‘40 convertible top kit

S

sid carey

Member
‘40 convertible top kit

After searching for the last few months I finally found an upholsterer to install the top kit I bought from Cartouche for my ‘40 convertible coupe. I checked with him today, and he had found that the rear window flap snaps in place differently on the new top. It uses snaps instead of the fasteners that twist to lock that are on the old top. Which fastener is correct? Also, if we use the new snaps, the instructions don’t tell how these snaps are to be attached. Do they anchor on the top bow? Thanks, Sid
 
Re: ‘40 convertible top kit

Thanks Kube. My upholstery guy says he can buy and install the twist fasteners, so that’s what we will do. Sid
 
Re: ‘40 convertible top kit

There are tools made to punch the holes to install the Dot brand Common Sense twist lock grommets. It takes several screws to install the twist lock post.
 
Re: ‘40 convertible top kit

I bought a new top from Cartouche for my 40 convertible. Installed it myself to replace the top I bought from Lebaron Bonny almost 30 years ago. The Cartouche top fits and functions but it is no where near the quality of the Lebaron Bonny top.
 
Re: ‘40 convertible top kit

Ken
I experienced that as well. Lebaron bonney was still in business when I did mine, I tried the cartouche top as it was half the price, received it and laid it in top of my old one still on the car. It was as if they had no accurate pattern. It was terrible. Corners squared, etc. I sent it back and ordered the lebaron bonney. It was much better but not without flaws. The sewing from one side to the next on where the seams meet at the back bow we’re almost one inch off. Their quality slipping for sure. You don’t find those things out till you are fully installing it. You only can pull so far down the sides as you know . My center is good but not as tight as I would like. It looks pretty darn good for an ameture albeit I’ve installed my fair share of Model A roadster tops.

My suggestion is to purchase the hartz cloth material in bulk with trimming and have someone very schooled at doing vintage tops do it.
I spoke to Jason at Mann restoration and they have done an excellent job on some vintage open car tops I’ve seen.
They are well noted but not cheap.
I’ll have mine at the meet in Tennessee. Note my car is a driver with a 40 plus year old restoration that still looks good. Did the top about 8 years ago. I drive it a lot . Engines getting tired ! Looking forward to chatting at the meet and hopefully others have some good sources we can learn from in this thread. The supply of things like this and the skill to do it is a problem for sure. Kube, your experience and suggestions?

Larry Shepard
 
Re: ‘40 convertible top kit

I bought a 39 deluxe convertible coupe tan canvas top from a company in South Kingston RI about 3 years ago.I had them leave the rear window area blank so as to install the metal rear frame that I had.
The company is called Convertible Top Guys.
Overall quality and finish looked pretty darned good.
Sold the car before I had finished it.
They should still be in business - check their web page.
Chris.NZ.
 
Re: ‘40 convertible top kit

larrys40 said:
Ken
I experienced that as well. Lebaron bonney was still in business when I did mine, I tried the cartouche top as it was half the price, received it and laid it in top of my old one still on the car. It was as if they had no accurate pattern. It was terrible. Corners squared, etc. I sent it back and ordered the lebaron bonney. It was much better but not without flaws. The sewing from one side to the next on where the seams meet at the back bow we’re almost one inch off. Their quality slipping for sure. You don’t find those things out till you are fully installing it. You only can pull so far down the sides as you know . My center is good but not as tight as I would like. It looks pretty darn good for an ameture albeit I’ve installed my fair share of Model A roadster tops.

My suggestion is to purchase the hartz cloth material in bulk with trimming and have someone very schooled at doing vintage tops do it.
I spoke to Jason at Mann restoration and they have done an excellent job on some vintage open car tops I’ve seen.
They are well noted but not cheap.
I’ll have mine at the meet in Tennessee. Note my car is a driver with a 40 plus year old restoration that still looks good. Did the top about 8 years ago. I drive it a lot . Engines getting tired ! Looking forward to chatting at the meet and hopefully others have some good sources we can learn from in this thread. The supply of things like this and the skill to do it is a problem for sure. Kube, your experience and suggestions?

Larry Shepard
Click to expand...
Larry, I could not agree more. Lebaron was very nice quality, especially years ago. They did, as you'd suggested, get a bit "sloppy" at times in the most recent past.
I have installed numerous LB tops and found after doing the very first one that it was best to have the kit sent without any snaps installed.

I have only done one fully custom top, back in 2013??? I had a large chunk of the very correct T13 (not sure I recall the number correctly) and wanted that particular car to be an "extreme" restoration. I do recall clearly a number of '40 aficionados going a crazy over that car and especially the top.
The true '40 guys knew what they were witnessing with the correct material.

Oh, I'd never do another full custom top as my skill set made it necessary to resew a few things more times than I care to admit. I was fortunate to have a lot of extra material :)

Anyway, Larry is correct, a good upholstery shop should be able to handle this quite well. I would be prepared to tell them exactly what is correct and not expect them to know.

Custom top and materials? I wouldn't be shocked if it hit $4k - $5k when done correctly.
 
Re: ‘40 convertible top kit

I've got the original top (I believe) on my 32 Cabriolet. It was parked in a garage from 1959 until I bought it in 2015. The top was up the whole time - which was probably a good thing. The fun part is that it made a perfect hammock for the neighborhood vermin - most likely cats. It still has some paw-prints on it, but I refuse to wash it as I don't want to do anything to disturb it.

It is yellow, has some water stains on it, but no tears - and it has gone at least 80 mph on the freeway and did it's job! The only bad news is that I have never taken it down (am afraid too) as I'm sure it would not like that and it might just rip/tear as a result . . . so I leave it up and enjoy looking at it.
 
Re: ‘40 convertible top kit

Thanks and Good to know from Kube. Amazing how many nice tops also get ruined by someone installing the blind snap above the window with the snap all the way through in the outside ! Like Mike said it’s in the details and it can be done with carefull experience and attention, even if a shop does it. Mann restoration is a high end shop in Festus Missouri and have done many noted restorations. I think Mikes in the ballpark about the cost. Back then it was 2500 -3k and I’m sure it’s going to be 4-5k now. Honestly it’s worth it because it’s such an important element to the look of the car and value of it.

I feel like I’m a decent installer but sewing is another thing. I’m fortunate to have one of my friends do some of that but a 40 top is a difficult top. Cam at Lebaron Bonney said that the 40 top was one of their most difficult tops they sold to install after Model A sport coupe and cabriolet’s.

Have done both and I think they are all tough and trying and can make you test your vocabulary!
Jut wanted to throw out the source of Mann’s if someone needs someone . Not cheap but getting harder to find good detail orientated schooled sources and folks .
Happy v8 motoring . Haven’t been to a v8 meet in a number of years so Hope to meet a few folks this coming week at Franklin .
Larry
 
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