Fact or Fiction?

[giggy]

I would say it is fiction. When you build a car, one of the last things you would do is apply the vinyl top. Now you have a car all built up with all sorts of customer ordered items and you are just going to randomly slap a vinyl top on it based on poor workmanship on a roof seam? No way. Many customers ordered their cars, it was big back then. Random vinyl tops is not a feasible idea.

 

[mbaird]

I don't think they just slapped them on at random, but they would offer
the tops in a pkg at a very attractive price. Thus actually getting paid to cover up the seam instead of incurring the extra cost of body work.
As far as time goes, When they leaded or filled the seam they would have to wait for the material to set up before doing any sanding. Where as the roof could be done by 2 people at a fairly rapid pace .

Just a theory......

 

[memike]

look at all the police pac and millatery bilt.
that line kicked them out properly, with no vinyl
the car's that got top's keep them wormer ,cooler and quiter
And to say there was a problem with the birds,it would be true lot of flex and h.p will do this.And how manny car,s got vinyl after an accident in the 70's one year out of the show room. :thumblef: fiction!! :drinkers:

 

['68-340-S]

I think this would be fact only to the extent of special models (Superbird, Challanger SE Etc. Etc.). The cars were built according to the build sheet that came from the order, they didn't build the car then make the build sheet. I had a '74 Charger that came with a top and a '74 Valiant both seams looked good save the wear from time. Idid chip out the bondo on the Charger down the the lead.
Adam

 

[Longgone]

I`ve only read ,as Oldvart said, the only car that (as a rule) got a vinyl top because of the seams was the Superbirds.I`ve seen many a sixties Mopar that didn`t have a vinyl top (that should have had one) with terrible lead work.On the other hand I`ve peeled a few tops and only had minor work to get them looking sweet.

 

[JR]

I was discusted by the ?bondo? (more like bubble gum) when I finnally got it all removed the seam was about 1/2" to 1" deep in some places. QUOTE]


Ditto, When I yanked the top off my 73 scamp I ran into the same thing. It was so bad I had to use a small torch and a wire brush just to get it all out. I filled in all the holes for the chrome smoothed it all out and just left the rust blanket off.

Wasn't there an option for a painted on "vinyl" top? I seen to remember Mopar Muscle featuring a few cars with the painted option.

 

[mikedevore]

Same with the Challenger SE

yea, it seems like anything ma mopar was putting a rear window plug in. with the exception of the 1969 charger 500 & the Daytona Charger. i think this is where the cost part came in, since these were low production cars. i have seen some lousey roof to pillar quailty even in a-body non vinly top cars.