Corvette_Mark

Hi all,

I am looking to buy a replacement convertible top for my Father's 1972 Stingray as a gift. I was hoping folks here might be able to recommend a quality product with good OE fit/finish characteristics.... unfortunately the market is flooded with crap from China. I would be very grateful for any replacement top recommendations!
- Mark

Easy Mike

Al Knoch.
http://www.alknochinteriors.com/

Mr D.

X2 on Mike's post.

bj1k

One word , Robbin's !

69Vett

These 2 seem to be the best available,
can any one comment on the difference between Robbins, and Al Knock's
tops ? Quality, fit, instructions, Installation ?

bj1k

Do a search . I've described the huge difference many times when this subject comes up. The only good thing about Al Knoch products is his installation video which was made many years ago.

Alan 71

Hi Mark,
Many people are pleased with the tops from Al Knock.
Will you or your father be installing it or will you have someone else do it?
Regards,
Alan

Corvette_Mark

Thanks felllas, I appreciate you all sharing your experiences! I plan on doing the handiwork myself (not the first time I have done this actually!).

Corvette_Mark

Hi, would you be able to redirect me to that post, Id like to give it a read, but cant quite find it.

F4Gary

The upholsterer I talked to here buys from Robbins. He said Al Knock stuff ain't what it used to be and won't buy from them. He's been in the business for 20+ years.

The13Bats

As you well know some brands are untoucable on the forum as being the end all to be all,
i did my own thinking my own homework and have come to the conclusion that knoch was once the go to name for tops, but sadly like with many great names it has slipped,
I have no doubts he still gives his special customers special treatment, not what i got when i called about having them do mine at a ncrs meet a couple years ago, so its not a hard reach when a shop doing tops all day says they dont use a brand anymore there is a good reason....

1974ta

Is your father's 72 a driver or is it restored according to NCRS? If restored as original, AK is about the only option. If NCRS you need to make sure you let AK know so you receive the correct stuff.

If just a driver the cloth tops look really nice. I have no experience with Robbins.

Kind Regards,


Bill

LT-1 kid

I just installed a AK top my self on a 68, nice top, looks and fits very good

Corvette_Mark

HI Bill, it's a 72 restored to LT-1 specs... took a while to get the correct parts. I suppose he'd appreciate a "more correct" top, but hey... it is a driver. So AL Knoch has multiple tops available? NCRS grade and a more generic top? Hmm...

mrvette

Fair warning to you, I bought a top for my '72 some years ago, and the installer said it would not fit, with one glance, and damn if he wasn't correct.....the sins were the side windows were severely shrouded by the overhang vertically and also the side wrapped around too far forward, so the window would catch and door not close with window up....this on the top/rear corner area.....I dunno who I got if from, much less who made it....I had it installed anyway because I had cut the old top off already....

the second top is just recently, and it's a Robbins...and fits much better....I got from Tops Online.com

the prime points to measure are the vertical area near the side window.... should be 11" tall on the rear/vertical edge, anything less and return the top......

another bitch to my install was that rear deck gasket, I finally gave the hell up and cut some pipe wrap, and glued it into place, the heavy rubber piece that was on the car was/IS in great shape, just can not get the damn thing into the slot on the steel bow....

another trick spot is that damn rear bow where the wrapping goes around.....

1974ta

The basic top is the same. The differences are in the rear window to have it dated, the piece that covers the rear tack strip, the metal ends, and the front windlace.

AK has the correct parts.

Below are pictures of a correct top and in this case an original top. This is not my Corvette but they are very nice reference photos.













Kind Regards,


Bill

bj1k

Thats what I have been trying to say for a long time. Al Knoch used to be a name you could count on . Not anymore. A local upholsterer says the same thing about his tops . He will not touch them and he is someone that knows tops , he makes a lot of custom tops for hot rods. I personally install Robbins and have had bad experiences with a couple tops bought in recent years from Knoch . Never had one problem with Robbins.

bj1k

You should feel fortunate that you are happy . It's like lifting a shell to see if you are the lucky one. How particular are you ?