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2002 without a soft top

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  • #1

    2002 without a soft top

    Imagine someone bought a Thunderbird with a hardtop installed and didn't know he also had a soft top?

    This message below was posted on another site. A site that gets maybe five posts a week. The moderator of that site prevents referrals to this site, or even to Dots portholeauthority.com It breaks my heart to see people who need so much help and they don't know about TBN. I did tell him he already has a softtop but he hasn't been back in 12 days so hasn't seen it.

    Anyway, here is his post:

    I've got a 2002 hard top only. I've found a soft top from a 2003. What do I need to know about adding this soft top to my 2002. Has anyone ever done this and what problems to watch out for? Remember mine didn't come with soft top and the 2003 had soft and hard top.
    Does anyone know of a specialty company that offers a kit?
    Quickdraw
    Raccoon Lodge Administrator
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: 2002 without a soft top

    Wow This site would help this guy. Like this site has help so many including myself.
    Be good and if you can't be good be careful.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: 2002 without a soft top

      Funny story, I had to sign an acknowledgement paper that my 007 did not have a soft top before I could close the deal. The dealer in California was sure it did not come with one and said he could not remove the hardtop to look. I took a chance and when the car arrived, surprise, it did have a soft top and it was in great shape, almost unused.
      02 Nieman Marcus-SS htp-f/sil. #165 - 21 states-DC
      02 TB-TB htp-p/blue acc.-Nancy Gioia-28 states-DC
      03 007-Coral htp-f/white acc. #468 7 states
      03 WW-WW htp-p/red 8 states
      04 VMG-VMG htp-p/white - 20 states-DC
      04 Merlot- Merlot htp-sand- B. Grassnig-48 states-DC
      04 TR-TR htp-blk 20 states-DC
      04 LIB-LIB htp-p/white 16 states-DC
      05 Cashmere htp-stone #408 21 states-DC
      05 Dusk Rose-DR htp-cashmere seats - 48&DC
      05 IG-IG htp-p/white #82       - 48&DC

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: 2002 without a soft top

        Geez , you mean the retros you guys have doesn't have the retractable hardtop? It takes up the whole trunk,but I overcome that by shipping my clothes ahead when going on a long road trip.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: 2002 without a soft top

          Originally posted by 4LOWBIRDS+5 View Post
          Funny story, I had to sign an acknowledgement paper that my 007 did not have a soft top before I could close the deal. The dealer in California was sure it did not come with one and said he could not remove the hardtop to look. I took a chance and when the car arrived, surprise, it did have a soft top and it was in great shape, almost unused.
          I hope that wasn't a FORD dealer...
          Quickdraw
          Raccoon Lodge Administrator

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: 2002 without a soft top

            I hope you told him to take his hard top off and find the soft top. You could do that without referring him to any other site.

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: 2002 without a soft top

              Originally posted by Quickdraw View Post
              I did tell him he already has a softtop but he hasn't been back in 12 days so hasn't seen it.
              Anyway, here is his post:I've got a 2002 hard top only. I've found a soft top from a 2003. What do I need to know about adding this soft top to my 2002. Has anyone ever done this and what problems to watch out for? Remember mine didn't come with soft top and the 2003 had soft and hard top.
              Does anyone know of a specialty company that offers a kit?
              Almost sounds like a hoax. First he has access to a 2003 soft top and then he wants info on an kit? Anyway, when and if he takes the first step and removes the hard top his problem will be solved. Or maybe some genius will notice the that in spite of the presumed absence of a soft top there is a rocker switch on the console that makes a whirring sound behind the seats when you push it. Pity the new owner that doesn't read his owner's manual. Or maybe he just did and is too embarrassed to post back.
              ...........sigpic

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: 2002 without a soft top

                Originally posted by 4LOWBIRDS+5 View Post
                Funny story, I had to sign an acknowledgement paper that my 007 did not have a soft top before I could close the deal. The dealer in California was sure it did not come with one and said he could not remove the hardtop to look. I took a chance and when the car arrived, surprise, it did have a soft top and it was in great shape, almost unused.
                With Ron's vast knowledge and acquired retros his story is a little hard to believe unless his 007 was the first that he bought. And Ron you're presumably correct that the 'whisper white' shift knobs are near impossible to find. As to my friend Harry, I know the sad site he's referring to and it is where I think I found him.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: 2002 without a soft top

