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CHAPTER 3

SUPPLIERS OF CONVERTIBLE TOP PARTS

There are many places that sell replacement parts for your convertible, and obtaining the correct parts for your project is not easy. What you need to know is where to get the parts and what to ask for. Having a reliable resource for parts and knowledgeable help is vital to completing a project.

I spent many years working with some of these vendors and have come to trust that their goods and services are the best of the best. These suppliers and manufacturers are more than helpful when it comes to getting what you need for your convertible top project. They all are reputable dealers and are very good at what they do. Please take the time to do the research on your project by at least knowing the make, model, and year of what you are working on.

Every project needs parts. Where you get the parts makes all the difference in the final result of your project. There are many vendors to work with, and developing relationships with them will ensure great results.

The Haartz Corporation

Where would the convertible top industry be without the Haartz Corporation? They are the innovators of coated fabrics for automotive and non-automotive markets. Its main headquarters is located in Acton, Massachusetts, and the company has offices and facilities in several countries.

Haartz has been making convertible top material for more than a century. Most people are familiar with its Pinpoint vinyl and Stayfast cloth-topping materials, but it also makes all the other designer weaves that adorn Audi, Jaguar, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, and others. When it comes time to purchase a new top for your convertible, insist that it is made of genuine Haartz topping material.

This convertible top material was made by the Haartz Corporation. The black and white Pinpoint vinyl topping are standard colors found on many cars. The more-luxurious Stayfast tan and black topping material give a car the look and feel of distinction. Haartz has many additional colors and patterns available.

Hydro-E-Lectric

If your project car is in need of new hydraulic cylinders, Hydro-E-Lectric is the source for all the parts you may need. The company began due to a failed window cylinder on Paul Wiesman’s 1953 Oldsmobile Holiday. As the story was told, Paul noticed that the rear window of his prized 1953 Oldsmobile Holiday was down and there was a puddle of fluid under the car. Paul went looking for some assistance from his neighbor, a mechanic. He was told that the cylinder was a sealed unit that could not be repaired by the neighbor, but a machinist friend may be able to help.

Impressed by the process and complexity of the repair, Paul realized that there was a need for this type of service, and in 1976, he started a brand-new business. Shortly, Paul expanded his product line to include replacement hydraulic cylinders for convertible tops as well as window cylinders.

The business kept growing and continued to expand with other much-needed and requested restoration supplies. Hydro-E-Lectric is now known as America’s Convertible Headquarters and is operating in Punta Gorda, Florida, as a third-generation business under the care of Paul’s daughter Erika and her son.

As with any business, innovation and service is the only way to maintain a standing in the restoration community. With some parts becoming harder to find, Hydro-E-Lectric offers restoration and repairs of your original hydraulic pumps as well as convertible top and interior restorations.

Inside the office and warehouse space of Hydro-E-Lectric are all the parts necessary to repair your convertible top. In addition to the parts, it also offers complete convertible top installation and hydraulic pump rebuilding service for your convertible.

Electron Top

Fred Strauss Jr. was a great auto trimmer, and he handcrafted some of the finest convertible tops for his customers. After purchasing heat-sealing equipment to make his convertible tops, other vendors in the industry requested that Electron Top start to distribute the tops for sale. Fred realized that there was a need for a high-quality top, and after years of dedication to the trade and giving the customer a great product at a fair price, he had made Electron Top the leader in the industry. Automation and precision craftsmanship helped make it the company it is today.

The finest-made convertible tops come from Electron Top in Richmond Hill, New York. The pride and craftsmanship that goes into making an Electron Top is second to none for this family-owned-and-operated business that has served the convertible top industry since 1960.

Now, Electron Top is a third-generation manufacturer of some of the finest convertible tops ever made. The people at Electron Top are friendly, knowledgeable, and most helpful if you run into problems or have an issue with installation.

I have been purchasing my tops from Electron Top through my local distributor, Pyramid Trim Products, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. One service that I am most grateful for is that I am able to get a ready-made top with custom features. I request to have cable sleeves put into all of my tops and, of course, my signature lower valance on the vinyl curtains. Thank you, Electron Top, for making my work stand out and look great!

Metro Moulded Parts

It is often difficult to find rubber roof rail sets that are pliable enough to actually allow the top to latch without difficulty. Metro Moulded Parts Inc. has always had the highest-quality rubber parts for my customers. The consistency of the rubber and accuracy of the molding assures a good fit and long wear.

