Where to buy premade canvas or vinyl convertible tops for Stepdowns?
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The guy I am going to have do my 51 pacemaker convertible top called me today. He said he is having trouble finding a source for tops. Can anyone give me a source please. Thanks. Rob
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I got mine from Kanter. Don't know if he still sells them. Google it0
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Bob Rosol in NJ. Check in your Roster for contact info. He's a trim man who specializes in Hudson carpets and convertible tops. I believe the Triple S guys buy their tops and carpets from him. I've bought two sets of carpets thus far.0
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Very disappointed with the design and fit of the top I bought from Kanter 5 years ago or so.0
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I am surprised to find out that stepdown convertible tops are so hard to source. I was thinking there would be lots of places to obtain them. I wanted to get a gray one but it looks like that isn't going to happen. I don't think Bob Rosol even offers a white one which was my second choice. Hopefully something will turn up.
Rob0 -
Bob Rosol supplied the white top for our 1954, maroon for our 52 and black for our son Nick's 48, beige for our 51 stepdown convertibles along with tops for Ken Schulte's s 51, PAUL'S 50 and several others. His tops all fit perfect. Support your HET members!0
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Thanks Dave, I was just going by the listing in Jon Battles list. There it doesn't list white or gray. I will definitely call Bob and see what he offers. Does anyone have any experience with this company? :http://www.aro2000.com/. It looks pretty good I think. Rob0
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I'd go through Bob first, as he's a Hudson guy and would be on top of what tops work for Hudsons.
ARO is a good company and also Acme (the company that makes the headliners for Hudsons and other makes -- not the one that supplies Wiley Coyote with all those defective rocket packs.)
A friend purchased a top for his '54 Hornet from a company called Kee in Pennsylvania, maybe 5-6 years ago. It was of the premium canvas, and of very good construction, and reasonably priced ($400-500 range) but we simply could not get it to fit correctly at the rear top bow. The fabric was too wide at that point, so that when those clips (that hold the quarter panels to the body on either side, just behind the rear quarter window) were attached, the top was loose along the rear bow. The car was eventually sold to a gentleman in New York who discovered that the top was simply made incorrectly -- it wasn't any mistake my friend and I were doing during installation. So if you used Kee, make sure you verify this particular dimension (across the rear bow) with them.
Again, I'd go through Bob Rosol first, since he's so knowledgeable about Hudson tops.0 -
Yes, I called Bob Rosol yesterday and he can get me a gray top. I do intend to order my top from Bob. He told me he has sold 25 Hudson tops but he hasn't installed any tops in over 20 years. He said he wouldn't be able to help my top installation guy with how to install the top.
I figure if my top guy has questions I should be able to get answers for him ,from the top installation guys, that other Hudson convertible owners have used . My top guy came over this morning and looked over my top situation. We discussed quite a bit the way the top is attached at the back. Can anyone here tell me how they have seen that part of it done. Do they screw down a tacking strip to the metal lip at the back of the car, tack the back edge of the top to that, and then screw down the narrow stainless strip on top of the top cloth?
Also, what holds the bottom edge of the top along the side behind the quarter window. There is a stainless strip along there that is attached to the body. This stainless strip has a lip that sticks out from the body maybe a quarter inch. It looks like maybe there would be a piece sewn to the edge of the top that tucks up under the stainless. Rob0 -
I am not an expert, but I did help my friend with his '54 convertible top. A tab of hard plastic or metal (I believe) should be sewn into the bottom edge of the top fabric, right behind the quarter window. This tab is behind the fabric so you don't see it. The top edge of the tab (which is free of the fabric) is then forced behind that lip you mention and the lip holds the tab down, thus pulling the fabric downward and taut. I'm not sure if there is an adjustment on the convertible top irons to move this lip up or down (thereby loosening or tightening the pull on the convertible top). Someone more knowledgeable will step in, here....
Also, have you tried reading the convertible section in the 1948-9 shop manual on-line? (Thank you, Alex Burr!). Starts on page 67. http://hetclub.org/burr/manuals/1948_-_1949_body_service_manual.pdf0 -
Thanks Jon, your explanation helps a lot in understanding how the top is held down behind the quarter windows. I also looked at the 48-49 body service manual starting at page 67. It looks good and I need to spend some more time reading it. (Thanks Alex, I use your online manuals often ) Rob
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AS DAVE SAID MY TOP CAME FROM BOB ROSOL IN NJ.in NJ 1 ST RATE JUST AS THE ORIGNAL TO WAS MADE 1ST RATE I WOULD BUY FROM HIM AGAIN0
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