Installing A New Vinyl Top - Vinyl Top Re-Bop

Unlike earlier cars, the '71 Charger's vinyl top extends behind the rear glass. This area was bonded next. The excess material was then trimmed to within one inch of the window channel. The rear glass was out of the car during the installation.

The last areas to bond were the A-pillars. We had the windshield still in the car, but removed some of the sealant around the glass so the top material could tuck deeply into the channel.

With the bonding done, the next step was trimming. The best tool for the job was a sharp razor blade. First, we trimmed near the roofrails, trimming to the lower edge of the rail. This area got capped with a stainless steel strip.

Trimming around the perimeter needs to be done accurately so the material is well secured but doesn't show beyond the trim. The trim is less than 1/2-inch wide, so there isn't much room for error. The best approach is to mock up the trim pieces into position and mark the edge. The material was then cut to 1/8-inch inside the marked lines.

After trimming the vinyl, the top moldings were reinstalled. We purchased all new trim clips from R/T Specialties.

The moldings always go together in a sequence. On the '71 Charger, it started at the quarter windows, then the long side strips, followed by the trim around the base of the rear window.

The roof gutter molding hooked over the top, and the lower edge rolled over the channel.

The top material needs to be trimmed carefully around the pegs for the windshield trim moldings. Again, we got all new clips from R/T Specialties.

The completed top looked perfect, although the front windshield trim would have to wait to have a few dings bumped out and polished before we'd install them. Besides the money saved, the best part of installing the top ourselves was not having to load the rolling chassis onto a trailer to get to an upholstery shop.