To collectors and cruisers alike, convertible Mopars have a special appeal, but as with any drop-top, it isn't all sunshine. While a tin roof takes decades to rust through, that flexible vinyl covering only goes so far, and with real street duty, sooner or later it will show its age. This 'Cuda's ragtop had been replaced nearly a decade ago, and it held up to the elements remarkably well. Unfortunately, even the toughest hide doesn't stand a chance against a vandal's blade. Slashed and patched, the top on this car would never be the same.
Living with the damage was like paying penance for someone else's sin, so the time had come to start afresh with a new top. Although convertible Mopars are few and far between, the components required to renew a ragtop are now (surprisingly) readily available. The Year One catalog is chock full of items specifically for this drop-top E-Body, including a full convertible-top kit.
The convertible top consists of two separate parts: the rear-window section and the main top canopy. They're available individually, but to make the whole installation look new, we ordered both. Accessories ordered at the same time included a reproduction vinyl well liner and the plastic anti-rattle clips that fit the windshield frame where the top attaches. Year One also has many of the other small items and mechanical parts that might be needed for this particular job.
A professional automotive trim shop installation starts at about $250, a reasonable amount considering the work involved. Though the job is complicated, the pre-sewn top kit doesn't require an industrial sewing machine with a walking foot to install, just basic hand tools and a heavy-duty staple gun. Granted, we'd rather port a set of 440 cylinder heads than tease a skin of vinyl over a 'Cuda's cab, but with attention to detail and enough finesse, the top installation was performed flawlessly. Want to give it a try? Factory shop manuals, available from Year One, have detailed instructions that help, but the job carries a rated installation time of eight hours (that's for an experienced pro), and a mistake can turn your new top kit into a ream of scrap vinyl. With those warnings out of the way, if you've got the nerve and experience to try it yourself, here's how it's done.
