1931 Victoria Leatherback Top Material

[kressej]

I have a 31 Vicky leatherback with top material that looks like canvas. Its probably been on there 40 years... I see lots of cars with tan vinyl material, but this is different. I want to know: 1) is it original, and 2) where do I get a replacement. Classtique in MN has something fairly close. Anyone ran into this? Thanks.

[Marco Tahtaras]

In your photo the top appears to be old Haartz tan convertible topping. That material was made for decades. The outer layer was cotton and as such was not colorfast over the long tern and faded to white. The newer versions are all made from synthetic fabric on the exterior making them colorfast and more resistant to UV.

The material used on the leather back Victoria was artificial leather which was pyroxyline in those days but typically vinyl today. The pic below shows original Victoria top material on the right and Sport Coupe material on the left. The Victoria material was made to look like the "Tan Drab" fabric used on the deluxe open models which included the Cabriolet, Deluxe Phaeton, Deluxe Roadster, Convertible Sedan.

The second pic shows a comparison of the original fabric mentioned above on the left and Victoria material on the right.

With that said, nobody has reproduced the material for the leather back Victoria. Over the years varying 'tan' colors of vinyl have been used as a substitute. Anyone that offers a pre-sewn top for the Victoria should be able to make it from the top material of your choice.

[kressej]

Thanks!

[jm29henry]

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