Options available for convertible top for 57 T Bird

[Guest mball]

Hello Everyone,

New guy here and I have a question regarding aftermarket convertible tops. I am looking at a 1957 T Bird that currently does not have a soft top. I would like to get a general idea of outfitting it with a soft top before I purchase it. It does not have to be original. Any suggestions on who has a good oaftermaket top? What is a ballpark price for getting this installed? I have also seen a tonneau cover for these as well. Does anyone have any experience with these? I am assuming it would be less expensive but does it do a good job of keeping the rain out? My main reason for wanting a soft top is to have some insurance in case we get caught in the rain.

Any help or suggestions on where to go to get some additional information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Mike

[1957Birdman]

The best aftermarket top available is from Jewell's auto body. It is pricey (at least $5K), but hardly anyone will notice you have a replacement top. Prestige Thunderbird and others offer a replacement soft top ($2,300) that is configured the same as original except that it does not have weather stripping around the side windows. There are used original tops available from other sources and on Ebay. Unless you are handy with tools and want to put the work into it I would suggest that you steer clear of fixer upper tops. On my car I currently have a top that was produced over 20 years ago that works well but is not constructed like the original. It uses electrical concuit to construct the skeleton and it has different clamps, but it works and keeps the rain off of my head.

As for a tonneau cover, I put one on my car and am glad that I did. It does keep the rain out, but only when the entire interior is covered over. It is strictly a limited utility solution since it does not cover you while driving in the rain.

One thing I can guarantee is that driving your car in the summer without either a top or tonneau is a magnet for any rogue rain shower in your area.

If you buy the car you should join CTCI. It has a wealth of information for the early T-Bird enthusiast.

Regards,

[Guest mball]

Thanks so much for the great information Lew! This helps me immensely as I was unsure where to start and where to find a good top versus a poor one. I am surprised that they would manufacture the car without the convertible top. I will also look at the tonneau too.

I will look into CTCI too. I've noticed a few different forums online and have been perusing them for information but hadn't found much regarding aftermarket tops.

Thanks Again!

Mike

[1957Birdman]

With the early T-Birds the hardtop was considered to be the standard top. A car could be ordered with a hardtop only, with a softtop only, or with both. The tonneau was an extra cost option in 1956 and 1957. There was also a dealer installed tonneau available for all three years starting in 1956. You will find that most of the cars sold in southern California came with the hardtop only. That is the way my car came originally.

The phone number for Jewel's Auto Body is 920-756-2549. They are located in Wisconsin.