

It could be a flat fender 3A, 3B top but the rear tub dimensions on all the flatties and early CJ's are the same AFAIK. Another factor is that different door opening sizes were used through the years. The 37" on the side panel is about the same as the current TigerTops for Bestop. What do the doors look like?

 

As you have undoubtedly already checked, the 76-83 cj5 has a w/s width of 55" which matches your tops measurement. The curtain width which has to round the corner at the rear looks to be a couple inches short which would account for the back slope of this year model whereas the earlies have the w/s more vertical. Just a thought.

 

It is just the top, no bows, hardware, or doors.

I thought about the backsloped windshield but did they move the hole for the vertical rod back as well on the 76+? When the side curtain is positioned where the vertical door rod hole is, the side curtain is about 4 inches too short to wrap around the back of the tub. The hole on mine is 30 3/4" from the face of the dash. From there, the side curtain would have to then be 41" long.

When I fit it on mine, when pulled tight from the windshield, it made a nice square door opening when positioned directly over the vertical rod's hole. That's another reason why I thought it wouldn't be for the later style. Unless they moved the vertical rod a few inches back like they did the windshield rake. Anybody got the distance from the face of the dash to the vertical door rod hole on the 76+?

The guy I got it from said it came with his 76+ cj5 but it didn't fit, which led him to ID it as for an early.