Wasn't sure where to post this question. If you were going to order a vinyl top, would you have faith in the Pre Made top, or would you opt to buy the bulk material?
Pat, I already have a supplier of the correct color and pattern vinyl. I just wasn't sure whether the pre-made top is the way to go, or if an installer would prefer bulk material. Guess the best thing would be to ask a few installers.
Thanks Dave, I was thinking along those lines. Last top I had installed, the installer told me he had a lot of trouble with pre-made tops, that they never fit correctly across the rear window, and he was right. He was able to fix it though.
Jeff Corey would be a good guy to ask as well.He does that for a living.I believe he suggests a premade type as well..
Wizard call Ron at r&r tops plainview ny He did mine not cheap but has a company that matches grain and fit it came out perfect
The only real issue I've seen w/the pre-made is the seams at the back window not matching up with the seams in the body. I believe that was from SMS and they corrected the problem but I'd definitely want to make sure there. I hadn't heard about the seam width issue but now something else to worry about. I need to order a top from SMS. I am fussy & want it right - Esp. w/what they charge (almost $500 but at their mercy wrt color). Do you know if they are one of the suppliers that have this problem?
mine came from Legendery back in 2009. Perfect fit & professionally installed. This was the 3rd top. The fellow that I purchased the car from had replaced the top back in the 1980's. There was no rust on the steel. Somewhere along the way, the roof had painted yellow enamel before the 1st replacement was installed.
The seam alignment at the back window is what I was talking about, Dano. I have seen different width roof seams in the past, and different A pillar seams, too. I've seen different treatments in that area on different cars in the past, but I'm not sure what's available now.
Hi Larry! I just seen my email notification on your inquiry. I've had great luck with Key Auto tops for my vinyl tops I install in my shop. The correct grain is Levant Grain for the GS's from that era. If you take a measurement of the width between your seams they could make it to those dimensions for you. As far as the bottom seam it usually comes as a separate piece and you can adjust the bottom seams to match the top seams as needed. Alot of the original cars had a metal strip with a treaded piece that went thru the dutchman panel below the back window that speed nuts would attach to and this is where the bottom section seam would be located with the material wrapped around the metal strip to simulate the seam area. If this piece is gone your trimmer can make the seam where needed or make up a new metal strip with threaded stud. Now as a side note it's turning out that I'm not becoming a fan of SMS, as I ordered a vinyl top in early March and still haven't seen it. It's for a customer of mine's 1969 Barracuda Mod Top optioned coupe, and I also ordered 4 yards of yellow Mod Top material to do the insert on the seats and door panels, the special order vinyl top was around $900 US and the 4 yds of Mod Top seat material was $179 US a yard, factor in the exchange on the dollar for me up here in Canada and I've got about $2300 Canadian out there to SMS and nothing yet to show for it, excuse after excuse in emails as they never answer their phones and only reply by email and the emails go on that they had to order the roll of correct material then waiting for it to come in, then they said they would have to print the Mod Top design onto the vinyl material, etc. etc. Try telling my customer that his top and vinyl has been on order that long, I know they are a special order item, I know that Covid has thrown a wrench into just about everything being produced but to me this is just bad service all around and piss poor communications with them. There's to hoping it shows up real soon, my customer has been very patient as it's the last piece of the puzzle to finishing his unique car. Just putting it out there in case any Buick brothers are considering using SMS. Best regards, Jeff
Thanks - Great advice/explanation. I need an odd color (green) and it's my understanding that SMS is the only game in town.
Larry, For a regular vinyl top of our era, you really can’t buy just the material for a vinyl top. Once the pieces are sewn together the seams are “heat-sealed”, as in melted together so they stay flat. Unless your vinyl top installer has a heat sealing machine, which is very unlikely, then the top would not look correct after it is installed. Duane
Jeff, I ordered a top from SMS in Feb 2021 and it arrive about a month ago but it is made incorrectly despite me telling them the seam width when I ordered it, and again when I called to check on the order, and also when I sent them an email with the dimensions and photos etc. Then it shows up months later and is not correct. I contacted them and they asked for photos which I provided. Still no resolution. This top is for a '69 GTO which does not use the metal strip under the back window like some other A-body cars. On the bright side I did get my headliner from them and it was perfectly made with correct NOS material. I'm still waiting on the door panels and seat covers from SMS but they did warn me that they would be a very long lead time. Restoring a car with anything other than a black or white interior is a real pain. I'm sure the same is true with that Mopar you are restoring. The only place that I'm aware of that will make a vinyl top with the seams under the back window in the correct location is Legendary but they only offer black or white tops. They will make a top for you with your material but charge a premium and the current delivery time is deep into 2022 at this point. Look around at shows and 90%+ have the seams in the wrong location. SMS will have the right material but they will send you a top with a seam width of 44" regardless of what you ask for. I have another friend that ordered a top from them for his '70 Stage 1. He specified the correct seam width for a '70-'72 Buick A-body and they said no problem. He even sent them a written diagram of the seam width. It didn't matter and they just made the seams 44" which is what they sent me after I specifically told them verbally and in writing that it MUST be 52" for a '69 GTO. They have great materials and workmanship but bad communication between the office and the people actually making the products.
