When vinyl roof trim first became a popular option for hardtops and sedans in the mid 1960s, it was a reasonably subdued item: just a thin covering of textured vinyl—usually black—that covered to the roof, with a little chrome trim rail around the edges. It was a common option even on “performance” cars. But moving forward through the 1970s to the mid ’80s, vinyl tops became thicker and more grandiose, until they were the malaise era’s definition of “luxury” (whatever that is).
Many otherwise attractively styled models were ruined by their excessive vinylosity. Yes, many surviving examples of iconic muscle cars, such as the Dodge Charger and Chevelle SS, look fairly hot despite their vinyl cladding. But I’m sure most hoons today would rather have a shiny painted roof if given a choice. But if you could go back in time and fill out the factory order sheet for any vehicle, is there one that would compel you to check the box next to “Vinyl Roof Appearance Package?”
As the malaise era blossomed, vinyl tops became less about imitating the look of a convertible and became their own weird design language. Instead of simply covering the entire roof and c-pillars, more stylized versions appeared that only covered a portion of the greenhouse sheetmetal—in just about any configuration stylists could dream up. As the vinyl top finally evolved (devolved?) into the so-called “formal” look, padding was added underneath until roof-lines looked positively puffy and rearward-only “landau” tops became the rage. Eventually, manufacturers thankfully abandoned the fad. (Even the faux-called “carriage tops” being perpetrated installed by accessory shops today are typically covered with woven synthetic cloth, not vinyl.)
The only car that I’d say vinyl even comes close to “working for” is the AMC Matador Barcelona. As much as I love the Matador coupe (and that’s a lot), I always thought the c-pillars looked too thin and awkward. The bottom of the rear quarter window didn’t match the backlight and the two seemed too close together. The lines of AMC’s initial, unpadded vinyl top design tried to split the difference — and only made things look worse. When the Barcelona debuted, featuring its little opera windows, I thought (as a 12 year old) that it was a huge improvement. But when Penske translated the look into sheetmetal for Bobby Allison’s NASCAR Matador, I realized that the reshaped quarter window—not the vinyl—was responsible for the improved looks, and I would’ve liked the prospect of a vinyl-less Barcelona roof-line much, much more. (Never going to happen, since the opera top was slapped over the original windows and sheetmetal.) Over the years, as both I and the original Matador Coupe design have matured, I’ve reversed my appraisal of the Barcelona. The conservative, “formal” styling of the small, square, beveled window openings now seem to be a meek, apologetic styling compromise that diluted the Matador’s original boldness. So, in the end I have to say no — even in the Barcelona’s case, the vinyl doesn’t work.
What about you? Do you have a vinyl-clad love you can’t deny?
[Image sources: www.hamtramck-historical.com, americandreamcars.com & flickr.com. The rest are standard press photos culled from my hard drive, and remain the property of GM, Chrysler, Ford, AMC and Jaguar.]
Hooniverse Asks – What Car Would You Actually Prefer With A Vinyl Top?
By Peter Tanshanomi
Jul 5, 2011
By Peter Tanshanomi
Tanshanomi is Japanese [単車のみ] for "motorcycle(s) only." Though primarily tasked with creating two-wheel oriented content for Hooniverse, Pete is a lover of all sorts of motorized vehicles.
Jeff Glucker
Pretty much, I abhor vinyl tops. This works, somewhat. I guess… No. Still hate it.
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KT_FdIzQA7A/S0q5gX7ev6I/AAAAAAAAANc/l3Z8bOwqdhU/s320/100_0203.JPG">
There's really nothing you can do to make that notchback shape better or worse, so yeah, I see your logic.
A friend once described the padded vinyl roof on a Mustang II as feeling like a fat girls ass. Vivid, yet appropriate.
Most accurate description of the day.
I've always found the Mustang II notchback coupe to be much better looking without the vinyl.
<img src="http://www.lhs204.stellpflug.com/Period%203/Rolando%20Garcia/Images/second%20gen%20coupe.jpg" width="500">
Indeed. The vinyl just mucks it up, but a pal in high school had one, and it was oddly memorable.
The 1974 Mustang II Ghia, and the 1975 Ford Granada Ghia had a different Roof Treatment (that was quickly dropped I might add) with "ear muffs" on the "C" pillar.
