Installing Vinyl on a 1968 Hardtop

[Gregory M.]

Has anyone ever installed black vinyl on a C3 hardtop?

How difficult a job is it and who sells the correct material?

[Gary R.]

Re: Installing Vinyl on a 1968 Hardtop

I thought about this as well. Once I get back to working on my 69 I would like to look into this. Vinyl on a c3 looks pretty sharp. I'll be watching, if you do this post some how to's.

[Jeff W.]

Re: Installing Vinyl on a 1968 Hardtop

Greg, does your old top have vinyl or are you tweaking it? I always loved the vinyl on my '69 Camaro.

[Terry M.]

Re: Installing Vinyl on a 1968 Hardtop

Has anyone ever installed black vinyl on a C3 hardtop?

How difficult a job is it and who sells the correct material?

There is an upholstery shop near me that in the warm weather keeps their doors open. I noticed they have an array of heat lamps on a rack at the ceiling. They have a pulley arrangement that allows them to lower the lamps to heat the vinyl as they install it. I would think the individual investment in such an apparatus would not be worth the trouble, but WTFDIK.

[Bob W.]

Re: Installing Vinyl on a 1968 Hardtop

Greg I agree with Gary vinyl looks great on c3s. Do you know anyone with a vinyl hardtop, if so maybe get some samples from Al Knoch and the two hardtop rebuilders and see how they look. I think they are a three piece kit and would be better off to have an upholstery shop do this. Please keep us posted as I plan to put vinyl on my 69.

Bob

[Gregory M.]

Re: Installing Vinyl on a 1968 Hardtop

My C3 was originally sold with a vinyl hardtop and I too love the look...there is a 68 top in the driveline that needs paint and I thought why not?

If a 3 piece vinyl top set is reproduced that would make the job fairly easy...I will check Al Knoch...but actually I am sure any competant shop that does tops could do it...only issue is cost...

[Jack H.]

Re: Installing Vinyl on a 1968 Hardtop

I've looked into this for my C2/1967. I found that several vendors have kits with accurate correct grain/seams vinyl material which is precut (but trim excess during installation), including Glassworks (C1 & C2 only?), Corvette Central (see Item #433106 for C3), others, etc. I've also been told that the material is fairly common and stocked by most local and reputable upholstery shops.

If you look at some of the related threads on the subject, there is some difference of opinion about whether it was a good DIY project or not, i.e. whether you need the industrial heat lamps, good stretch, and install experience, etc.

I would also love to hear from anyone who's done this themselves and how well it turned out.