SE Challengers - Vinyl Top related question, just curious

[wally426ci]

Alot of cars that I see, people have body filled the difference between the fiberglass small window panel and the original rear window space.....

Im just wondering if anyone has found the "correct" hair like fabric that pads that area. I did what i could to replicate that with mine but I know there is something better out there.....

Just curious... 

[Red R/T]

If anyone knows what it is and where to get it I would like to know also.   

[hemiken]

To my knowledge i was sure their was nothing in between the vinyl material and the roof turret on the SE tops.
I do know from factory that the recess areas where the screws are, the factory installed aluminum tape to cover the holes, but nothing else.

Not sure what you found under your vinyl roof Wally, have you replaced the vinyl at any stage on your car old mate ?

[wally426ci]

Yep, i can attest that my top was original, good enough that i could have left it but the drunk before me slammed his fist down a few times 

When i removed it, there was a fabric about a 1/4" thick and it sandwiched an insualtion looking material from the roof to the filler peice. I dont remember the tape, maybe i have a 71 odity found again..... 

[hemiken]

It just may be another oddity you found with your rare optioned car Wally

[DoNotChallengeHer]

I thought the SE tops were called padded vinyl tops. I'm guessing it is some sort of padding.

[hemiken]

I thought the SE tops were called padded vinyl tops. I'm guessing it is some sort of padding.

Hi Jackie ,

No padding on the SE's, not for Challenger anyway.  But Wally's car is a rare optioned 71 Challenger so his may have been different.

[wally426ci]

I suppose we'll see if anyone else chimes in......

[DoNotChallengeHer]

Hi Jackie ,

No padding on the SE's, not for Challenger anyway.  But Wally's car is a rare optioned 71 Challenger so his may have been different.

            appearing with Plymouth's third-generation Barracuda for 1970 was a Dodge relative, the division's belated reply to the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, and other ponycars. Fittingly named Challenger, it was offered with a Slant-Six as standard power, plus V-8 options of 318, 383, 440, and even the Hemi. Models comprised hardtop coupe and convertible in plain and sporty R/T trim. The hardtop could also be ordered as a Special Edition with padded vinyl roof and a smaller "formal" rear window. Priced attractively in the $3,000-$3,500 range and cataloging a broad list of options, Challenger sold very well its first year, but then tailed off rapidly. In 1970 sales, sixes outpaced V-8s, while hardtops outsold convertibles. Only about 10,000 SE coupes were built.

[wally426ci]

Thats what im talking about!  Ive seen so many people overlook that factor 

[hemiken]

             The hardtop could also be ordered as a Special Edition with padded vinyl roof and a smaller "formal" rear window.

This may have been the advertisment for the day, but if you go have a look at every SE you come across that is factory original or not and you will see that the SE's had no padding.  I have seen bigger and later model cars with padded roofs and they really stand out as being padded.  Sorry for Chryslers mistake in their advertising department buddy.  Looks as if i should post away my invoice for Chrysler now i have been doing so much PR work for them lately

[Moparal]

I always wanted to see an S/E without the vynil top. I know someone has had to have done this before somewhere. I think it would look kool and not impossible to do

[wally426ci]

Farmboys was pretty awesome looking before the top went on, and equally awesome with the top. Kenny, im think that they werent quite talking about making it look like a Brougham...  Maybe the "padding" they spoke of was what i am talking about.... Just padded between the window filler. I know mine was factory padded, other than a repaint from green to root beer, the car had never been hacked. And even then, they just taped everything off, im still finding brown paint on little spots of the trim....... 

[hemiken]

  im still finding brown paint on little spots of the trim....... 

Hey Wally, sounds as if that little stroker small block has got more grunt than i thought if you are finding Brown spots on the trim

Hi guys,
I sent Barry an e-mail to ask about the SE tops.  This is what he sent back..

No mention of padding here;
 
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1970/70_Challenger0025.jpg
 
or here;
 
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1970/70_Challenger0005.jpg
 
or here;
 
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/colorAndTrim/1970/70_Dodge_tops0001.jpg

[DoNotChallengeHer]

Ok. I asked someone I know about this. He believes it was used as a filler for the area around the plug for the SE window.