The Granada Ghia
<img src="http://www.tocmp.com/pix/Ford/images/1975%20Ford%20Granada%20Ghia%20Sedan%20f3q_jpg.jpg" width="600">
The Mustang II Ghia
<img src="http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/ghia2-500×223.jpg">
Saw one in the junkyard this past weekend.
Two-tone cream-over-brown. Alas, the 8" diff had already been pulled.
No car looks better with a vinyl top. Once I saw an all-white Lincoln Continental Mark III with a painted roof. While almost all Mark IIIs had vinyl, it was actually an option for the first year or so. The no-vinyl Mark III was stunning to look at. Same with the '66 Electra featured this past weekend. Most had vinyl, but the all-gold car with the painted roof looked great.
Ditto for '67 Thunderbirds. Stunning without the landau bars.
<img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/04/03/13/27/1967_ford_thunderbird-pic-41196.jpeg" width="500">
Well I find My Opala better with the vinyl top than the ones without.
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YGe_LwsZLkk/TF85JLCB3gI/AAAAAAAACtI/Qv_npw_QO3c/s640/DSC05567.JPG" width="550">
<img src="http://www.compreauto.com.br/img/cache/ch/306290_120454_chevrolet_opala_preto_1-640×480.jpg" width="550">
If I were to have a '69 Barracuda, this is the one for me, as the roof matches the interior; and I have such good taste. The last paragraph in this ad says, "See your nearby Plymouth dealer. He has a whole mad, mod story. He's fond of women, too." Hmmm.
<img src="http://i19.tinypic.com/4bzrp13.jpg"width="500"/>
But you'd have to dress like this to drive it.
<img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/wbuvmd.jpg">
With matching boots, no less. Far out!
It looks moldy.
Among other similar adjectives. 😉
Mod tops were also available in 1970.
<img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/wabatuckeun/Mod-TopCuda1.jpg">
These HAVE to have been really rare when new. I don't ever remember seeing one, and I grew up in the car-crazy San Fernando Valley in the 1970s.
We've been designing cars with women in mind, that's why we have the biggest slection of interiors.
How freakin' condescending.
Very sexist. Broads hate that.
Suddenly I feel the urge to go troll Jezebel.
Please be careful about those urges.
Not to mention dishonest. If that car were designed with a woman in mind it would have had more room for groceries and kids.
Plus, how is she supposed to find a purse to match that interior.
<img src="http://www.dodgelafemme.com/images/55broc2a.jpg" width=500>
She could buy a car that includes a matching purse (and umbrella, cape, etc.)
<a href="http://www.dodgelafemme.com/images/55broc2a.jpg” target=”_blank”>http://www.dodgelafemme.com/images/55broc2a.jpg
I like how it's her car, but she still being ushered into the passenger seat.
My father in law owns a car but only rides shotgun in it–his driving skills have deteriorated and his kids have made him promise not to get behind the wheel. Owning != driving.
Didn't Dodge call them "Mod Tops"? I remember those.
I've mostly heard them called Mod Tops. The above ad refers to them as both Pop Prints and Mod Tops.
I believe the pop prints (think Pop Art) refers to the pattern. The Mod Top referred to it installed on the roof, but you could also get the mod interior.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3768705823_d8a3d8e50e.jpg">
Now I understand. Thank you!
If I were to have a '69 Barracuda, this is the one for me, as the roof matches the interior
Is that like the carpet matching the drapes?
/ducks
That's exactly what it's like.
/smartypants 😉
[insert] obligatory hardwood floors joke here [/insert]
There's one for sale at: http://www.orlandoclassiccars.com/showroom/detail…
Geez……I don't think I could live with that when it comes down to it. Thanks anyway.
I always thought the '68-'70 Charger was one of the very, very few cars that could pull it off.
<img src="http://www.stockmopar.com/_images/charger/1968-dodge-charger-383-red-with-black-vinyl-top/1968-dodge-charger-383-red-with-black-vinyl-top-3.jpg">
I'd have to agree, which is weird because of the buttresses, but the c pillars have a distinct lower crease that really does make it look like a convertible. Which makes me think…did Jaguar ever offer the XJS with a vinyl top?
If not, you can bet some dealer with no taste stuck one on, to go with the chrome-plated wheels and Vogue wide whitewall tires.
I don't think so, but incidentally you just reminded me of another car that looks fabulous with a vinyl top:
<img src="http://www.jaguar-xj8.com/xj12c_1976_white_profile.jpg">
Eh. Jaguar put on the vinyl to avoid having to finish the seams. I'd love to see one without.
