57 Soft Top Frame Color

[Ashley S.]

I'm trying to decide what color to paint my soft top frame and I'm not feeling confident about what color I should paint each item.

Page 20 of my JG says that the bows are painted to match headliner color. I have a beige top with a beige headliner.

My car is Aztec copper with beige top. The interior color is beige as well.

Does this mean I need to paint my bows the same as my interior color (lower instrument panel is beige)

Also, what about the rest of the frame assembly. I don't have one to look at so my question also applies to the header bow and the side frames.

One last question. At what stage of assembly should I paint this? For example, if the entire frame is painted beige to match my lower dash panel (as I suspect), would the entire frame be painted at once? This would get the screws and bolts as well, or should it be painted in pieces and then assembled?

Any help would be appreciated.

[John H.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

When was your car built? My June-built '57 (#4275) still had the remnants of its original beige top, and the headliner and pads were black (as was the top frame). It was Venetian Red with the Beige interior.

[Ashley S.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

John,
My car is a mid April car (VIN 3382). I did see where the JG said the headliners may have changed to black around March or so.

Ashley

[Ashley S.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

bump......

[Randy G.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

I have VIN 3367 and it has a tan frame. Top Flight car.

[Ashley S.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Thanks Randy,
Is it the same color as your dash interior, or is it a color that matches your top?

Thanks,

Ashley

[Steven B.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Ashley, I have a Polo White/red interior, lower dash white, with black top built mid December. The origianl top, which was on it in '64 when I bought it, was black outside and headliner with black pads. The top frame still has the original paint on it and is totally black. The black replacement tops from GM in 1965 were black in and out with black pads.

Steve

[Ashley S.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Thanks Steven,
Maybe someone will reply that has a tan top. I'm curious whether the tan top would have the same black frame. Your black top with black frame makes sense to me.

Thanks,

Ashley

[Bruce B.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

I have 57 #809, all red with tan top. Bottom of dash & steering column is beige. The convertible top frame and pad are all black.

[Ashley S.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Thanks Bruce,
Is your headliner black as well?

Thanks,

Ashley

[Bruce B.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Ashley,
Yes, the headliner is black.
Bruce B

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Ashley, if the '57 soft top exterior was beige, then the interior (headliner), bows and pads were beige until approximately 4/1/57 VIN #3200. Afterwards all soft top interiors were black regardless of exterior color. Gary....

[John H.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Maybe someone will reply that has a tan top. I'm curious whether the tan top would have the same black frame. Your black top with black frame makes sense to me.
Ashley

Ashley -

Your car was built after the breakpoint date noted in the JG when tan tops got black pads and headliner and top frame (as was mine); mine Top-Flighted with no deduction for the top or frame, and yours shouldn't get a deduction either with everything black.

[Ashley S.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Thanks Gary,
I've been thinking since I started this thread, and I realize I saw no evidence of anything other than black paint on my frame when I was cleaning it. I'm sure I would have seen something if there had been anything there.
My only issue now is the reprpoduction top that I purchased from Paragon. It has the beige pads and headliner. Do you know of anyone that sells correct beige tops with black headliners?

Thanks,

Ashley

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 Soft Top Frame Color

Ashley, two sources for tops are John Kennedy and Al Knock, both advertise in the Driveline. Gary....