I saw an add for a canvas top with glass rear window. The add explains that the glass window needs to be unzipped before the top goes down on the 64 and 65s. I have plans to drive the hot dessert with the top up and the A/C on and I would like to tint the windows to keep some heat out (plus the car will be tripple black and it would look sharp) Has anyone done glass? If you have, how do you like it? Also, is there a tinted plastic?
Glass is preferable in most cases as it does not scratch and get milky looking in time like plastic does. As far as tinting is concerned, if you want to do it yourself it is not very difficult, you just have to take your time. I do not think that there are plastic back windows that are already tinted, all I have seen are clear.
While not a Buick our 70 Cougar top Was a plastic back window we went with glass when we did a new top, Iam glad we did it is nicer on a top when up but to lower top now I have to lower a bit unzip lower about 1/2 way fold yes the glass window has a seam in the middle fold the glass so that it tucks in the top well right and then put the top down so it a much more involved lowering of the top. On the way up its just stop short of being all the way up then zip and finish raising it, After all this I would still go with a glass window.
Thanks Roy, I don't know if the 64 glass has a fold in it like the Cougar, I will have to find out, it would have to be a pretty big window or have top and bottom strips of fabric. It's been many years since I have put the top up and down and now that I think about it I used to always unzip my plastic so that it would lay flat in the well. I hated the wrinkles in the plastic that took hours to flatten out. My car has the power pump so I would stop just past the half way down point and unzip as well as pull back all the pinch points on the folds, finish down and tuck, then put on the boot. I owned a few topless cars many years ago but I have never had one with glass or with canvas. Any 64-65 owners with glass? This body has the concave shape to the back well filler panel, wondering about that shape with the glass. Also, how agout canvas? Any canvas likes or dislikes?
Not sure if the top well is the same, but I have canvas & glass on my 67.The canvas has held up better I think than the stock material.I do throw a cover on it most nights. I have to crack the top loose, go back and unzip the glass on three sides, lay it down and then put it down the rest of the way.It's really only a hassle if you have someone in the back seat ,or want to put it down at a light or while rolling.For me it's worth the hassle .My car is a daily driver though, so I wasn't worried about keeping it original either. Hope this helps
It's really not hard to keep clean.My top is black.I just wash it with soap amd water when I wash the car. If there's some bird turds etc., I just use a soft scrub brush .Like I said I do cover it at night, so I'm sure that helps alot.Mine is like 5-6 years old and still looks good.
Thanks for the info Davidd (and everyone else for your comments) I was on the fence about spending the extra money. I'm sold, looks like canvas and glass for my vert. buick64203, not a problem, jack right in. For my two cents worth, my last top was always garaged and it was crap at about 5 years old. The back window ripped after about three years. My 69 Camaro had good quality top. It was a daily driving that was left outside most of the time for about 5 or 6 years (it even went through a few harsh winters). When I pulled that one apart for the full show car treatment that top was still in really good shape but the back window was just starting to cloud up in the corners. That top could have gone 8 to 10 years. So it depends on the quality of the top. If your putting on a new one check the warranty of the maker and get a good one. If yours is good, give the girl a blanket at night like David does, covers are cheeper than tops. I always covered my crappy top in the garage because it was so hard to clean.
Canvas is pretty much considered top of the line when replacing a convertible top, after that the choices are heavy weight (original) vinyl and then a lightweight vinyl. I was told that my vinyl top should last 10-12 years being garage kept. The canvas option is/was only a hundred or so dollars more than the vinyl and looks super sharp, I would say that canvas and glass are an excellent choice.