                  Originally posted by Quickdraw View Post
                  I've got a 2002 hard top only. I've found a soft top from a 2003. What do I need to know about adding this soft top to my 2002. Has anyone ever done this and what problems to watch out for? Remember mine didn't come with soft top and the 2003 had soft and hard top.
                  Does anyone know of a specialty company that offers a kit?
                  It just so happens I have experience with this conversion. Please inform him that for a small fee (just a few hundred dollars) in advance I will gladly assist. Also, I know someone who can help with side window awnings to prevent rain from getting on the interior.
                  Bird is the word.....
                  Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. H. L. Mencken US editor (1880 - 1956)

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: 2002 without a soft top

                    Originally posted by Greg S View Post
                    I hope you told him to take his hard top off and find the soft top. You could do that without referring him to any other site.
                    Yes I did tell him he has a soft top however telling him HOW to take off the hardtop is a different story. Is it in the regular owners manual? Or only in the special pamphlet and CD? I don't know if he has these. Apparently he was familiar with the 55-57 baby birds and thought the soft top was optional.

                    In any case he joined that site Feb 1 and his last visit there was Feb 2. It was several days later that I saw his post and replied. He has probably forgotten how to get back to the site.
                    Quickdraw
                    Raccoon Lodge Administrator

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: 2002 without a soft top

                      Maybe he thought the soft top went OVER the hard top. I can understand his confusion.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: 2002 without a soft top

                        When I was at university my girlfriend's father had a new '55 yellow bird and he let us drive it all the time, kind of like in the Beach Boy's song. The first time we were caught in the rain was the first time I knew it didn't have a soft top. Ten years later I bought my own '55 and it didn't have a soft top either and the hard top hung from a block and tackle in the garage rafters. I couldn't believe then that a convertible would have no soft top and I can only guess that the guy with the '02 might have had it cannibalized by somebody if it isn't in the well where it belongs.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: 2002 without a soft top

                          Originally posted by Quickdraw View Post
                          ... telling him HOW to take off the hardtop is a different story. Is it in the regular owners manual? Or only in the special pamphlet and CD? I don't know if he has these.
                          Owner's Manual and CD.
                          Pages 49 through 55 in the '03 manual ...
                          REMOVABLE TOP (IF EQUIPPED)
                          For more information see the CD Rom included with this guide.
                          ...........sigpic

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: 2002 without a soft top

                            Originally posted by Welker View Post
                            When I was at university my girlfriend's father had a new '55 yellow bird and he let us drive it all the time, kind of like in the Beach Boy's song. The first time we were caught in the rain was the first time I knew it didn't have a soft top. Ten years later I bought my own '55 and it didn't have a soft top either and the hard top hung from a block and tackle in the garage rafters. I couldn't believe then that a convertible would have no soft top and I can only guess that the guy with the '02 might have had it cannibalized by somebody if it isn't in the well where it belongs.
                            First generation Thunderbirds were true roadsters. Two seat car with no protection from the weather. Soft top was an option.
                            We're lighter. We're faster. If that don't work, we're nastier.
                            We're gonna make history.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: 2002 without a soft top

                              Originally posted by Sierra977 View Post
                              First generation Thunderbirds were true roadsters. Two seat car with no protection from the weather. Soft top was an option.
                              All 55-57 Thunderbirds came with a top, your choice soft or hard. Hardtop was the option if you wanted both.
                              02 Nieman Marcus-SS htp-f/sil. #165 - 21 states-DC
                              02 TB-TB htp-p/blue acc.-Nancy Gioia-28 states-DC
                              03 007-Coral htp-f/white acc. #468 7 states
                              03 WW-WW htp-p/red 8 states
                              04 VMG-VMG htp-p/white - 20 states-DC
                              04 Merlot- Merlot htp-sand- B. Grassnig-48 states-DC
                              04 TR-TR htp-blk 20 states-DC
                              04 LIB-LIB htp-p/white 16 states-DC
                              05 Cashmere htp-stone #408 21 states-DC
                              05 Dusk Rose-DR htp-cashmere seats - 48&DC
                              05 IG-IG htp-p/white #82                               - 48&DC

                              Comment

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