Convert. Top Boot--'70-'72 GS or Skylark

Discussion in 'The ragtop shop' started by Jolly-John, Sep 14, 2003.

  1. Jolly-John

    Jolly-John Well-Known Member

    Hi Gang. I want to buy an excellent quality top boot for our '71 GS convert. Ours is the style of boot that stays attached to the rear seat top and has thin plastic tabs that slide under the stainless steel molding in back of the convert. top well. Who makes the best reproduction of this item? Thanks, John in Wisconsin
     
  2. BlueSky

    BlueSky Gold Level Contributor

    I bought a new boot for my '70 Skylark recently-- It's a Legendary one-- bought it through Year One-- about 179.00. Very high quality. My problem is, I'm not sure if the metal piece behind the back seat was removed and re-attached incorrectly by a previous owner or what-- I'm having trouble getting the front of the boot to stay put behind the seat-back. Any thoughts?

    We're happy with the boot-- Legendary's colors seem to be right on the mark, too......
     
  3. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Best price I have found is www.opgi.com. Was about 80 within the last year. Most of these vendors do not make these products themselves.
     
  4. BlueSky

    BlueSky Gold Level Contributor

    That price might be for the same one that Year One sells for about $115.00-- I bought one and the color was generic, not real specific to the year-- had to return it and get the expensive one. What color is your interior, John??
     
  5. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    I got black so generic was not an issue.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 1, 2003
  6. BlueSky

    BlueSky Gold Level Contributor

    That would be nice!!!! My pearl white (70) was not so easy....... I see OPGI even has the black ones on sale sometimes........
     
  7. russnjo

    russnjo Member

    I ordered a boot & mounting clips through year one for my 64 skylark after waiting for over a month I was told the clips were on back order. I canceled and ordered through opgi. Got every thing on time however this boot does not appear to fit as well. In addition I am not sure how the boot attaches to the back of the seat. Sounds like we are having the same problems. If any one knows the answer they could help both of us!
     
  8. SmittyDawg

    SmittyDawg Need another garage....

    Not sure about other years, but on the '70 GS, there is a metal strip about an inch wide that goes along most of the length of the back seat. It is screwed into the metal back of the car and is covered by the seat back when installed with the exception of the very top "track" which holds the "bead" of the boot cover (a round section kind of like the spline that you use for mounting screen in windows, except much stiffer. That spline slides into the track in the metal strip.
     
  9. BlueSky

    BlueSky Gold Level Contributor

    Ah Ha!!!

    I knew I was missing something-- My track is there behind the seat, matter of fact I had the seat out this summer and installed some of the screws which had been missing from that track. I had just been stuffing the "bead" of the boot down between the seat and the track, expecting it to stay :Dou: now I feel like a moron :spank:

    Thanks for the tip Cole, I'll go try it in a couple days..... hope it works on russnjo's '64.......
     
  10. SmittyDawg

    SmittyDawg Need another garage....

  11. Buickone

    Buickone Founders Club Member

    Ok so the bead stays in the channel all the time? isn't it kinda hard to slide the plastic clips under the mouldings ? what happens when you put the top up?
     
  12. SmittyDawg

    SmittyDawg Need another garage....

    Yep, the bead stays in there all the time. When you put the top up, you'll need to slide the "tabs" out of the chrome moulding and flip it forward over the back seat, then raise the top. Then you flip the boot cover into the "well" where the top was folded into, to keep the boot out of the way for people sitting in the back seat. Reverse the process to put the top down....flip the boot cover out of the well, lower top, then flip boot cover over the top and slide clips into the moulding. You definitely pull the boot cover snug to get the tabs to slide into the moulding. I suggest starting at the center of the trunk and work your way to each side to keep the boot cover equally stretched.

    A little time consuming to be sure, but that's the way they designed it. I would caution you on one thing - when you are sliding the tabs under the moulding, and especially when you're taking the tabs out from under the moulding, take your time, be gentle, treat it like a lady! Many a time I have seen torn fabric around those tabs because we're always in such a hurry to get it in or get it out!:laugh: :laugh:
     
  13. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    I spray the area with wax before inserting the tabs under the pinch weld molding which is stainless. I have refinished a number of them.
     
  14. SmittyDawg

    SmittyDawg Need another garage....

    Hadn't thought of that, Jim. Thanks for the tip!:TU:
     

Share This Page