I'm going to look at a hardtop for my Miata tomorrow and I believe there are a couple of non-OEM ones about (like the Chaser ones and the Snugtop). This one is supposedly an early OEM one (i.e., without headliner and heated rear window) at an attractive price, but I'd like to make sure I'm buying an OEM one and not an aftermarket one.
So, any easy ways to identify one?
And yes, I'm taking the Miata to the hardtop so we can test fit it.
I have no idea what aftermarket tops look like since I have only had factory but I did find this on M.net.
Q) How can I verify that I'm buying a Mazda Original Equipment (OE) top?
It's tougher than you think. The OE top does NOT say "Mazda" anywhere on it! Look for a 2-inch "cover" on the inside, just in front of the rear window. The window will say "Nippon Safety" which is a major Japanese glass manufacturer. Make sure the latches look just like the soft top latches, too. Also, look for the L-shaped brackets below the rear window. These are all good indicators of an OE top. thread 1, thread 2
http://www.miata.net/garage/hardtop/
Q) How can I verify that I'm buying a Mazda Original Equipment (OE) top?
It's tougher than you think. The OE top does NOT say "Mazda" anywhere on it! Look for a 2-inch "cover" on the inside, just in front of the rear window. The window will say "Nippon Safety" which is a major Japanese glass manufacturer. Make sure the latches look just like the soft top latches, too. Also, look for the L-shaped brackets below the rear window. These are all good indicators of an OE top.
Q) Are there any aftermarket (non-Mazda) hard tops?
Snug Top
The snug tops look identical to the OE as far as the window is concerned, but the window latches are stamped steel rather than the aluminum sculptured look. Look on the driver's side through the window and you will see a tag on the frame that says "Snugtop". Owner feedback has not been all positive.
Snugtop latches will look like an ammo can latch. Also, snugtops are a few pounds heavier - OEM ~46lb, snugtop ~49lb
KJ
I've had a Snugtop and an OEM 2004 Mazda top.
Like Kendall said, the inside latches are the giveaway. I don't think I have any photos, but it will be obvious when you see them. The inside latches on the Mazda top look exactly like the latches for the soft top. The Snugtop latches are welded steel pieces.
Externally, they are identical and the finish (Black) on my Snugtop was actually nicer; probably gelcoat, rather than paint.
Inside, Snugtop used what appeared to be indoor/outdoor/boat plastic boat carpet for the headliner. I never liked the way it smelled and couldn't get rid of the odor.
Found a photo where you can kind of see the Snugtop side latch, which is similar to the top latches. They are actually a bit smaller and are easier to operate around a cage and race seat but they have some sharp corners. Mazda latches are much nicer.
Here's a shot of the Snugtop headliner. Ignore the aluminum bracket, as that's a piece that I fabricated.
I'm pretty sure that the OE top will have the letters "SMC" visible on the inside of the top, below the rear window, at the center of the top. i was told that SMC stands for Sheet Molded Composite.
here are some photos of mine, which is an early OEM hardtop (should be exactly what your going to look at)
Hopefully these help! If theres anything else, just let me know
edit confirm, SMC is stamped inside directly underneath the center of the rear window
Had both, considered myself lucky to get out of the Snugtop for what I had in it. As everyone has said, the dead giveaway is the latches. If it looks like something you could have cobbled together by walking the aisles of a good hardware store, it's a Snugtop.
Also note (for posterity) that the window seal is simply glued in place on the SnugTop (and will not remain there, nor will it necessarily be in the correct place), whereas the OE one actually snaps onto some doohickey that is part of the roof.
Additionally, under those chrome rear latches, on the Snugtop you'll find a (once again) cheesy flat piece of steel held in by two SAE bolts. On the OE, the flat piece of metal has plastic/rubber edging where it catches your "frankenstein bolts". And the bolts are metric.
You'll also notice that the front edge of the OE top actually matches the curve of your windshield header and that the OE latches stay latched when you drive over a bump. The Snugtop does neither of these. 
It's probably worth noting that on my late Genuine Mazda top (2004), there was a pretty nice headliner. The center piece was some kind of foam that was glued to the fiberglass, along with a large molded plastic piece on each side. I had to remove the plastic pieces to clear the roll bar, but they were only held on with velcro. That was a little disappointing because they really gave a nice finished look to the top.
Yeah, I just looked at my (Genuine OEM) hardtop and it certainly does have a headliner. I'm not sure that I would go without a headliner if possible.
According to these descriptions, mine is oem. A few questions, what do the little L brackets do that are above the oem top latches? Also, can you buy replacement pieces that engage the frankenstein bolts? The plastic on mine wore away.
Joey.
Thanks for all the comments, looks like I've got 99% more OEM hardtop on the car than I used to know 
.
Unfortunately it's only 99% because the exact part that Joey's referring to is missing on one of the Frankenlatches. Worst case I case I can make one as I've got the other one as a pattern.
mtn wrote:Yeah, I just looked at my (Genuine OEM) hardtop and it certainly does have a headliner. I'm not sure that I would go without a headliner if possible.
Mine dosent have one, but I do have to wonder if I added something if it would abate some of the wind noise.
To answer my own and Joey's question, it looks like the Frankenlatch internal plates are still available and not too expensive either:
http://www.jimellismazdaparts.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=311541&ukey_...
The top I picked up for a decent price for one that needs a repaint is a very early one and doesn't have a headliner. And yes, it's also got SMC stamped under the rear window. I'm not sure if I want to retrofit a headliner though as I need all the helmet clearance I can get (or a lower seat).
joey48442 wrote:According to these descriptions, mine is oem. A few questions, what do the little L brackets do that are above the oem top latches? Also, can you buy replacement pieces that engage the frankenstein bolts? The plastic on mine wore away.
Joey.
Joel,
Are you referring to the brackets that sit right above the OEM soft top latches? They're supposed to hold down the latches to reduce rattling. If yours aren't then your hardtop doesn't match the model year of the car. I stick some wood under one of mine and some very dense foam under the other. My hardtop is an early NA and the car is an NB.
The headliners on both my OEM and SnugTop were only 1/4" thick and fully glued to the fiberglass. Only the outer plastic covers interfered with the roll bar. The were about six inches wide and went from front to rear. I'm sure that they're fairly rare, but easy to remove either way.
