Cloth or vinyl Convertible Top?

[Brian Kulis]

After 5 years, Stang is almost finished. I am about to buy a top with glass window. I will keep the Stang undercover when it's finished. Would like your opinions.
What looks better? Cloth or Vinyl?
What lasts longer? Cloth or Vinyl?

 

[will e]

That's a good question. Can we assume you are going with black?
Is cloth available?
I think cloth would be a bit less shiny but harder to clean?
How often will you be putting the top down? It's the wear points that would concern me with cloth.

 

[Brian Kulis]

That's a good question. Can we assume you are going with black?
Is cloth available?
I think cloth would be a bit less shiny but harder to clean?
How often will you be putting the top down? It's the wear points that would concern me with cloth.

Yes, Black. It is $300 more expensive than vinyl. Plan on using top quite a bit.

 

[Bentworker]

Whatever your choice is get samples first.

 

[Hemikiller]

I've seen various year Mustangs with cloth and vinyl tops. IMO, the flat appearance of a cloth top somehow looks out of place on these cars, it's too "posh".

 

[cv_72mustang]

I don't like to hijack a tread but I've got question about tops also.

So my vert top is probably close to the original. It now has a couple of tears along the trunk edge and a 3 inch rip in the middle. I've been meaning to replace but finding somebody has been an issue. So mine appear to a be combination of canvas , maybe vinyl. It's an extremely dense material layer construction.

Do the new tops have the same construction? I believe when I had it replaced shortly aftering getting the car due to vandalism it was just a few years old. Are these replacements similar?

 

[mrgmhale]

The prior owner saved our 73 Convertible from a 46 year long slumber as a barn find. The original tires were replaced due to sidewall cracks (I would have replaced them anyway, E78 x 14 - now E70 x 14), and a set of Magnum 500 wheels insteaad of the original steel wheels. He also replaced the original white top wqith a black canve looking material, which has bee holding uo nicely, We have no ters or other damage other than one small area where the canvas is rubbing the surrounding area where the top is set down inside the area the top is folded into when put down. I am keeping an eye on that were spot. It has not been wearing any larger noticeably since we purchased it, and the trheading where it has worn has not begun to fray or tear. I figure once it does begin to fray I will have it replaced with the same kind of material. The vert is parked a way from our location at the moment otherwise I would provide closeup photos of the fabric to include the wear spot. It is a nice looking True Survivor in really quite excellent preserved condition, with only nearly 21,000 original miles on it - even with its demure appearance as there is nothing fancy adorning it..

 

[California 72]

I feel really like a maroon now; I was under the impression that all Convertible tops were cloth. I've never seen vinyl, ever. The understanding was Vinyl tops on cars were made to mimic a convertible just like those old landau bars were to mimic carriage tops. Huh? Learned something new today.
Never even dawned on me to google a vinyl top. Doohhh!!!!

 

[droptop73]

I replaced my top with a cloth top about 7 years ago. My thoughts... it is harder to clean, it holds dust and fuzzies, a good brushing and vacuum once a year helps. The cloth gets rub marks where it folds onto itself or touches other components. My top stays down more often than not. I still like the look but it requires more maintenance than the pinpoint vinyl did. I'd still spend the extra it took for the cloth, it just looks better in my opinion.

Take that for what it's worth... maybe 2 cents...