I am restoring a 71 Comet GT. It originally had a black vinyl top which I took off, but my painter told me I needed to put another one back on. He said that the factory did not 'finish' the roof when a vinyl top was going to be installed, like they did if there was not going to be one. I want to paint my car black, just like the brand new one I had in 72. It was a Bearcat, too. However, it did not have a vinyl top. Has anyone ever seen a black GT with a black vinyl top? I wonder how it will look. Any pictures?
I like vinyl tops. From what I've seen, the roofs are pretty much finished as a car with a painted roof, just not painted underneath, which is what causes most of them to rust.
I almost hate to say it but black is a difficult color to get "right". Meaning the painter is asking to skip 1/4 of the job by omission, either the shop is running behind or he is just being lazy (IMHO). Like Burger King says, Have it your way! You're paying the bill, your call.
This is the way I see it too. With todays polyester primers, it shouldn't be any trouble to get the roof ready for paint.
I am replacing MY vinyl top, for the sole purpose of not having to paint the car, as the rest of my paint is original and I want to keep it that way (Craig). It would appear to me that the roof area under the vinyl top was in fact as finished as the rest of the car. The 'orange' that you see on my roof is just the glue. The whole roof was yellow under the vinyl.
My 72 Comet GT came from the factory black with a black vinyl roof which I removed years ago. I do recall the area above the quarter windows where the roof meets the quarter panel to not be as "finished" as a vehicle without a vinyl top. It appeared to have been filled with lead and then just a quick coat of filler placed on top of the lead and then rough sanded. At that point it looked as if the glue for the top was applied and the top glued on. So in my case at least, I know and understand what your painter means and has communicated to you.
would your painter suggest to put vinyl on your fenders (doors, quarters) if they had some rust on them...
Thanks for all the input. One thing is for sure, the vinyl top completely changes the look of the car. I am not sure it looks as much of a hot rod, in my opinion, with the top. I am thinking that a black top on a black car will not make the top as obvious. Then again, it came from the factory that way, so I might want to keep it for that reason. Does anyone have a picture of a black top on a black Comet?
