Thread: Vinyl top on Model A----How

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I wanted to put a black vinyl top on my car and I was told by my local shop that it couldn't be done because there was no way to secure it to the roof. Low and behold I found this car on ebay with a vinyl top. Does anyone else have a vinyl top on their's or know how to secure it?

Mod note: added pictures directly to your post

Are you talking about the original fabic insert top, or has your roof been filled with sheet metal?
The originals are tacked to the wood framework.
If it's metal it's glued on, just like most late '60's to early '80's OEM vehicles. Any competent upholstery shop should be able to do it. If they don't know how, run, run, run away from them and find someone who knows what they're doing in the business.

Like Bob said, any "competant" shop can put a vinyl top on your car BUT... If you care about your car, I would think twice about doing it...
Ask anyone who has done repairs to a car that has had a vinyl top on it for a few years. All I can tell you is it makes a big mess. The vinyl and glue are not waterproof, water will soak through the vinyl and, once it does it never dries out. It will rust out your roof after a fashion and you will pay hell to clean it up and fix it... Just something to think about...
Mark

I'm talking about the whole roof, just like the car in the link. Astroracer brings up some good points though.

I didn't do a whole vinyl top, but replaced the original "tarpaper" roof with the padded vinyl top used on Cadillacs. We replaced the wood bows in the top, then we laid a fairly fine chicken wire over the bows and laid a bunch of fiberglass mat over that. The installer simply glued and streched the vinyl over the top and secured it to the wood per the original.

It looks white in the photo, but it's not. It's kind of a medium gray to match the interior.

Bob,

Those are Gibbon fenders, by the way - made back when the old man was running the business. They were flawless, and fit the original body perfectly. Fast forward twenty years . . . and . . . well, you know.

Thanks for adding the pics for me, I tried that but failed....LOL!

I've been doing Upholstery for along time and one of the first areas I learned was Vinyl tops. I don't think there's a car made with a solid roof panel I couldn't put a top on. Astro racer is absolutly right about the top holding in dampness. If you live in a damp or humid area and don't store the car inside ... I would forget the vinyl top, also I think a canvas material (conv. top ) would hold up better for you guys as it is alot more weather proof , at least on the top side. The other thing is the prep work for putting on a top is very important to the top material and or foam to seal up properly.

youther great thread i too was contemplating a vinyl for mine . Get to learn and never leave the farm .