HELPFUL INFORMATION

Shipping
Warranty
Ordering Information
Convertible Top Fabrics
Convertible Top Cables
Boots and Headliners
Other Convertible Top Parts
Two Part Top Manual
Installation Instructions

ORDERING INFORMATION
Buying tops on line raises the same consumer issues as the purchase of any other commodity from a web site. You will note, as you proceed through our shopping process, that we have taken steps to reassure and serve our customers properly. These include the provision of contact information to any of several staff members who will handle any questions, special requests or difficulties.

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CONVERTIBLE TOP FABRICS
Almost all manufacturers use Haartz fabrics. They may specify "heaviest weight" or "original replacement" in ways that seem reassuring. But they do not really tell the whole story. Please bear in mind that two things dominate, by far, the quality issue: (a) the manufacturing quality control in the factory that makes the top and (b) the care and thoroughness of the installation. There is a trade-off in weight: heavier is better for resisting tear through, but lighter is better for flexibility and abrasion from within that may arise from movement. Almost all our tops are a flexible medium density (36 oz.) fabric. Heavier is not better in most cases. Where it is, because of the top design, we will say so and the top will be made of the heavier vinyl.

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CONVERTIBLE TOP CABLES
We recommend replacing the hold down cables if the old ones are suspect. Cables are threaded through the side seams and their purpose is to provide tension to the sides of the top. Old cables can be stretched beyond their original effective length. And they may have snapped or be about to snap. However, old cables can be reused in almost half of all tops that are less than five years old that have had just one prior top.

Some cars, such as the Capri, or the Cavaliers and Sunbirds have two pair of side cables. There is a rear flap that is also held to the frame with cables. We find that these rear flap cables last longer than the main side cables, often through two or more tops. However the Capri rear cables, owing to their design, are usually replaced with each top.

Some cars, such as the Beetle, VW Cabriolet, some Jaguars, etc. use a different kind of tensioning cable that holds the top down tight to the body of the car along its rear belt line. Such cables should be replaced with a new top in most cases.

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BOOTS AND HEADLINERS
We can supply boots for many cars. We stock them for popular cars, such as the Beetle, VW Cabriolet and others where they were original equipment. But most boots are custom made and require two weeks to ship.

We recommend that "boot vinyl" be the fabric of choice for replacement boots. Top fabrics such as pinpoint do not have the flexibility inherent in modern boot vinyl. Please inquire on boots and headliners if not listed. We will quote you and provide fabric information if you inquire.

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OTHER CONVERTIBLE TOP PARTS
Top Pads can often be re-used in a second top. We sell fewer pads than cables. The term "pads" and "webbing" are sometimes used interchangeably in the industry. This is because some webbings are padded and because webbing is sometimes designed to "pad out" the convertible top.

Rear well liners are commonly attached to the back of tops until the sixties. Thereafter when present the well liners were usually independent of the top fabric. Well liners typically last a long time and are likely re-usable.

Tacking Strips are embedded into top frame bows in most cars from 1950 until the present. They replaced the wooden tacking forms used until about 1948 in American convertible top frames. Incidentally, Mercedes and Volkswagen used wood bows until much later. The old Beetles of 1979 had wood rear top bows. And the 2004 Rolls Royce has wood tacking forms too! Modern convertible tops are installed with staples and contact cement and the stapling is done into embedded "tacking strips" in the frame bows. Usually these are in the front (or 'header') bow and in the rear top bow (over the rear window.) We offer replacements for these tacking strips. We can also usually provide replacement tacking strips for the rear (base line) tacking strips to which the lower rear portion of the top is often stapled. Tacking strips, where used (usually in the front and rear top bows) usually last for two tops.

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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
We carry custom installation booklets for many of the tops that we carry based on our extensive experience. If you see an installation booklet listed (as an "accessory") then it is available specifically for that top. Package deals include custom manuals if available.

These comprehensive manuals are written from shop and dealer procedures. We cannot provide consulting services. Also, though we have checked carefully on accuracy and clarity, it is the installer's responsibility that the job be completed successfully.

Instruction booklets should be used in conjunction with careful notes you make during the removal of the old top.

Most American convertibles made after the forties are of a similar design. They consist of two parts: a "main top" which is the portion from the windshield to the bow above the rear window; and the "rear curtain" which is the rear window and its trim. They are joined during the installation process. Excellent instructions for this job are to be found in the "Guide To Installing Two Part Convertible Tops." This manual is $6 and is listed on most of the convertible top pages as an accessory. It is not listed where specific shop based guides are available, such as for the Miata (not a two part top).

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