Archive for February 2012
The world of replacement Mazda Miata convertible tops is surprisingly complicated! Over the next few blog posts, I will delve into some of the various different options available for Miata owners who want to replace their tops, and what these options mean.
For the 1989-1997 Miata MX5 and MX5 Eunos, the first thing you have to decide is whether you want a top that has the 1-piece look, or the 2-piece look.
As you can see, the main difference here is what’s happening at the lower corners of the convertible top’s rear window. In the 2-piece look, the top quarters overlap both sides of the window so that it looks as though the window is part of a 2-piece top insert.
On the other hand, the “1-piece look” Mazda Miata top has the window sealed directly to the top. Without the overlapping rear quarters, you end up with a smooth top that appears to be made from one piece of fabric.
Both of these replacement convertible tops will fit these Mazda Miata models. It’s just a matter of which one you prefer. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Image courtesy Flickr/skinnylawyer
Q: I see you have N.O.S. fabric featured on your site… what is it?
A: We now offer N.O.S. fabric, which stands for New Old Stock. This is fabric which the car manufacturers produced (or purchased) when the car was originally made.
These are new materials, in the sense that they have never been used in a car, exposed to the elements, or cut from their original bolts of cloth. But they are called “old stock” because it is the original material which may have been made in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s.
There are very limited quantities of N.O.S. fabric and seat cloths materials available. And when it’s gone, it’s gone! Barring time travel, it will not be possible to obtain more of the actual original fabric which is contemporary to your car’s original model, if you want to restore your classic car’s original material.
For those collectors and devotees who want to restore their car’s interior fabric to the factory original, N.O.S. fabric is the clear choice. We currently offer N.O.S. fabric and seat cloth for many classic cars models. If you don’t see the car or the fabric you’re looking for, please contact us to ask.
Image courtesy Flickr/char1iej
In 1994 Ford released the Mustang Cobra, a souped-up and sportier version of the already popular and muscular Ford Mustang. Compared to the standard Mustang, the Cobra offered about 100 more horsepower, an improved engine (which differed based on the model year – at the end of its run, the Cobra came with a four-valve DOHC V8 engine compared to the Mustang GT’s two-valve SOHC V8), and a slightly different hood, front bumper, and rear spoiler. To complete the package, the rear bumper is imprinted with “COBRA” instead of “MUSTANG.”
The Cobra proved to be a popular variant, and was offered for a decade. Convertible Cobras produced during this run came with a 2-piece convertible top from the factory. We offer four replacement top options: the full top kit, a top with window, top only or window only, and a budget 1-piece top with a plastic window. If you are not sure which one you want, feel free to contact us to discuss your options.
The factory convertible top fabric and color combinations were:
- 1994-2004: Black or White, in Sailcloth vinyl
- 1994-1998: Saddle, in Sailcloth vinyl
- 1994-2004: Parchment, in Sailcloth vinyl
- 2002-2004: Black and Medium Parchment, in Twillfast
But as with all of our tops, we offer a variety of custom colors and fabrics. Just let us know which combination you want, and we can order it for you!
From 1984 to 1990, Ford produced a special run of Mustang McLaren convertibles in conjunction with American Sunroof Company (ASC). These began in 1984, when an engineer created his own convertible Mustang after his wife was banned from parking her Mercedes SL in the official Ford parking lot. He showed his convertible to Ford, who agreed that it was a pretty spiffy vehicle.
At the same time, McLaren was working with Ford to create a special Ford Mustang McLaren with a new body style. It was a natural fit, to offer the special ASC convertible conversions on the Ford Mustang McLaren body. This was a very limited run of cars at first, but it proved popular enough that Ford continued the partnership through 1990.
We offer replacement convertible tops for the Mustang McLaren ASC conversions for model years 1984-1986, 1987-1988, and 1989-1990. (And check out our other Mustang tops, too!)
