I'll never buy a vinyl top car again!!!
- Thread starter thesiren74
- Start date
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thesiren74
Well-Known Member
You are not kidding!
searcher1990
Well-Known Member
love the look though.
Yeah vinyl tops are lame. The factory sold them because it was a cheap way to cover the roof/quarter seam. Easy fix and the customers bought it. They're "ok" if the car is always in a climate controlled garage, but anything less than that and they're a rust magnet.
My bronze GT would be an amazing car if it just hadn't come with a vinyl top. As it is it needs a roof skin and some patches because the vinyl top ruined the roof skin and a few other parts it covered. Of course I picked it up cheap because of that and I have a roof skin so whatcha gonna do. Drill out ~200 spot welds and then put them back.
Ma Mopar didn't do anything different to the roof body work whether it got a vinyl top or not except spray on some adhesive and install the top. It was for style and not to "cover up" bad body work.
It made dealing with the roof to quarter seam MUCH easier. Painted roof cars got lead and filler to cover the quarter seam, and bodywork had to be done for paint. Vinyl top cars got a little filler slapped on, no finish quality bodywork. Had this been lead it wouldn't have rusted out underneath it, and it wouldn't have peeled off with the top. Vinyl tops were a sales gimmick.
That's a heck of a deal. Now, my 66 Dart had a vinyl top. It was painted body color underneath and no rust issues. They don't cover the sail panel though.
In some cases, Vinyl tops were meant to give the impression of a convertible top.
DesertRat
Leading edge boomer
Gotta say I disagree. The weather is hard on them and they get water damage in the lower corners because of the construction. But it is a correct look for the years and done right is very cool. I replaced mine after repairs and painting body color.
jtkaaa07
BossMan
I love vinyl top cars, I think they look awesome. I don't think the factory ever intended to cover up bad bodywork at all. Moisture and salt could wreck any roof, it all depends on how car was taken care of
Is that your Dart Mike? That thing is beautiful! Myself, I really like the look of the vinyl top.
And if you leave them on long enough, that's exactly what you end up with!
Believe whatever you like, but covering that ugly quarter seam had a lot to do with why vinyl tops came about. As far as moisture and salt, my car spent it's entire life in Northern California and away from the coast. No salt. All you have to do is look at the roof, and then look at the rest of the car, and you can see exactly why vinyl tops suck.
paper thin roof under the top, yes those are holes.
Rest of the car. No significant rust anywhere else on the body. Only exterior surface that's rusted out is the top, the only spots with holes were covered with vinyl. Pretty sure the whole car was treated the same.
thesiren74
Well-Known Member
I had barely any filler in the front piller and a large x on the roof.
thesiren74
Well-Known Member
340swinger4spd
Well-Known Member
My 70 Challenger R/T is a factory FJ5 with a vinyl top. When I replaced the quarters there was lead at the sail panel and the rocker seam.
like KernDog said, the vinyl top was very popular back in the day, idea was to make it look like a vert. I always thought the seam was leaded. NO the factory did not worry about the car lasting 40 years !?? ha
I hate the vinyl tops and the damage they do. last one I had that came wiht one, the drip rails had rusted away! ha ...yes Arkansas Demon.
I hate the vinyl tops and the damage they do. last one I had that came wiht one, the drip rails had rusted away! ha ...yes Arkansas Demon.
MichaelB.
Well-Known Member
I am a fan. My '73 actually was produced with a "Floral" AKA "Mod Top" (which I wish was still in place). But I still like the black version that is on it now.
340swinger4spd
Well-Known Member
I like the vinyl top cars. The problem isn't the vinyl top, it's the owners who let the cracked vinyl get wet. The fabric gets wet and holds moisture against the steel. Poor care and maintenance is the culprit not it being vinyl. Just my .02 cents.
I have a 72 duster I am now working on, it came with the rubber floor covering. that holds moisture, texas car. replacing the entire floors, NO rust anywhere else except the usual spare tire well. I know...... they rust under the carpet too!!!! ha
65-440
Well-Known Member
I like the vinyl roof also. Fortunately my roof was in perfect condition when the car was tore down. New top was installed after the entire car was painted. And I believe the car was originally from PA ...
Evan Dutch
Well-Known Member
Both my darts have those problems. Sucks.
They look good on the right car..
They can lead to issues with right conditions.
They were an easy fix for covering body lines.... White Hat Specials were one of the ways they got people to order them.
My 69 Swinger is coded for a painted top.
My 70 Charger had no Vinyl top...how often do you see that ?
They can lead to issues with right conditions.
They were an easy fix for covering body lines.... White Hat Specials were one of the ways they got people to order them.
My 69 Swinger is coded for a painted top.
My 70 Charger had no Vinyl top...how often do you see that ?
thesiren74
Well-Known Member
Not saying they look bad they just suck when they get worn out and start falling off!
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