Vinyl Tops: Are you a fan?

[kissalien]

I know a guy with another red T/A. His car was originally a white vinyl top car!  I've never seen another red with white vinyl top T/A.  He took the top off years ago because he hates the way it looks.  He is restoring the car now, but not putting a top on it.  Everyone tells him he should put the vinyl top back on, because it is so different, but he hates the white top. It's his car, so he can do as he pleases I guess, I'd put the white top on it if it were my car though!

I have pics of T/As in 12 different colors with white vinyl tops, but no red ones. I've never seen one before.

[kissalien]

With my AAR I always liked how the black flowed from front to back with the hood being black & window louvers.
The vinyl top just complimented the whole look.  I had my windows tinted just to add more to the effect.
I should have the trunk lid painted black and the row of black would be complete.
If the car had a white vinyl top it would not flow and therefore would not look right.

Especially since AARs didn't come with white vinyl tops.

[Street_Challenged73]

I'd have to say it depends on which car it's on, but I do think Barracudas/'Cudas look better with a sleek painted roof as opposed to a vinyl top.  My Challenger will be getting a white top to go along with the Plum Crazy exterior and white interior, which should look killer.   I personally would have never ordered a vinyl-topped car from the factory as they're more maintenance to keep clean & conditioned than paint alone.

[bentpshrods]

   I really like the look of vinyl tops.  I just went to a shop Friday and made arrangement to take my car in this week and have my new top put on.   On all that purple a black top helps break up the color ---plus I like the way it looks with the wing, billboard stripe, and louvers.  For example        I started driving in 71 so alot of the cars that influenced my younger years had vinyl tops.

[bb71challenger]

I did not read the thread and will give my opinion before reading. It depends on the application. I was set to make mine a hardtop but was kinda talked into going back with the original white vinyl top. We will see how it works out and I have no doubt it will look nice. I love white tops and interiors anyway. Now what I LOVE is something like the red on red AAR that had a writeup about it in a magazine. It had a black vinyl top. With the black AAR hood the black top just flowed so nicely into the color scheme. In an application like that I love them. Other than that I would rather have a hardtop for the simple fact that they usually look better to me and are damn sure easier to care for.

[dutch]

I like them a lot... on other peoples cars.  I really like the gatorgrain tops and I love mod-tops    I would love to own a mod-top 

[408cuda]

I like them a lot too. I think e bodies look better with vinyl tops. Mine came originally with a white top and stripping and a b5 body color

[HemiOrange70]

I am not  fan. Some color combos look OK, but the hardtops rock and lots of rust issues with under the vinyl down the road

[mcgheejt]

A new vinyl top was put on my car this weekend.  I luv em'.

[torredcuda]

I just missed the height of the musclecar era by a few years getting my license at 17 in 1976.Back then it did`nt matter to me about vinyl tops but I did like the hot colors.Now I only like them depending on colors and options.For e-bodies I think more Challengers look good with vinyl than `cudas b/c they are a more upscale car.

[Bullitt-]

Butterscotch SUX













 

Like most things Opinions are like A-Holes    Everybody's got one. 

I got one & will be keeping.....Should look like this again some day

[Carlwalski]

Some colour combos are OK with them, especially the Triple Black cars. But, in most cases, IMO, it breaks the body lines up too much. That straight line above the rear fender just doesn't flow, it's too abrupt. My car is an original V1X car but I decided against it, the best decision I ever made, that and not putting the body side moldings on.

[whitesatinmopar]

Well to attempt to answer your total question. I got my license in 1963    As far as vinyl tops go, back in the day I loved them, they were popular. In one regard it said, I ordered my car loaded with options ($$$$$), because you had to order a certain option group to get a vinyl top. However it didn't take long to find out just how much extra work it took to keep that top looking good and they became a PIA. The Chally came with a vinyl top but was not in our resto. plans for the before mentioned reason along with potential future rust issue. The same goes for wheel lip moldings and the vinyl/chrome side stripes, just places to catch and hold moisture for rust cancer to begin. And besides, I really do like the "Plane Jane" look, but I have no reason to put down a dressed out car because they do look nice. But for me today to consider replacing a vinyl top it would have to be one that has the gator grain because of the rarity, another example would be the brown paisly top. But for a mod top  no way, I never liked them to begin with............and I grew up in the mid 60's - 70's, but I also quit wearing pointed colar shirts and bell bottom jeans years ago.   


Bullitt that looks like a twin sister to our Chally at "birth", metalic gray with a black vinyl top, and yes it had bright blue interrior  what a contrast of colors. Ours however was not a true rally model.

[EDGEFIND]

For me, it goes back and forth depending on the color of the car, its wheels and if it has any type of stripe package. Many without look very sleek but sometimes the color is too bold and needs to be broken up in my opinion. The vinyl does a great job of doing that. One of my favorite combos is a Challenger with the black vinyl top and bumble bee stripe in the back against a somewhat contrasting color. However, as I said before, it depends on the overall combo and I feel they look tacky at times too. I take it on a per car basis.

[wally426ci]

I like them. Mine was rust free underneath. If you prep it right it shouldnt rust again.