Anybody had their hardtop painted?

[2FAST4U]

Re: Anybody had their hardtop painted?

if you're looking for nostalgic once you have the white hardtop you're going to need the wide whitewalls.

Absolutely! I have a white hardtop for my blue '02 Bird and the whitewalls are definitely the next thing on my list when the time will come to replace the original tires!
Claude

[berogersjr]

Re: Anybody had their hardtop painted?

Update: I went to pick up the top Friday, and it was not yet ready. They had only painted it a few hours before, and had not buffed it; there was a paint bubble on the top right hand seam; they had not taped the porthole chrome up evenly, so there was paint a bit around on it; they had not hooked the defroster wires back up (they insisted I had to do that everytime I took the top off and put it back on); they had not even put the interior back cover in (don't know the right name for that - it's the thingy that covers the soft top well when the hard top is on) and had to go "find" it, as they had taken it off and set it on a shelf and forgot about it - yet they called and told me it was all ready to go!

After I set them straight on the defroster connectors and the soft top well cover, I pointed out the areas on the top that were not satisfactory. I told them they had to fix it within 3 days. It was a young kid who did the job, not the manager I had worked with all along. I don't think he had the experience the older guy had, of course. They assured me they'd get everything fixed right. Hopefully they will!

[FritsB]

Re: Anybody had their hardtop painted?

Here is the photo Joe asked me to post of his "new" bronze top.

That is one great combo Joe. One of a kind car

[My Raven]

Re: Anybody had their hardtop painted?

That is one great combo Joe. One of a kind car

Thanks, Fritz, I think it turned out very well if I do say so myself.

It is a toss up between the Thunderbird Blue, Platinum Silver or the Bronze as my favorite. All IMHO give the car a little "ump" and contrast with the black very nicely.

[HKS]

Re: Anybody had their hardtop painted?

Steve,
I wish I had thought of geting the top painted. I almost got a yellow Tbird with full interior accent but it had a black hardtop.

That yellow and black leather interior was a beautifull sight. Does yours have the full accent package?

HKS

My car originally was yellow with black hard top. The dealer couldn't sell the car with that color combination. I got a deal on the car, had the top painted to match...been just fine.

[Lonestar]

Re: Anybody had their hardtop painted?

In my opinion Joe has created the classiest of looks for “retro” Thunderbirds. As I told him in a PM, I am extremely partial to black and gold combinations and his car speaks volumes as to why. No offense to anyone but that combo would have made a nice NM edition – picture it with the bronze accents on the dash and door panels. Now add bronze seat inserts and utopia is not far away. However, just as she sets she just might could edge out my cashmere for garage space at my house (do no tell my car I said that or it will probably develop a COP problem).

Understated, elegant, beautiful are some of adjectives that come to mind when I see Joe’s avatar.

[berogersjr]

Re: Anybody had their hardtop painted?

OK, I just got the hardtop back. Pictures to follow within a day or so. Some observations:

The Good: The color is fantastic. Looks great with the torch red body. I've had a LOT of people in the past 2 days since I picked it up stop and stare and many positive comments.

The not-so-good: I think, considering the time and trouble I spent on it with going back and forth with the paint shop to "redo" it, due to a bubble here and there and some issues around the portholes, I would probably not do it again. Although the cost was far less to paint it than it would have been to simply buy another one, Ithe worry over whether my hard top would survive this process was too much. I think I would have rather had the expense of just getting a spare white top, and the added ability to swap between the red and white tops.

As far as the work goes, the color is good, but they did overspray the foam seal that the window goes up into..just a very small spot. I think I can get it cleaned off. They also had to remove the rear glass, and tore the seal in the process. They were able to replace it, but it was touch and go there for a bit over how it would look. There was also some overspray on the chrome porthole edges, but it came off with some elbow grease.

Overall, I am glad I had it done, but it was a bit nerve racking!

If anyone out there is going to have it done, here's some advice: Pay extra and have the portholes, headliner and metal strips taken off to allow them to paint the bare shell. That way there's no chance of overspray or paint building up in the cracks of the metal edges of the top. But, there's the chance that when they pull all of it apart, they will break or tear something that will not be easily replaced. I opted for them not to take it apart, and there's good and bad to that.

My next project is chrome tailight covers, chrome hood scoop bezel, whitewalls, and - get this - to see if I can get chrome edging around the hardtop (the metal trim that goes all around it) and around the back glass. I've seen some of the 55-57 hardtops that had this done. Any opinions on this?

Thanks,
bobby