What is a Convertible Top Headliner and Does it Need Replacing?

A convertible top headliner is the piece of fabric material that is secured underneath the convertible top frame to present a clean, upholstered look on the interior of your convertible. 

Debunking Convertible Headliner Claims 

While you may read on some sites that headliners are important at keeping moisture out of the interior of the car, that is not the purpose of the headliner at all. Moisture in the car means that your convertible soft top has failed or your weather seals / weatherstripping needs replacing. For either of these things the headliner is only going to direct the moisture down to the sides or pool until it is so saturated that it will drip into the interior. 

You might also read on some sites that headliners are there to prevent debris from falling on the interior of your convertible. Again, that is not the purpose of the headliner at all. If your headliner has become a catch-net for debris you have bigger problems, like a failing convertible top that has deteriorated to a level that your vehicle is probably no longer water tight and your convertible top frame is rusted. 

What are Convertible Headliners For Then? 

Really, convertible headliners are about looks. They make the interior of your convertible look more like a traditional hard top with a finished interior roof.  Without a headliner you may see parts of the convertible top and frame channels. 

Convertible headliners also provide a small improvement in noise reduction from wind or the road just from the fact that you have another layer of fabric between you and the outside of your vehicle, but that is strictly a side benefit of a cosmetic feature. The same would go for a slight increase in temperature insulation. You may pick up a few degrees of temperature protection, but it’s not the purpose of the headliner. 

Do All Convertibles Have Headliners?

One surprising fact is that not all convertibles had headliners. Convertible headliners became popular in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  In American convertibles, most had convertible headliners, but surprisingly Corvette convertibles did not have headliners until 1986 and Camaro convertibles and Mustang convertibles did not have them until 1991.

How Do Headliners Attach to the Convertible?

This is a great question, with a wide variety of answers because headliners have changed a lot through the years. You might read on some sites that convertible headliners are affixed to the soft top with adhesive glue, but this is not the case at all. (With the exception of some headliners using contact cement to wrap edges of the headliner around the bow.)

Although convertible headliners are made for convertibles all the way back to model years in the early 1900’s they will still use modern innovations in the features and fastening mechanisms used. Therefore in most convertible headliners, you’ll see a combination of listings (loops of material) straps, snaps, velcro, and plastic extrusions, run channels, hooks and clips which are attached to the convertible top frame. In some cases you’ll have a few points where the convertible headliner is secured to the soft top also, to smooth out the headliner and allow it to stay with the frame mechanism when the top is lowered. Also, some models, like Corvette, even have a bow system design, like you’d find in early model hardtops, but that is rare. You won’t find injection molded ABS plastic headliner boards for convertibles though. Fabric wrapped around cardboard and held on by trim was popular in the 1960’s but you won’t find that design on replacement headliners. 

Do I Need to Replace My Headliner? 

If your convertible currently has a headliner installed and you are replacing your convertible top, you may be wondering if you need to purchase a new headliner. Again, you may read on some sites that you need to replace your headliner when you buy a new soft top, but we would disagree. There have been many times where the headliner is not damaged and in good shape and can be reused. If you are replacing a newer model convertible top then you most likely will want to save your headliner if it is not punctured or damaged. That’s because aftermarket headliners are generally not available until at least a few years after a model is released and you can only get a replacement from the dealer before then, where it may be more costly.

Here is the checklist that you can go through to determine whether you need a new convertible headliner or not: 

• Is your convertible headliner torn or ripped in any location?  
  If so, definitely replace your headliner as it will only get worse and could impede the raising and lowering of your convertible top frame if it becomes caught in the mechanism.
  

• Is your convertible headliner discolored or stained? 
  If so, then replacing your headliner is optional, but recommended to maintain the value of your vehicle.

• Are the attachment mechanisms that your convertible headliner uses still in tact? 
  If so then then you can reuse your old headliner when replacing your convertible top. If they are damaged in any way, including fraying, loosening, detaching or other types of failures, then you should definitely replace your convertible headliner when replacing your convertible top.

• Is your headliner really old? 
  This was a trick question. If your headliner is in good shape, keep it. We’ve seen headliners that were more than 30 years old and still going strong. The good news is that you can always replace your headliner when it fails rather than doing it when your replacement soft top is installed. You won’t have to remove your convertible top to replace your headliner, so it’s relatively easy to do at any time.

A fraction of our customers replace their soft top without replacing their headliner, so don’t feel like you are required to replace your headliner when you replace your soft top. Companies that say otherwise may be just trying to increase their sales. Re-using your headliner can be one way to save money when replacing your convertible top. Another way you can save money is shopping with the largest convertible tops distributor online: TopsOnline, where our volume lets us pass on savings to you.

What Should You Replace?

When replacing your convertible top, more important than replacing your headliner, is checking your top pads and tension straps. If they are not folding correctly, then they can cause costly damage to your convertible top and headliner. 

Also check your side tension cables for corrosion and check that the springs are not expanded or loose in any way.

Replacing Your Convertible Headliner

If you have decided that you need a new convertible headliner we are happy to help you find what you need. As experts in automotive upholstery since 1987, we have experience with virtually every convertible ever made and have curated the biggest and best catalog of replacement convertible headliners and soft tops on the internet. As the largest online distributor of convertible top replacements, we source our products from multiple companies and offer the best selection online, letting you see all your options in one place, plus our volume lets us pass along savings to you. Shop within our Convertible Tops & Accessories category now to see what headliners are available for your convertible year, make and model.