You're in luck.
<img src="http://eastbounddown.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/XJ-Coupe-1.jpg">
My God, that car is pretty.
Just a shame they didn't bring the vinyl all the way down the A-pillars. Looks pretty half-assed as is.
The best solution, though, is to ditch the vinyl altogether.
<img src="http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/01/CC-64-004-800.jpg" width="500" />
The boxy 80s Chrysler shown in the lead is it. Why else would they design a C-pillar with the shape and size of a load-bearing structure on the Empire State Building? Have you seen one without the vinyl? Bleh.
<img src="http://ned.ronet.ru/0/1989%20Chrysler%20New%20Yorker.jpg">
The New Yorker/Dynasty is only good for one thing, and I won't be sad once they're gone.
This one:
<img src="http://www.finecars.cc/typo3temp/GB/7f13783122.jpg"width=500>
I believe the story was they had to add the vinyl top because the roof was too wavy and thin after excessive acid dipping.
I read "acid dropping" and thought, well, why would that physically affect the actual car?
Now everything makes sense.
Well, it would explain the Mod Tops anyway.
All production Superbirds had vinyl tops. Vinyl was cheaper and easier than trying to get the window plug seam flawless. Chrysler apparently learned this during the Charger 500/Daytona projects.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Plymouth_Superbird.jpg" width=500>
This is what I came here to say. It's hard to say exactly why it looks so right, maybe because they only sold them like that, but it just works. I suppose painting the roof matte black would work, too.
Call me crazy, but I've always had a thing for the Charger SE. I think it's better looking than any other 70's b-body.
<img src="http://www.performance-car-guide.co.uk/images/L-1973-Charger-SE-2.jpg">
OK, you're crazy. Triple opera windows!
I never thought about this model much (I don't even know — was the SE model name just Mopar-speak for this vinyl roof treatment?). But now that you mention it, yea, I can kinda dig it. They look enough like louvers to be sorta sporty, but they're really three little opera windows, so they also add 3x the luxury factor! And the chrome trim does create a neat, swooshy line within the side profile. I can't believe I'm saying this, and maybe it's just the color scheme of this car from this angle, but…no, he's not crazy.
EDIT: Did a google image search on "Charger SE," and it IS only that color combo that works. In white the vinyl is REALLY tacky!
<img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS_sUdhcq84uY1dD_l1EOdTqoyQshMWqkJHAVPzFWbDv5NbcBKvgw">
EDIT #2: HOLY HONEY IN A BOTTLE! NIIIICE! — <a href="http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/dodge/charger/1236491.html” target=”_blank”>http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/dodge/charger/1236491.html
One for each act!
A red or maroon 64 Studebaker Daytona looks marginally better with a black vinyl top.
Stretch limos.
The vinyl hides the two welds where the center section is put in.
The '75 and '76 Cadillac Sevilles had an obligatory vinyl roof to hide the roof seams. GM fixed it for 1977 and the Seville became available with a painted roof.
Mandatory on the 1979 Gucci Seville, though.
<img src="http://www.collectorcarsforsale.com/images/extended/260768375007/9.jpg">
Second Generation Gucci Seville, too.
<img src="http://www.hypebeast.com/image/2008/10/gucci-seville-00.jpg">
And looked all the better for it. I'd love to put my hands on a Silver and Black Elegante
<img src="http://lars-ove.se/1978_Seville_Elegante_w50.jpg"width=500>
Yep. That version of the Elegante is a genuinely sharp-looking car.
P161911 nailed it. Mark Donahue's Sunoco Camaro got a vinyl top because the roof metal wrinkled after they had acid dipped it a little too long while trying to lighten the body. Good thing a vinyl top was already a factory option…
Myself, I might choose a little something from the original Landau Era, because the chauffer isn't getting paid to stay out of the weather.
I wonder, were landau owners seen as pricks in the same way that owners of certain luxury brands are viewed today?
I suppose you'd have to "Ask the man who owns one".
I used to have a Malaise T-bird, and I always thought the trim looked wrong without a contrasting color vinyl roof.
<img src="http://www.futureclassicsnj.com/Cars/79tbirddsf.jpg">
Ooooh, excellent. I think you might be right on that one. But not the most attractive car overall, of course.
