View Poll Results: Vinyl or Fabric Convertible top?
Black Vinyl
14
33.33%
Black Fabric
28
66.67%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll
Vinyl or Fabric Convertible Top???
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Vinyl or Fabric Convertible Top???
Have to decide, on either a vinyl or fabric replacement top for my 72. Car is dark green with a black top. Needs a new top bad, still has the original top!!!
Thouight I wanted vinyl, but after looking around and reading. The black fabric has caught my eye. Did a search and didn't find anything.
So what should it be? Fabric? or vinyl? thanks,Mark
Thouight I wanted vinyl, but after looking around and reading. The black fabric has caught my eye. Did a search and didn't find anything.
So what should it be? Fabric? or vinyl? thanks,Mark
#3
Le Mans Master
Fabric. Got mine from Al Knoch. Only issue is that fabric does not stretch as much on install. First one I got was about 1" too short around the rear bow. Second was about 1/8" short but I made it work.
Only close up I have:
Only close up I have:
Last edited by SteveG75; 01-04-2008 at 09:36 AM.
#5
Safety Car
Member Since: Sep 1999
Location: AnyTown NJ
Posts: 4,930
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I like the classic vinyl look....funny I couldn't find too many pics with the top up....it's down most of the driving season.
Last edited by gq82; 01-04-2008 at 11:18 AM.
#6
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
#7
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
But every time I look at your SCG 71, I am tempted to paint it to the correct color. The black vinyl really does look good against that color. The vinyl has a sheen to it
Just about the time I am sold on the fabric....I get pulled back to the vinyl. Either one would look good. The fabric is $200 more than the vinyl from AL Knoch.
Mark
#8
Drifting
Your choice, but I like vinyl. Shines up and cleans up very easily. Fabic just seems dull to me. I have tan vinyl on the 75 and tan fabric on the 08. Much prefer the vinyl. But, with that said, it is your car. Do what you prefer. The fabric looks great on the yellow. Very nice. The vinyl on the silver looks really great.
#9
I might be there at the Kissimee NCRS meet and if so you maybe we can meet up if you want to see it in person. I am 50/50 if I will be there. Here is a pic of the top that AlKnoch installed there last year at the NCRS meet. Also you might want to some how check your header bar for rust/holes/etc. since it is original and pick up a new header bar at the NCRS meet for a lot cheaper. I got mine for $75 cheaper than Ecklers catalog and that saved shipping & taxes too on a straight cash deal.
below is the header bar I am referring to...mine had previous bondo repair and was okay but nothing like picking up a good deal and doing it all correctly while the parts are readily available at Kissimee.
below is the header bar I am referring to...mine had previous bondo repair and was okay but nothing like picking up a good deal and doing it all correctly while the parts are readily available at Kissimee.
#10
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Carpedm I am on for Thursday afternoon to have Al Knoch install a top. Been waiting for a year.
Any issues with your top from Al Knoch? Any advise (other than the header)
Happy with the fabric?
I like the look of the both the vinyl and the fabric. Because the original top was in such bad shape. I never used it. Car is always parked in the garage, covered up, to keep dust off of it. Can't drive it in the rain!!
Any issues with your top from Al Knoch? Any advise (other than the header)
Happy with the fabric?
I like the look of the both the vinyl and the fabric. Because the original top was in such bad shape. I never used it. Car is always parked in the garage, covered up, to keep dust off of it. Can't drive it in the rain!!
#11
You should be in very good hands with AlKnoch doing your top. There were countless little additional misc items that I needed replaced that I had no idea were worn out on my top frame. My vinyl top was replaced2 years earlier and all worked fine but I really wanted the fabric top. The header bar is that big piece of steel running across the top and it is very common for originals to be rusty they said so don't be surprised if you need to shell out another $250 with a different vendor there to get the header bar. Other items were misc screws, nuts, bolts, etc. that would drive ya nuts trying to piece all the parts together and order but you are lucky as all the vendors have just about any item you need to replace the top. AlKnoch did a great job including weather strip making the fit nice and snug around the windows, etc.
I guess we will not get to meet up before you get your top installed as if I go it will be on Saturday. No problems with the top at all....and I fold her up/down constantly. Black fabric still looks like brand new and I drive my car a lot. The frabric also has a benefit of the look from the inside of the car....I really like the fabric look from the inside of the car looking up.
I guess we will not get to meet up before you get your top installed as if I go it will be on Saturday. No problems with the top at all....and I fold her up/down constantly. Black fabric still looks like brand new and I drive my car a lot. The frabric also has a benefit of the look from the inside of the car....I really like the fabric look from the inside of the car looking up.
#14
Race Director
I put the fabric on mine too. I really like how it turned out. Kind of finishes the car off like a tux jacket IMO. Like everyone else though, my cars top is always down and hardly ever in the up position. I have a few pics of it.
#15
Race Director
If you want Al to install a top, you had better call him as he gets booked up early for every meet he attends. There is no one better at installing a top then he is. Hell, why not he makes the damn things.
I believe the fabric is call 'sail cloth' and is a real class act for any Vette. But as a traditionilst I just installed a vinyl top on my own 62.
I believe the fabric is call 'sail cloth' and is a real class act for any Vette. But as a traditionilst I just installed a vinyl top on my own 62.
#17
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
If you want Al to install a top, you had better call him as he gets booked up early for every meet he attends. There is no one better at installing a top then he is. Hell, why not he makes the damn things.
I believe the fabric is call 'sail cloth' and is a real class act for any Vette. But as a traditionilst I just installed a vinyl top on my own 62.
I believe the fabric is call 'sail cloth' and is a real class act for any Vette. But as a traditionilst I just installed a vinyl top on my own 62.
#18
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
#20
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I am traveling on biz today (Friday) through Sunday. When I get back I will post some pics.
All went very well. I waviered for a while leaning toward the vinyl.....but I got the fabric "stafast". Al and Dale are great to deal with. Had a great time. Took about 3 1/2 hours, not much to look at yesterday at the show. So I hung out at the Al Knoch tent...
Top is beautiful. Was approached several times to sell the car while it was parker there...tempting.
On the way home traffic on I-4 was slow due the pile up earlier in the week. A guy in new Jag sedan pulled up beside me, rolled down the window and yelled...."your Vette is drop dead gorgeus" thats a first....
No more buyers remorse....
All went very well. I waviered for a while leaning toward the vinyl.....but I got the fabric "stafast". Al and Dale are great to deal with. Had a great time. Took about 3 1/2 hours, not much to look at yesterday at the show. So I hung out at the Al Knoch tent...
Top is beautiful. Was approached several times to sell the car while it was parker there...tempting.
On the way home traffic on I-4 was slow due the pile up earlier in the week. A guy in new Jag sedan pulled up beside me, rolled down the window and yelled...."your Vette is drop dead gorgeus" thats a first....
No more buyers remorse....
Last edited by mbeeman350; 01-13-2008 at 05:50 PM.