After Market Soft Tops?

[netbones]

Does anyone have a good source for an aftermarket soft top? I want to replace the black one on my '05 with a white one....

Thanks!

[steelblue5505]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

I would contact Haartz Corp. They are the manufacturer of the T-Bird's top for Ford.
Go to http://www.haartz.com/en/
They are exceptional to work with, I'm certain they can help.

[ciper123]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

steelblue thanks for the link they show 4 diff color tops for the t bird and a bunch of great other stuff carl

[Ray]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

You might want to talk to people here who have tops other than black about how hard it is to keep them clean.

[MATBird]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

Haartz was the original manufacturer of the tops for Thunderbirds. In fact a few years ago Doug Haartz had joined TBN, however he never posted.
Since he was local to me here in MA, when my dealer went out of business I asked him about the Ford dealer in his area. He responded immediuately and as part of his response, he also said:
"I joined the TBN as I work for Haartz, who are the suppliers of the top material for the T-Bird, along with the majority of convertibles produced worldwide. I read the web postings to see if concerns are voiced about the top material for performance, quality or other consumer issues. I also go to
some of the local shows during the summer months, so I expect that I may
have seen you or some of the other TBN participants at either Kimball's
in Westford, Skips in Merrimac or Riley's in Natick as I tend to go to
them several times a season.
Please let me know if I can provide any information to the local TBN
chapter regarding the top materials used on your vehicles."

I have not met him personally and never took him up on his offer, because his site has most information required.
Based upon them being a leading soft top supplier, I certainly would go that route

[Bird03]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

Haartz offers two types of material....cloth and vinyl. Our tops are the cloth material, but I would go with the vinyl because it would be much easier to keep clean.

[steelblue5505]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

Would changing to a vinyl from cloth change the weight of the top? Possibly causing additional load on the the top's lifting & lowering drive componets.

The change certainly would take the Bird on more step away from being original, but maybe that isn't important at this time.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

Beats me why anyone would want to go from black to white.

The Sand Top on my '04 gets cleaned 3-4x as often at the Black top on my wife's '02........... and guess which one looks like CRAP most of the time and which one looks as good as the shine of it's paint.


I've followed some of the tricks, tips and even a few thoughts of my own in the effort to keep the lighter colored top clean........none really work as well as you'd hope when the top lives just inches above a hand waxed and polished paint job.

Should I own the '04 long enough that the top ever NEEDS replacing (I'm simply too darn CHEAP to replace it over a couple of dark marks in an otherwise really good condition top).......a Black Top will be the replacement and I'll just have to live with the criticism of any "purist" who might have an issue with my lack of respect for the car's originality.

I've never owned a car of any type with a white convertible roof.........I can only imagine they have to be near impossible to keep clean over time.

[Ediron]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

I wouldn't think of a white top.My sand requires a lot of work to keep it clean.

[ge0rge]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

I went to the Haartz web site but couldn't find any pricing information. Can you tell me how to locate that?

Thanks

geo

[2FAST4U]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

I went to the Haartz web site but couldn't find any pricing information. Can you tell me how to locate that?
Thanks
geo

You probably have to CALL them...
Claude.

[Sandman]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

Is there an explanation as to why the soft tops on our Birds get so dirty on the creases. I have had many convertibles and never had that problem. My friend put a white top on his '63 Chevy and it looks perfect even though he puts the top up and down constantly.I would love to get a white top for my car but am afraid to.

[steelblue5505]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

Is the top your friend on the '63 chevy made from cloth like our Birds or is it made from vinyl.........could be the reason why. I myself do not know the answer.

[5bird7]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

I took a picture of a Mercedes with a white softtop - it has the same problem with keeping it clean. We had a white vinyl top on our 57 for years and even the vinyl is not easy to keep clean and white. As it aged, it became impossible to get all the dirt off and make it look white so we went for a dark green softtop for it.

but, if a white softtop is what you want, you may just need to experience it. Just note all the above problems and be aware that you're going to spend a lot more time & effort keeping it looking white. That same dirt that gets on the body of your car when you're driving is also the same dirt that will be sitting on your softtop.

[MATBird]

Re: After Market Soft Tops?

george, I believe you would have to go to their web page and on the top far right, click on "contact us", to get more information