Canvas Top Dealer Question

[RedWolf]

Unfortunately, I try to never drive it in the rain so it will probably take a long time before I know how leakproof it is. I'll try to remember to post once I get caught in an unexpected storm. I use the top more just to keep the interior clean.

[azygoustoyou]

Do you dry wash your car? Or does it never get dirty? LOL

[RedWolf]

It doesn't get very dirty but only hand wash myself and am very careful to not blast any water near the tops of the windows. In between washes, I use a California duster every once in a while but it doesn't get very dirty. It's only a clear and sunny driver for me and is always garaged when not in use.

[spidernut]

I came in late, so forgive me. I bought a World Upholstery top about 6 years ago. It still looks and fits like new. It was very well assembled, the rear window is still crystal clear, installation was easy, came with cables installed and the best part is that it was delivered in about three days from ordering it. I'd buy again from them in a heartbeat, but my old top still looks fantastic! They also send samples of the material free of charge and send them quickly. They were great on the phone when I had a million questions. I was 100% pleased with my experience with them.

[paook]

Just received our canvas top from World Upholstery. Ours did NOT include the cables, only the string to guide cables through. We'll be installing in the next week or two as we get more parts (like cables... the PO had someone install a cheap top and they didn't bother keeping the cables) amd study the instructions. This will be our first top replacement job.

[deacon]

I live in the Everett area (Silver Lake) as well and would be interested in seeing or hearing how the top install goes. I just got the 78" I have been reviving on the road. Top is next. Let me know if you need a hand.

[paook]

If you've installed a top before, the help would be a benefit! No instructions were provided with the top, but we have two sets of separate instructions from two sources for comparison. Also helps having extra cars sitting around with worse tops that I don't mind ravaging to figure things out a little.

If you would like to see the quality of the top, we could arrange something. I don't know when we'll get around to the actual installation. Most of our car and house work gets done after 8 pm (when the little guy is in bed).

[paook]

Our cloth top from World upholstery in CA is now installed. We had our mechanic's wife do it, since our life has been busy with young-uns. She's installed numerous Spider tops.

Her review: She didn't like the top compared to others. Sure, this canvas top looks nice but the manufacturer skimped in a few areas to keep the cost down. There are no reinforced cutout points on the sides where the side cables are supposed to pass through. This being canvas, it will fray as soon as you cut it. She didn't bother with the side cables because of this. The back edge of the top where it interfaces with the car body (near the trunk) does not have any rigid reinforcement to help keep the top in good condition over the years. Other brands have a plastic piece in them to hold the shape of the edge, but this top only had an extra layer of fabric.

[HFK]

I will be in the market for another top soon so its great to hear the insights. I don't know what brand I have, but the rear window has separated from the canvas.

Was the install difficult? I like to reupholster furniture as a hobby and I am toying with the idea of trying it myself. It looks like the back edge tucks under the body work. I haven't figured out the front yet.