Actually if you want a vinyl roof on your car, you can still have one installed. Take a look at this Mercury Montego (aka Ford Five Hundred)
<img src="http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/5783/fullscreencapture630201.jpg" width="500">
Or this Hyundai Azzera
<img src="http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5783/fullscreencapture630201.jpg" width=500="">
Or this Buick Lucerne
<img src="http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/8083/fullscreencapture630201b.jpg" width="500">
Or this Cadillac STS
<img src="http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/5783/fullscreencapture630201.jpg" width="500">
Those aftermarket roofs are fairly common here in South Florida. You can see all sorts of padded abominations on the streets.
Somewhere, somehow, you can still buy a Members Only jacket too.
We can keep this going. Yes, this is a beat-up old Camry with a brand-new carriage top. Tastelessness has no bounds.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/3059794163_ebe00cafe7.jpg">
<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5533376456_4bcbf99a3f.jpg">
My new personal favorite.
And another angel dies…
<img src="http://www.streetlegaltv.com/photos/data/547/landau2.jpg" width=500>
Oh God that takes the prize, for sure. It kind of worked on the old Camaros because the roof was so slim and elegant, and the vinyl was skin-tight over the metal, not this padded crap. This just looks like ass.
A liberal application of faux woodgrain and it would be just about perfect.
<img src="http://www.69pace.com/images/Vintage/143848.jpg" width="500">
Customized Camaro from back in the day? Any info about the ad that pic was in? I like the headlight treatment.
It was a GM concept car from 1967, the Camaro Hawaiian. It was an attempt to cash in on the surf craze.
And it comes with the optional ironing board too!
These abominations seem to be more common in the northeast and northwest or areas where a large part of the population hails from those areas (as tonyola points out South Florida). Must have something to do with living in a place where you can only use a real convertible 2 months out of the year.
I always crack up when I see a carriage top with a moonroof. Un.real.
In this case, let's just cover the whole car with vinyl.
The Mohs Safarikar wouldn't look right if the top weren't covered in vinyl; otherwise it wouldn't match the rest of the body.
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3627566341_0a379c9759.jpg" width="400">
Even after years of neglect, it's still appealing.
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1087/801829375_8f02bbe762.jpg" width="400">
Here an d I thought I was being unique and clever…
Well, you're in good company– even Bruce Baldwin Mohs wasn't entirely unique. There's also the vinyl-bodied, vinyl-topped Velorex:
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1428/1321360507_fe5acf1d41.jpg" width="400">
Somehow it doesn't seem like cheating to list a soft-top as an answer when it's no less rigid than the rest of the bodywork.
I thought about this car all weekend. This morning I finally forgot about it. Thanks.
<img src="http://autopuzzles.com/RayB.stuff2/wdyci440.jpg">
The proper trailer hitch improves any vehicle.
'73 Cougar XR7, like my old car seen here in its rusting place.
<img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/11qr0ip.jpg"/>
I think the 2nd-gen Monte Carlo always looks good with a half vinyl roof, especially in silver, with the Firethorn top and interior.
<img src="http://image.automotive.com/f/crossovers/2008-jeep-liberty-redesigned-with-more-goods-at-lower-price/6675210+w320+cr1+re0+ar1/2008-jeep-liberty-top-rear-right-sunroof-openjpg.jpg">
/amidoingitright
IMG from NortherAmericanMotoring.com
I'm not sure if it's actually vinyl – I believe it's basically the same material used on convertible tops.
On the other hand, if I could find a Liberty with the Skyslider and 6-speed manual (which is either rarer than sober Pete Doherty, or outright non-existent), I'd seriously consider it.
Was the 262C ever available sans vinyl? Or was that mandatory?
<img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/03/04/automobiles/collectibles/04rust_span.jpg" WIDTH="500">
All of the '77 models were silver with black vinyl, but other colors without vinyl were available later. I've only ever seen silver/black vinyl specimens. Production details are here:
http://www.volvobertone.com/
with information on colors under the English pages menu, Colorpalet262C.
Just last week I saw a copper/gold one without a vinyl top.
I thought the vinyl top was to hide the Bertone rust line.
Originally yes, but by now most people have figured out what the row of bubbles in the vinyl means.
Yes, for once a Volvo isn't my answer, because I have no answer.
I'd rather have a steel top with a nice two-tone paint job where the vinyl (and rust) would otherwise be.
