Convertible Top Installment - Automotive Plastic Surgery

We love driving our Mopars around, and when the weather is nice we enjoy the ride with the top down. Convertible Mopars aren't for everyone, but if you like the wind in your hair and don't mind getting caught in the occasional downpour with the top down, they can be a lot of fun. Since Chrysler only made a limited number of these drop-top machines during the musclecar era, convertibles generally have good collector value in addition to simply being a cool ride.

While there's no doubt a convertible gets attention, especially with the top down, there are some misconceptions about cars with convertible tops. The first misunderstanding is that these cars always leak. While older cars with weathered tops and worn weatherstripping can certainly be prone to leaks, a convertible car with a properly fitted new top and new weatherstripping will seal its occupants from the elements as well as any other old Mopar.

Another fallacy about convertibles is that the top mechanism is complicated and often doesn't work properly. In actuality, the convertible top mechanism is simply a frame of metal and hinges on which to install the canvas top. Though some convertibles came with manually actuated tops, most Mopars produced in the '60s or later had electrically powered, hydraulically actuated tops. Though a power top is slightly more complicated, it's also a far more convenient way to get the top up and down, especially in a sudden rain shower.

You might recognize the '67 Barracuda we're working on from previous articles or even our Rare Finds section. Having been stored outdoors in the Florida sun for ten years or more, the top on this convertible was dry, torn, and in some places nonexistent. Additionally, exposure to the elements had rendered the power top's hydraulic cylinders inoperable, so we'll need to address that issue as well. Fortunately, Paddock Parts had everything we needed for the installation, including a new top with premium rear window, a new well-liner, new boot cover, and all the hydraulic components to make the top go up and down correctly.

Though it is possible to install a convertible top yourself in your garage or home shop, we hadn't done it before so we enlisted Emo's upholstery in Lakeland, Florida, for some professional assistance. Having an upholstery shop perform the work saves time since they have all the tools and equipment needed in house, and it can save money as well because the job will be performed correctly the first time. Convertible tops aren't that expensive, but having to replace one that you messed up installing yourself definitely costs more than paying a professional to do it right initially.

Fortunately, our top frame structure was pretty sound, though faded with some surface rust. To make it look its best, we had our top frame stripped and painted satin black while our car was at J.D.'s Paint and Body Shop getting a paint job. If you don't have access to a body shop, don't worry. This step can also be performed in your driveway with sandpaper and spray paint, though the results may not be as nice.

Overall, once our top frame was repaired and painted, it took less than a day to install the new hydraulic motor, lines, and cylinders; then it took the better part of a day for Emo's Upholstery to install the top, liner, and boot cover. Once finished, the difference was dramatic. The pieces from Paddock Parts were topnotch, constructed from heavy grade material that should stay looking good and last a long time. Even better, we can drive our car in the rain now without fear of getting soaked!