1967 Camaro
Member
Anyone have experience with the regal brand soft top assemblies? I want a complete soft top for my '57 Thunderbird. Thanks!
Regal Soft Top
- Thread starter 1967 Camaro
- Start date
miker98038
Well-known member
Does regal make their own, or do the use the replacement top that Prestige Thunderbird builds? I did have one of those, and could comment on it.
1967 Camaro
Member
The one I'm looking at is on Ebay. Says it is manufactured by Regal Roadsters. #2395.00 for the assembly. I've seen frames for sale that are more.
miker98038
Well-known member
I can’t find the eBay listing, and the regal site is a bit tough to navigate. I did find a picture of their top on the site. It looks prettty much like the Prestige top. The description of how it stows and the number of latches doesn’t really match what a stock bird uses.
I had a Prestige top for several years and replaced it with an original late model top. The two are somewhat different in profile (the center bow placement is a little different). The Prestige is simpler and weighs a lot less.
Bottom line is it works, and more or less keeps the rain out. Thunderbirds aren’t exactly leak free with either top in my experience, and I think that’s common.
Either way, there is a lot of fiddling around to get them to properly fit, more so if you use the swing arms to lift them into place. A buddy has a Prestige top on a 57, with the optional front header stainless trim. He made one trip from Seattle to the start of Route 66 in Chicago, to Santa Monica, and back to Seattle. Top up most of the way to use the a/c. So they work at highway speed when properly installed.
There’s a big difference in asking price of originals, but by the time you rebuild one and cover it, it’s going to be a lot more than the Prestige is. I know they work, and the eBay price you quoted is right in the ballpark of theirs. Page 3 of the catalog
http://prestigethunderbird.com
I had a Prestige top for several years and replaced it with an original late model top. The two are somewhat different in profile (the center bow placement is a little different). The Prestige is simpler and weighs a lot less.
Bottom line is it works, and more or less keeps the rain out. Thunderbirds aren’t exactly leak free with either top in my experience, and I think that’s common.
Either way, there is a lot of fiddling around to get them to properly fit, more so if you use the swing arms to lift them into place. A buddy has a Prestige top on a 57, with the optional front header stainless trim. He made one trip from Seattle to the start of Route 66 in Chicago, to Santa Monica, and back to Seattle. Top up most of the way to use the a/c. So they work at highway speed when properly installed.
There’s a big difference in asking price of originals, but by the time you rebuild one and cover it, it’s going to be a lot more than the Prestige is. I know they work, and the eBay price you quoted is right in the ballpark of theirs. Page 3 of the catalog
http://prestigethunderbird.com
paul2748
Well-known member
I had a Prestige top (white vinyl) on my 56. It was a good looking, serviceable top. Used the factory hardware, including the swing arm. Kept me dry and had no problems despite a highway speed road trip across country, some in pouring rain that came down so bad that I had to stop. Couldn't say that for the factory top that I put on later.
miker98038
Well-known member
Paul, I’m not sure mine’s worse, but it’s not any better. To the OP, it’s nothing like the power top on my 67 RS Camaro convertible. But it’s better than motorcycle suits and goggles in a roadster.
dmsfrr
Well-known member
Chances are the bare frames for more $$$ that you've seen are the used oem versions. The prices are high because there aren't many left, with a demand created by folks doing hi-end restorations.