The car I drove all through high school was a 1989 Lincoln Town Car, with a full landau roof. I've never seen another one with same roof treatment – they all seem to be half-landau instead. If I ever find another gray-on-gray Town Cow with a full gray vinyl top, I'll buy it in a heartbeat, because while I hated that car while I had it, I'd love to have I back again.
Challengers look better with a vinyl roof than any other pony car. The SE package made it mandatory because of the small window, but it was optional on other trim levels.
<img src="http://s3.racingjunk.com/ui/8/10/21842108-804-1970-Dodge-Challenger-RT-SE-4406Pk-Matc.jpg" width=500>
<img src="http://popuppistons.com/pictures/1970dodge/1970dodgechallenger2.jpg" width=500>
One of the less-objectionable uses for vinyl was the half-canopy top seen on some Dusters and Dart Sports. A white top with the Duster 360 white feather stripe made for a pretty interesting and dressy combo.
<img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/346m05k.jpg" width=500>
My grandparents had an '86 Crown Victoria with the half-vinyl roof – it'd look like a cop car without it (post-'92 Vics need the metal roof though).
Good point, for most of the 1970s and into the early 1990s the way to tell a cop car was the lack of a vinyl roof. If a full size American sedan didn't have a vinyl roof, there was about a 75% chance it was a cop car.
I'm not a fan of vinyl roofs, but I think the VW Type 3 Ghia could have pulled it off.
<img src="http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/299050.jpg" width="600">
"Vinyl top designed to look like a convertible" and "padded formal roof to look like a limousine" were really different themes, going back to at least the early 1920s. The former started appearing on and off with early fixed-head coupes, while the latter probably goes back to the horse-drawn era.
Into which category this 2/4 Model A rumble seat coupe falls, you be the judge:
<img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/5903699993_4072d071e9.jpg" width="500" height="328" alt="1929 Ford Model A special coupe rear 3q">
<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5074/5904259768_823949643f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="1929 Ford Model A special coupe roof">
"'Vinyl top designed to look like a convertible' and 'padded formal roof to look like a limousine' were really different themes…"
I think the missing link between these two is the original Thunderbird Landau, as shown in the lead photo. Those huge, baroque "landau bar" decorations were supposed to look like the hinge stays from a Landau car/carriage, which were the most elegant vehicles of their day, so it was literally an imitation of both a convertible an a limo!
<img src="http://grandcanyon.free.fr/images/tacot1/original/1922%20Hispano-Suiza%20H6B%204-Door%20Boulogne%20Landau%20Maroon.jpg" width="500">
The last-gen Fleetwood Brougham, partly because the fact it was body color meant it wasn't super-obvious, but mostly because the handful I've seen without it look downright naked.
<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/9/web/2217000-2217999/2217183_61_full.jpg" width="500" />
Not a vinyl roof, but a visual approximation. Behold, the factory option, two tone paint scheme from Mercedes Benz
<img src="http://www.californiaclassix.com/images/c18-10.jpg">
I'd say the 1977-92 (RWD) Cadillac De Ville and Fleetwood Brougham just look wrong without them. In fact, the same could likely be said for the ElDorado of the same vintage which seems naked and plain without it's classy landau top and the Birarritz model's stainless steel roof insert.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Cadillac_Sedan_de_Ville.jpg/800px-Cadillac_Sedan_de_Ville.jpg" Size=300>
There are cars that can pull off the vinyl top, but it seems to me that any car that can pull off the vinyl looks better without it. Just because a design is good enough that an ill-conceived roof can't ruin it, doesn't mean that it should be there.
I once read an article in Collectible Automobile magazine about how production line people always hated putting on the vinyl roofs. It's messy, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Ever noticed on the highways all the cars with ballooning tops at speed because the vinyl isn't sufficiently glued down? Stylists generally hated them too because the need for a seam or trim piece spoiled the lines of the cars.
I will have to ask someone that grew up in the 1970s about the point of including vinyl roofs on cars.
Ditto on disco, the Carter years and so forth.
Why you kids these days, with your fancy pants safty devices like air bags and seatbelts and your hippity hop music! STAY OFF MY LAWN you young whipersnapper!
/goes back to watching Matlock on BetaMax
For a long time I thought the XJ Coupe was a convertible because of the vinyl. So, completely subverting the question (even if I'm not sure if it was ever officially offered WITHOUT a vinyl roof) I'll say the XJ-C looks better without one.
<img src="http://eastbounddown.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/XJ-Coupe-1.jpg"/>