Metro Moulded Parts is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has a wide dealer base throughout the country. This family-owned company started business as car enthusiasts, and the tradition continues with the best reproduction rubber classic car parts available anywhere.

The highest-quality rubber roof rail sets, along with so many other hard-to-find seals and parts, can be acquired at Metro Moulded. If you also need door, trunk, and other rubber seals to restore a complete car, you can save more money when you buy a Master Kit.

Al Knoch Interiors

When it comes to Corvette tops and interior components, there is no questioning that Al Knoch has the most authentic and best-fitting pieces that you can get. Everything that it produces is made in America and built to the highest standards to meet the needs of restorers everywhere.

Hands down the best Corvette reproduction tops available are produced by Al Knoch Interiors of Canutillo, Texas. All Al Knoch top kits come complete with the top, pads, and everything else that is needed for the installation of your new top.

Because the fitment and installation of Corvette soft goods requires a little extra effort and knowledge, it is good to know that there is a company that specializes in this one area. Al Knoch does not sell shirts and hats and is not distracted by trying to sell you everything else for your car. Al Knoch concentrates on making the best Corvette reproduction seat covers and convertible tops than can be obtained.

The best part of working with Al Knoch Interiors is that if you ever have a problem with any of the company’s fine products, you can call and customer service will work with you to resolve any issue. The company stands behind the products that it makes.

Kee Auto Top

From its headquarters in North Carolina, Kee Auto Top has been producing vinyl tops and convertible tops and providing support since 1964. This is not just another family-owned business; it cares about the products that it produces.

Kee Auto Top offers a large selection of colors and patterns for foreign and American autos from 1940 to current models. It is a good source for convertible and vinyl tops that are made at the family-owned factory in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kee Auto Top products fit well and are made from high-quality materials. Many models are available for foreign and American convertibles. If you need a vinyl top for your car, Kee can help with that too. The company has a large selection of colors and patterns that will match your original top.

Kee is a retail source that you should also consider because its employees are easy to work with. They want to help you to get the products you need for your project.

TopsOnline.com

If you need a full-service auto trim supply company then look to TopsOnLine.com for everything a trimmer can ask for. The company is based in Southern California and has been in the auto trim business since 1987. TopsOnline.com is a distributor for Robbins Auto Top and EZ ON Auto Tops products, but it also sells interior kits and carpet sets as well as auto trim supplies and upholstery tools. Vic and his staff can answer your questions, and they are ready and willing to help get you the correct parts that you need for your project.

More than 30 years in industry sales and service is what makes TopsOnline.com and Vic’s Upholstery Supply the one-stop store for all of your convertible top and auto upholstery needs.

Convertible Service

Repairing a damaged convertible top frame is difficult, but when you have a resource like this, you can’t go wrong. For more than 35 years, Convertible Service has been repairing and providing replacement parts for convertible tops.

Not just convertible top parts, but the right convertible top parts and absolutely the best troubleshooting and diagnostic advice in the convertible top industry is from Convertible Service. Years of hands-on technical service has given Paul and his team at Convertible Service the knowledge to help you resolve your top problems.

Convertible Service has a repair and manufacturing facility that is located in San Gabriel, California, and it is open to help get your convertible back into working order. All the parts that it carries are correct for the car you are working on, and its employees know how to install them too.

In addition to the great service and help that you will get from Jan, Ron, and Glen, there is an additional benefit of many years of hands-on repair experience from master tech Paul Terry. In my opinion, the best product Convertible Service sells is the Fluid-Matic Convertible System Filling & Bleeding Tool. This device has saved me countless hours and many messes. This is the one convertible top tool that makes my job a whole lot easier.

Online Searches

I have spent a lifetime working on these cars and have compiled many books, catalogs, and service manuals to help me understand and properly repair these classic cars to their original glory. With the ever-changing information available on the internet, there is always a good chance you will be able to find what you are looking for.

However, let me caution you about buying from unknown parts sources: eBay is NOT a store; it is an online auction website. The products you find on eBay may be what you want, but you better make sure they are the correct parts for your project. Most of the time, the parts you see for sale end up there because someone bought them and they were wrong, and when you buy them they are still wrong.

Don’t waste your money. Call and talk to the seller, vendor, or owner of the part. Get all of the information that you can before giving them your hard-earned cash. Find out if the part has a warranty and if it can be returned if it turns out to be an incorrect or defective part.