Random thought of the day--what was the last car to offer a factory vinyl top?

[Robert Hall]

Not the padded 1/2 tops or cloth tops, but a factory option vinyl top? Last model to offer one? Last GM model to offer one?

[balthazar]

Last: Town car (still??) ?

Last GM: Cadillac Brougham ?

[Drew Dowdell]

I don't think the Towncar one is factory.

[Robert Hall]

I don't think the Towncar one is factory.

Yeah, I don't think they've had a factory vinyl top since the '80s. My Dad's '84 and '87 had the factory 1/2 padded tops as part of the Cartier or other package, IIRC. His '91 and '96 didn't have them.

[balthazar]

Vinyl tops on Town Cars certainly were commonplace in the 1980s. At the rate I seem to have seen them wearing them, it would be very cost-inneffective to have them all farmed out, esp when Lincoln previously already did them in-house.

Here's a page from the '87 brochure :

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_itemId=72024

Text states that 'even the 'base' Lincoln Town Car gets a full vinyl roof'.

Body was redesigned for '98- from random Googling '01, '00, '99, '98 & '97 images, I can believe that redesign was the change-over point for Lincoln WRT factory vs. aftermarket vinyl roofs. As soon as they get 'carriage-roofy', they're aftermarket.

[Robert Hall]

Vinyl tops on Town Cars certainly were commonplace in the 1980s. At the rate I seem to have seen them wearing them, it would be very cost-inneffective to have them all farmed out, esp when Lincoln previously already did them in-house.

Here's a page from the '87 brochure :

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_itemId=72024

Text states that 'even the 'base' Lincoln Town Car gets a full vinyl roof'.

Body was redesigned for '98- from random Googling '01, '00, '99, '98 & '97 images, I can believe that redesign was the change-over point for Lincoln WRT factory vs. aftermarket vinyl roofs. As soon as they get 'carriage-roofy', they're aftermarket.

Regular vinyl tops probably went away w/ the '90 redesign. I don't recall seeing any '90-97 style ones with full vinyl tops. Some had the padded 1/2 tops and carriage roof tops. I've always liked the styling of the '90-97 TCs. Didn't care for the '98-02, w/ the odd tiny grille and odd headlights. The '03 update that is still around looks a lot better, IMHO.

Likewise w/ the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis, AFAIK they offered regular vinyl tops throughout the square Panther era ('79-91).

That brochures site is pretty cool..will have to explore it some.

Edited December 10, 2009 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[SAmadei]

Regular vinyl tops probably went away w/ the '90 redesign. I don't recall seeing any '90-97 style ones with full vinyl tops. Some had the padded 1/2 tops and carriage roof tops. I've always liked the styling of the '90-97 TCs. Didn't care for the '98-02, w/ the odd tiny grille and odd headlights. The '03 update that is still around looks a lot better, IMHO.

I really don't like the Towncars with the severely curved down rear roof... seriously limits headroom. Sucks when you are in a limo, and have to scoot down so you feel like your almost lying down to avoid having the roof on your head.

[balthazar]

>>"Regular vinyl tops probably went away w/ the '90 redesign. I don't recall seeing any '90-97 style ones with full vinyl tops. Some had the padded 1/2 tops and carriage roof tops."<<

As I have zero interest in Town Cars, I'll buy that for a dollar.

But you never addressed the GM question/answer there, Cubitar.

[67impss]

GM I'm betting on '96 Fleetwood IIRC I've seen them with unpadded vinyl tops and can't think of anything newer other than choo-choo customs... & the like even saw late er model Camrays done up.

[Robert Hall]

>>"Regular vinyl tops probably went away w/ the '90 redesign. I don't recall seeing any '90-97 style ones with full vinyl tops. Some had the padded 1/2 tops and carriage roof tops."<<

As I have zero interest in Town Cars, I'll buy that for a dollar.

But you never addressed the GM question/answer there, Cubitar.

Probably the '93-96 RWD Caddy Fleetwood Brougham. For non-Cadillacs, maybe the '90 Caprice for Chevy, '86 Parisienne for Pontiac, no idea about Buick or Olds...maybe one of the FWD h- or C- bodies.