Multi-colored cars had been around for decades, reaching their peak in the middle '50s with tri-tone (three color areas, with possibly three different colors!), but settled back into the two-tone variations by the earlier '60s.
Ford had used some deep-grained vinyl roofs on T-birds in the earlier '60s, as other cars had the normal vinyl roofs we're used to seeing by 1967. A few years later, there were more installations of the optional vinyl roofs. Some middle-'60s New Yorkers had vinyl inserts on their C-pillars only (usually 4-dr hardtops.
After waxing the roof of our then-newer '66 Newport 4-dr Town Sedan, I decided that when I bought a car, it would have a vinyl roof (easier to put protectant on with a sponge than to apply and polish wax off of the painted surface!). So, as it turned out, my '70 Monaco DH43 had a factory vinyl roof, which I liked for both the ease of putting protectant on it (rather than waxing paint) AND the additional quietness of the vinyl damping any vibrations from the roof panel.
As things progressed, though, there were various opinions of how to best "keep" the vinyl looking nice and soft. Some said "just plain soap and water" as others used some sort of protectant (ArmorAll was the first one, I later used the STP Son-Of-A-Gun for its more satin sheen), but the protectant excess was known to wash off (onto the paint, not hurting it, but needing to be wiped/rubbed off).
On the '67 Newport, when I got it in '81, there was already some signs that something was going on under certain areas of the factory white vinyl fabric. In those areas, the vinyl was harder, but in other areas, it was still soft enough my fingernail would compress it. It got softer with the protectant on it, though. But whatever had already started was continuing, on an area on the front edge and at the lower rear corners (CE23) of the back glass.
There were some kits to apply a "reasonable facsimile" spray-on vinyl top (as the '68 D-100 pickups could have, factory). Looked more like rubberized undercoating sprayed on, or "textured tar", to me. I guess the compound contours of the rear of that truck cab weren't easy to glue the vinyl onto?
At this point in time, I think that whenever I replace the top on the Monaco, I'll just repaint it in the same color as the vinyl top was, using the existing color-divider moldings for color separations (the normal practice in the normal two-tone cars). Then apply some sort of insulation above the fabric headliner for sound/'temp control. Have to consider what type to use, though. In general, the older cars were NOT as well sound/temp insulated as the current cars are, so there's some improvements that can be made in that area!
As for paint, I think I'd used the normal OEM acrylic enamel with hardener on the basic car, then possibly add some light coats of clear on the "top" itself (to help the shine and keep it that way longer).
The vinyl tops were an upscale option which made the cars look classier and better, to me. But knowing how many other "corners were cut, underneath on the sheet metal of the factory vinyl top cars, my orientation has changed a bit. As paint and car waxes have improved a good bit since the middle '60s! Plus sound/temp insulation materials, too.
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As for the vinyl fabrics themselves, the OEM vinyl top fabric from as late as the 1974 models, was a fabric with a much thicker backing on it. The '75+ OEM fabrics AND all repro items have what was termed "gauze back", as it was physically thinner than the earlier OEM fabrics. I was shown that difference at a trim shop in the later '70s. A very visible difference in the backing, with the vinyl itself being a bit thinner too, but not by much.
NOS kits? probably mostly gone a good while back, I suspect. Which means that all you can get now is the thinner-backing fabric. With good care, it can last a good while, too, I suspect. I also suspect that if anybody uses it to replace an existing top, the car will generally be garaged rather than sitting out all of the time, too. At this point in time, main issues would be "accurate color and grain" for the particular vehicle, as what is now available is all we can get, as far as I know.
Just some thoughts and observations,
CBODY67
