I'll never buy a vinyl top car again!!!

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Never been a fan of those tops. First time I saw them I thought, hm. How does that look. Immediately I thought of how kids were cats and other animals and incidents. Made no sense to me to put something out there that could be damaged so easily. I'm not into delicate things really. I don't like Nik naks for the same reason. To easy to break around my house lol
 
I always thought the vinyl used on Mopars was better quality than used on the competition. I remember the roofs on GM cars looking like crap within 5 years or so. I had Mopar vinyl roofs that still looked good more than 10 yrs later.

I think the main problem was that a car slated for a vinyl roof didn't get the same paint as the rest of the car when it was built. The roof metal may have been just primed and you know primer back then was not a moisture barrier. They didnt waste paint and finish labor when they didn't think it was necessary. Just my opinion.

Another thing....the build quality on my 64 Valiant is much better than the second generation Barracudas I'm used to working on.
 
On the right car, they're beautiful.
I've seen lots of rust on cars without vinyl tops......

Jeff
 
My car came from the factory with a vinyl top. At some point between the original owner and the 2nd owner I bought the car from, it was removed and painted black. Quarter skin seams are rusted on both sides, although not as bad as some of the pictures posted so far. I'll have to take some pictures to share.

Still on the fence as to whether or not I'll be throwing a vinyl top back on once I get to dealing with the body work... I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
 
Vinyl tops are the classic 70s look/thing. Anyone who remembers remembers alot of cars had them. They didnt last though if not taken care of and garage kept and there was an industry for replacing them. Anyway, my question is would you guys paint and clear coat the roof before installing or maybe just base, no clear ? could I seal my primer and go over that? i dont recall my roof being C7 purple when I removed the top I seem to recall it was grey but its been a few years.
 
My 70 Dart 340 was ordered in Plum Crazy, black interior, white vinyl top. When I bought it, in 1978, the vinyl was removed and the roof was painted purple. I've seen one or two Darts @ Carlisle with that combo and like it
I'm considering putting one back on but unsure on how to keep the white vinyl clean. Also thought of painting the roof white but doesn't look right. Vinyl tops gave a "Top of the Line" look to the car back then
 
I agree. My car is a 70 swinger 340 but it was painted silver at some point. When I bought it it had the black top on it but it was dried out and cracking. My plan is to repaint Plum crazy, black vinyl top, black stripe , black scoops and go wing. Th eviinyl top to me ,I know the car had it original and its jut that 70 era look IMO.
 
What is this "rust" thing you guys always talk about? :poke:

IMG_0059~2.jpg
 
Vinyl tops were a design element. On some cars they look great, on others they look like an afterthought and do not follow the body lines and shapes as well. They also were not designed to last 50 years, 5 to 7 years or 100K miles was all you usually got from this era car.
 
340wedge said:
Vinyl tops were a design element. On some cars they look great, on others they look like an afterthought and do not follow the body lines and shapes as well. They also were not designed to last 50 years, 5 to 7 years or 100K miles was all you usually got from this era car.
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True!
The vinyl top idea was it made the car at a distance look somewhat like a vert! Also a quick way to over a roof that was not perfect.
IF that top could have lasted a few more decades, it would hold that rusted out roof together!!!!!:poke:
 
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