Spray on Vinyl Top replacement?

[Lou Van Anne]

Similar to a truck bed spay on liner....anyone tried it?

[r1lark]

I've seen it used. Looks kind of like that spray-on texture paint for ceilings sprayed onto the roof of a car. (IMHO painting the front part of the roof a contrasting color would work out much better.........but I know you didn't ask for alternate suggestions so just ignore this part of my response. )

[rockne10]

It was quite popular as a poor man's vinyl top back in the sixties and seventies.

[Milaca]

"Phil Swift here, you need a handy can of Flex Seal!"

[swvalcon]

It was used on blazer tops back in the 70's but does not look like a true vinyl top. Unless you are dead set on a vinyl top I would just sand and paint it to match the car. You could still put a new top over it later if you want.

[8E45E]

Please don't do that!

It looks like truck bedliner, and would NOT look good on the roof of a car; especially a Hawk!

Craig

[qsanford]

Studebaker International had NOS vinyl tops listed in their catalog. I don't know if they still have them. Black and white.

[SN-60]

Studebaker International had NOS vinyl tops listed in their catalog. I don't know if they still have them. Black and white.

I'd guess it would be difficult to use NOS vinyl, probably folded in a box, after fifty plus years!

[JoeHall]

Agree, I would be very hesitant to use an NOS vinyl top. OTOH, modern technology may now have something suitable as spray on. So I'd check with a few reputable body shops, and get their opinions. Most of us know, an old vinyl roof can cause the metal top to become severely rusted below. So if modern technology had produced a spray-on that looks good/similar to original, is lasting, easily maintained, and waterproof, its worth looking into.

[qsanford]

I'd guess it would be difficult to use NOS vinyl, probably folded in a box, after fifty plus years!

Might be a case for massive doses of armor-all?

[SN-60]

Might be a case for massive doses of armor-all?

Or warmth applied by a heat lamp.....and plenty of patience!!

[bezhawk]

I agree, paint it a contrasting, or even better a complimentary color.

[Lou Van Anne]

When I last checked they still had some.

Studebaker International had NOS vinyl tops listed in their catalog. I don't know if they still have them. Black and white.

[48skyliner]

I recommend the Upol Raptor urethane bedliner material:

https://www.amazon.com/U-Pol-Products-0821-RAPTOR-Tintable/dp/B00NOIKON8/ref=pd_sim_263_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00NOIKON8&pd_rd_r=9EX1SK8ZDMY0NZBG5C8S&pd_rd_w=29l4a&pd_rd_wg=cdleh&psc=1&refRID=9EX1SK8ZDMY0NZBG5C8S

The kit is four 1 liter bottles, each about 80% full up to a ring on the bottle, and then a can of catalyst. You pour in enough of the catalyst to fill the bottle and stir it up, very simple. It comes with a special gun that looks very primitive, but works well. I highly recommend shooting the underside or the wheel wells first to get the feel of how it sprays. With a little practice, you can get a fairly consistent orange peel texture. One liter bottle will probably do your roof, as you only want a thin layer, not a thick layer like you would want on a pickup bed. I did the entire underside of my 48 Champion, plus the trunk floor, the wheel wells, and inside surfaces of the fenders, used only three bottles. This stuff is clear, and you can tint it about 10% with whatever kind of automotive paint you are using. I tinted with the same silver grey I used in the engine compartment. Takes several hours to dry. The VW beach buggy had some art work, but you can see the texture. Requires very thorough masking and covering up the area, because this stuff goes everywhere and sticks to everything!

[Lou Van Anne]

I bought a set of 64 GT vinyl covers (Rene's) that turn out to be not need and had sat in their boxes for about a year. The guy I had install them said he had to "steam the hxxx" of them....they turnout very nice.

Or warmth applied by a heat lamp.....and plenty of patience!!