68 Newport, thinking of donig a vinyl top. Thoughts???

[bird7263]

Ok, gents, before you ask why. I know the previous 3 owners. This car as been a local Portland car for 10 years. Its well know, but I want to change it up for this season and beyond. I want to make it different and my own. Really thinking of doing vinyl. I am undecided on color. One of my close buds who is a mopar nut, wants me to do it in dark blue to match the interior, one wants me to do off white (cream) to make it pop and match the whitewalls, and my most closet bud, who is much older than I (64 years old) and grew up in the 60's wants me to do in black.. I like the black idea and think it would change up the car a bit. I am going to put some new chrome vintage hubcaps on it and ditch the black wheel look. I have a few different sets of caps to run for different shows.


I have a guy who I know who does the vinyl tops and is begging to do one for me. What was the original grain pattern called for a 68
? and the floor is open. Thanks for the opinions.

 

[1978 NYB]

Try this place. Look at the different patterns in the view/request samples section on the home page. Here's a chart for Tuxedo style just as an example of one of the charts.

http://www.newstalgiaparts.com/SampleColor.aspx?StyleID=21

 

[commando1]

 

[polara71]

No vinyl. If the car had it originally, I would leave it, but I would never add it.....

 

[Mr C]

If it is an original slick top (slang for a non-vinyl top car) leave it alone...its rare that way as most came with vinyl. If it had vinyl and still has the trim, then that's okay as you are probably covering up rust damage anyway.

 

[300rag]

To change it up, why not just paint the roof instead? BTW, my vote is for white. I think when the upper colour is darker than the lower, the car looks top-heavy to me.

 

[jake]

NO VINYL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great car, I love white with a hint of pearl!

 

[bird7263]

I have no idea if it was originally a vinyl top? Is there a way to tell VIA the vin or something? Forgive my ignorance

 

[commando1]

I have no idea if it was originally a vinyl top? Is there a way to tell VIA the vin or something? Forgive my ignorance

Did you ever find an assembly sheet for your car?

See the chrome trim at the bottom of the vinyl roof?
If there had been a vinyl roof, that trim would had left holes which would be filled in and those patches would be obvious on the inside.

 

[Red63440]

If Chrysler used the same grain as the C-body Dodges it would have been "Boar".

 

[detmatt]

I wouldn't change a thing but if you must, I'd say white. Would the fender tag have the top called out in '68? I can't believe I don't remember.

 

[bird7263]

This car was painted a few years back, and for the life of me, I dont recall if the dude who had it before my buddies removed the vinyl top. I love everybody's ideas, but for some reason, I am really digging the vinyl top idea. I am thinking an off white color. There is a recent thread on here where a guy just bought a 68 newport like mine, same color and it has a white vinyl top. Looks awesome. I am in to very traditional style rods. I like the true 60's era. I agree that it looks good the way it is, a painted roof would look nice too, but something about vinyl sparks my interest.

That is the beauty of classic automobiles. They are a signature of us. We can make them how we want. The vote around here is thumbs up for vinyl, most of the votes casted are for a white or off white color.

We shall see.

 

[Red63440]

I wouldn't change a thing but if you must, I'd say white. Would the fender tag have the top called out in '68? I can't believe I don't remember.

Yes it would have, the code on mine is Y7 for a Vinyl roof in white.

 

[440Sled]

I wouldnt go wiith the vinyl or paint. Not having the chrome trim to break up the two colors might not look good all. But if you must, I'd go with a dark blue base color and blue flake the **** out of it.

 

[bluefury361]

A NO VINAL....... OR PAINT vote from me.
Some cars lend themselves to looking good with vinal or two tone..... Not yours. The beautiful flowing style of the fast top into the 1/4 panel is lost with chrome molding and vinal or paint seperation.
B bodys are a good example........ 66-67... look good with vinal...... 68-69-70....NO....!
Of course...... JMHO.!

 

[commando1]

Let's see...
We have a no, no, no, no, no, no, and a no.
But it's your car...........

 

[cm23uoc]

Add two more noes from me.

 

[bird7263]

yeah yeah yeah.. I see your answers. I respect them, Honor them but I am still hot on the idea of a white vinyl top.. I have an issue with my paint on the roof. The dip **** before me let it sit out side for 9 months because he bent a push rod. Not a big deal to fix the push rod, but he was just a kid and got pissed at the car, so he let it sit in the rain all winter. DUMBASS. The car cleaned up perfect, but have a 3 inch bare metal spot on the right corner of the roof and its a rather large area that needs to be sanded and blended.. I have lots of friends who paint for a living, but this is not a cheap nor easy fix to try to match and overspray.. the vinyl top is a much cheaper option, plus I like the idea. It will have custom set of Full fender skirts made for it soon, white vinyl top with 57 lancer hub caps.. Kinda that traditional Sled lower rider look is what I am after. Something different than the last 3 guys that have owned it.

 

[Mopardik]

First off, I have never really been a fan of vinyl tops. That being said, I recently bought my Newport, at least in part, because of the way the vinyl top made it look. Very vintage, IMO. And by the way, in case you were wondering just exactly what yours would look like with a white vinyl top, here ya go!

 

[1966 fury I]

Okay I'll bite and break from the herd. Too much car with a bright body color not to have a vinyl. It's kind of like driving an all panther pink or sublime station wagon. IMO it screams for a black vinyl top with the appropriate trim.