Tips on convertible top replacement? '69 Electra

[pnkmoore]

Dear BCA: The top on my '69 Electra appears to be the original. It's a very low mileage car that I bought last year. I've got to replace the top, and have wondered about a few things:

First and foremost: What should I expect to pay for the top to be replaced?

I'm hoping to locate a vendor that will repaint the top frame while they're doing to top, and wonder if all top shops offer that service normally? (I live in rural Louisiana, however, and may have some trouble with getting any sort of standard service.)

I see local upholstry shops (2) advertising their services in replacing tops. I'm a little wary. Anything in particular I should watch out for?

The liner for the top well is rotted. Does the replacement top come with a new liner or is this something I should expect to pay extra for?

Does the VIN reveal the original top color, or were top colors standardized, i.e. were they matched only to certain colors? My car color is Poly Green Verde (fresh repaint. It looks great!) and the top is black. I'm considering changing the top color, but I don't want to put an "incorrect" top that either violates the VIN indication, should there be one, or that Buick would never had matched to the color/model. Maybe Buick only used black in those years.

Any advice would be grealy appreciated. Thanks

Patrick E. Moore

BCA 41652

[mrpushbutton]

Patrick--the local shop might be just fine, I would ask them for the names of other vintage car customers to talk to, or ask around at local car shows or cruise nights. I favor a trim shop top over a "kit" top for fit. You want them to make the top just as the original was made--no "freestyling" it.

[Guest my3buicks]

http://www.electron-top.com/

Hi,

I had my original top replaced on my 69 Electra, my Electra was Antique Gold with a white top, I changed to Sandelwood. AS long as you stay with a color offered by Buick you will be fine, white, black, or sandelwood. I think you will get your best job by a reputible local shop, and as stated above, ask around and check with owners that the shop has done. Even go look at their work if the customer doesn't mind. When you get it done, you should probably have all the top weather molding replaced at the same time http://166.82.96.9/homeframes.html

Steele rubber products are the superior/preferred product on the market. I put the link to Electron tops at the top of the post, that is the company that my top came from, and are known for being a high end top company. With weatherstripping, painting your top frame, top, and labor, you will easily be between $1500 -$2000. I attached a couple pics of my Electras top so you can see a great outcome.

[Guest my3buicks]

another

[Guest imported_Thriller]

It never hurts to talk the the upholstery shop as well. The fellow who did mine came recommended by others in our local club. When I talked to him (older fellow), he stated he normally only installs tops that he purchases (from Robinson or Robertson or ? ) as he knows the quality. Since I had purchased mine and had it for about a year, he installed it...they had a heck of a time with it...of course, my top frame has some issues as well.

Good luck.

[Guest imported_Thriller]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does the VIN reveal the original top color, or were top colors standardized, i.e. were they matched only to certain colors? My car color is Poly Green Verde (fresh repaint. It looks great!) and the top is black.

</div></div>

Assuming they didn't change from earlier years, the colour of the top would be with the paint code on the body plate located on the firewall. My '61 Invicta's code is NN6 which decodes to be Cordovan upper and lower colour and 6 is for the top (currently is something like tan - not sure of the exact name of the colour for that year).