Need Convertible Top Opinions

[SixSquaredFord]

I could use some opinions on what to do with the convertible top.

First some background info:

I have somewhat recently become the owner of my family's 1936 sedan convertible. My great grandmother bought it new. It was then passed to my grandmother and then father before making its way to me.

It sat in my father's garage since 1969. I started working on it in November, and got it running for Christmas as kind of a Christmas present for my father (hadn't run in 55 years or so).

The top is probably 70 years old, but is visually in excellent shape (it's currently up). However, all the weatherstripping has lost all flexibility and will inevitably break if the top is taken down. The fabric may have also lost some flexibility and there is some danger of it tearing too, I would think.

The car had been painted once in the 60's but hasn't really undergone any sort of restoration. There are some paint chips and bubbling, scratches, etc. Historically it was used as a daily driver (my dad says it's on its fourth engine). So, although in surprisingly good condition, it's no show car.

Plans for the car are ice cream stand runs with the grandkids, maybe a few local cruise nights, maybe a local car show, and possibly a parade. It will never again see rain or even a wet road.

So back to the opinion request - Do I just leave it alone since it is intact and in visually excellent condition? Do I take it down and just leave it down forever? Am I being overly cautions, and putting up and down isn't something to b concerned about? Some other option?

The first option of course would be the easiest, least likely to break anything, and would keep it cool when sitting in the sun... but ummmm - it's a convertible.

Thoughts?

[Automotive Stud]

I'd use it, enjoy it, repair as needed. If the weatherstripping fails it doesn't matter. I wouldn't put it up and down all the time, try to take it easy with it so it lasts a little longer.

[V8ER]

In the meantime, please post some photos.

[Kurt in NJ]

It would be interesting to see the details of the top,I have a 36 convertible sedan too. Do you have the top operating instructions?

[SixSquaredFord]

@Automotive Stud, I like your idea. Maybe I will only put it up/down if there is a good reason to change it.

@V8er, I tried, but because I don't have over 10 posts yet, the forum doesn't always let me post a picture yet. Maybe I will get over that with this thread, and if I do I will post some.

@Kurt, I actually just ordered a manual earlier today. Found it here: w w w . faxonautoliterature . com/1935-1936-Ford-Sedan-with-Trunk-Convertible-Top-Owners-Manual-Reprint-with-Envelope

[ThirstyThirty]

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since you asked for opinions... imo, leave it up!

V8ER has the right idea!

[Hitman]

Leave it as is, top up forever. Enjoy and drive it.

[SixSquaredFord]

I finally hit the 10 post limit for posting images. People asked for pictures, so here is the car moving from my father's garage to mine, last fall.

[Don W/Norfolk]

Sweet ride! Drive the wheels off it.
Since you don't intend to drive it in the rain, cycle the top sparingly and put a new one on when the existing one fails to keep the sunshine off the seats
dw

[mcgarrett]

Just a suggestion...you might consider contacting these folks since they are an OEM for convertible tops for many of the major automakers around the world and have been making convertible tops for a long time. They could perhaps recommend ways to clean it and preserve it. It's worth a shot and costs nothing to ask.

https://www.haartz.com/exteriors/cloth-topping

[TJ]

If you later decide you want a new top, be sure to save the old one for patterns.

[SixSquaredFord]

Thanks for the link mcgarrett. I will be sure to keep that somewhere that I won't be able to find when I need it

I appreciate the input from everyone.

Anyone have a general ballpark what new tops cost? My google fu has failed me so for. The price might figure into how careful I am with it.

[mcgarrett]

No idea about cost for a new top for your car; pretty sure it would have to be custom made due to the rarity of the body style.

You mentioned that it had been sitting in a garage since 1969. You don't say whether it had a cover over the car or not, but if it didn't, I would be pretty sure that quite a bit of airborne dust, pollen, sap, etc. has made its way into the fabric even sitting in a garage. If the overall condition of the fabric looks to be fairly sound, why not think about giving it a good cleaning to help bring back some of the flexibility and resilience of the fabric and remove some 70+ years of embedded dirt? You would need to decide whether it could withstand a gentle cleaning with top cleaner soap, a soft brush, and water. Check out this link to see if you think it would make sense to tackle it.

https://autoforge.net/collections/ra...tible-top-care

[SixSquaredFord]

That's another great link mcgarrett. Thanks again.

My current plan is to leave the top up until a hot sunny day in late spring/early summer. I will try giving the top a gentile cleaning and let it dry in the sun, and then try taking it down while it's still nice and warm (and hopefully flexible). Those products in that link will probably become incorporated into that plan.

[NYfatboy]

Originally Posted by SixSquaredFord

I finally hit the 10 post limit for posting images. People asked for pictures, so here is the car moving from my father's garage to mine, last fall.

Beautiful!

[danliveshere]

Firstly , welcome to the Fordbarn and congratulations on taking over the ownership of the family convertible sedan. I have a 35 convertible sedan in completely stripped out condition, awaiting for the body restoration ( mechanical is near complete).
Here is a link to a post I did a couple years ago, regarding a company that can provide a full convertible sedan top.
The tops are pretty heavy to fold all the way back and really needs two people. But you may want to look at this option too. The 35/36 convertible sedan has the ability to only fold back to the front seat. Worth a look, and will not damage the stitching in the rear half of your top. Dan

[danliveshere]

Oh the link !!
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329004

[danliveshere]

https://aro2000.com/107+112_order_form.htm

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by danliveshere

Firstly , welcome to the Fordbarn and congratulations on taking over the ownership of the family convertible sedan. I have a 35 convertible sedan in completely stripped out condition, awaiting for the body restoration ( mechanical is near complete).
Here is a link to a post I did a couple years ago, regarding a company that can provide a full convertible sedan top.
The tops are pretty heavy to fold all the way back and really needs two people. But you may want to look at this option too. The 35/36 convertible sedan has the ability to only fold back to the front seat. Worth a look, and will not damage the stitching in the rear half of your top. Dan

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by danliveshere
Hi guys. Has anyone used this company - for the supply of a convertible top? The link is to their 35/36 convertible sedan top. But they can supply for just about anything. Dan.
http://www.aro2000.com/107+112_order_form.htm