An elevator system, comprising: an elevator car (22, 28); at least one guide rail to guide movement of the elevator car (22, 28); a machine mount mounted on the at least one guide rail near a top of the at least one guide rail; and a car stop comprising: a plurality of legs, each leg having a first end pivotally attached to a top of the elevator car (22, 28), and a second end; a cross member secured to the second end of each of the legs; and a plurality of mounting brackets secured to a machine mount located proximate a top of the hoistway and to a plurality of guide rails, wherein the plurality of legs are configured to pivot between a first position in which the cross member is proximate the top of the elevator car (22, 28) and a second position in which the cross member is proximate the plurality of mounting brackets; wherein the car stop is configured to physically prevent J Z upward movement of the elevator car (22, 28) when the plurality of legs are in the second position; wherein the car stop is supported on the elevator car (22, 28), the car stop being selectively moveable between the first position, in which the car stop allows the elevator car (22, 28) to travel to a maximum vertical position, and the second position, in which the car stop is situated to contact the machine mount to prevent the elevator car (22, 28) from reaching the maximum vertical position; wherein each of the mounting brackets comprises a mounting bracket contact surface, wherein the cross member comprises a plurality of cross member contact surfaces, and wherein the mounting bracket contact surfaces are configured to contact respective one of the cross member contact surfaces when the plurality of legs is in the second position. an elevator car (22, 28); at least one guide rail to guide movement of the elevator car (22, 28); a machine mount mounted on the at least one guide rail near a top of the at least one guide rail; and a car stop comprising: a plurality of legs, each leg having a first end pivotally attached to a top of the elevator car (22, 28), and a second end; a cross member secured to the second end of each of the legs; and a plurality of mounting brackets secured to a machine mount located proximate a top of the hoistway and to a plurality of guide rails, wherein the plurality of legs are configured to pivot between a first position in which the cross member is proximate the top of the elevator car (22, 28) and a second position in which the cross member is proximate the plurality of mounting brackets; wherein the car stop is configured to physically prevent J Z upward movement of the elevator car (22, 28) when the plurality of legs are in the second position; wherein the car stop is supported on the elevator car (22, 28), the car stop being selectively moveable between the first position, in which the car stop allows the elevator car (22, 28) to travel to a maximum vertical position, and the second position, in which the car stop is situated to contact the machine mount to prevent the elevator car (22, 28) from reaching the maximum vertical position; wherein each of the mounting brackets comprises a mounting bracket contact surface, wherein the cross member comprises a plurality of cross member contact surfaces, and wherein the mounting bracket contact surfaces are configured to contact respective one of the cross member contact surfaces when the plurality of legs is in the second position. a plurality of legs, each leg having a first end pivotally attached to a top of the elevator car (22, 28), and a second end; a cross member secured to the second end of each of the legs; and a plurality of mounting brackets secured to a machine mount located proximate a top of the hoistway and to a plurality of guide rails, wherein the plurality of legs are configured to pivot between a first position in which the cross member is proximate the top of the elevator car (22, 28) and a second position in which the cross member is proximate the plurality of mounting brackets; wherein the car stop is configured to physically prevent J Z upward movement of the elevator car (22, 28) when the plurality of legs are in the second position; wherein the car stop is supported on the elevator car (22, 28), the car stop being selectively moveable between the first position, in which the car stop allows the elevator car (22, 28) to travel to a maximum vertical position, and the second position, in which the car stop is situated to contact the machine mount to prevent the elevator car (22, 28) from reaching the maximum vertical position; wherein each of the mounting brackets comprises a mounting bracket contact surface, wherein the cross member comprises a plurality of cross member contact surfaces, and wherein the mounting bracket contact surfaces are configured to contact respective one of the cross member contact surfaces when the plurality of legs is in the second position.