Vinyl top or not..

[Highbanked Hauler]

 If this was around before I apologize..  Car owners - IF you are rebuilding what is your preference on VINYL TOPS ? My non-numbers 68 didn't come with one but I have a perfect set of top moldings and I would have the top installed. The other option is paint the roof and call it a day.  Yes I will do it my way but was wondering the opinion on tops.    Al

[John Milner]

If it is already painted and the roof looks nice, I think I would leave it off.  Vinyl tops do look good but they can be hard to keep clean and they seem to make the car rust easier. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I think the vinyl sets off the lines nicely on the 2nd gens.  Its all a matter of taste tho.   Color plays a part also.   cant beat a slick black ride with no vinyl....

[Homerr]

Are you building a Bullitt clone?  If so, then yes.

[Lennard]

No vynil top on my cars.

[tan top]

If this was around before I apologize..  Car owners - IF you are rebuilding what is your preference on VINYL TOPS ? My non-numbers 68 didn't come with one but I have a perfect set of top moldings and I would have the top installed. The other option is paint the roof and call it a day.  Yes I will do it my way but was wondering the opinion on tops.   Al

just out of curiosity what color combination ?  

IMO   don't  think I would  put a vinyl top on if it never had one originally ,  although I like the look with a vinyl top

[Kern Dog]

No vynil top on my cars.

I agree. Skip it.

[Highbanked Hauler]

If this was around before I apologize..  Car owners - IF you are rebuilding what is your preference on VINYL TOPS ? My non-numbers 68 didn't come with one but I have a perfect set of top moldings and I would have the top installed. The other option is paint the roof and call it a day.  Yes I will do it my way but was wondering the opinion on tops.   Al

just out of curiosity what color combination ?  

IMO   don't  think I would  not put a vinyl top on if it never had one originally ,  although I like the look with a vinyl top

    Its a 68 QQ1 blue I think it is so my idea was a white top and black interior with a blue car if I go that rout OR  just blue with black . A black top will increase the heat and no AC.

[Birdflu]

No vynil top on my cars.

100% agree! None of the cars in our stable have vinyl tops! In fact, I wish our 'Bird had no vinyl top...

[Nacho-RT74]

Vinyl top allways sets it off and looks to make it look sharp our cars, on any color combo, even "ghosty" vinyls, IMHO!!!

[billssuperbird]

It is mandatory on my car and I like the look

[Ghoste]

I like it on mine.  I don't like what it does to the roof beneath.

[Bronzedodge]

You can always add it later...harder to go back to paint though.

[Dano 1]

For what it's worth my car was originally R4 with a black vinyl top but I will not be going back to the vinyl. I personally am not crazy about the look of vinyl tops, but I do like the look of the vinyl top trim with solid body color. I'd vote to paint and leave the trim so you could always go back and add the vinyl top later if you wanted to, and you'd have maximum protection underneath.

You can always add it later...harder to go back to paint though.

[Highbanked Hauler]

You can always add it later...harder to go back to paint though.

  It is going to be painted anyway just for that reason plus the extra cost for the top and the installation as opposed to the cost of material.   New the roof was only primed and As a daily driver the car was exposed to everything but now I might do a couple thousand miles a year tops. so long term isn't an issue.

[VegasCharger]

No vynil top on my cars.

AGREED 

[TPR]

    Its a 68 QQ1 blue I think it is so my idea was a white top and black interior with a blue car if I go that rout OR  just blue with black . A black top will increase the heat and no AC.
[/quote]

White top on a QQ1 looks great. I'd do that!
TPR

[thor]

NO TOP..

I left mine off.. just my preference

[tan top]

If this was around before I apologize..  Car owners - IF you are rebuilding what is your preference on VINYL TOPS ? My non-numbers 68 didn't come with one but I have a perfect set of top moldings and I would have the top installed. The other option is paint the roof and call it a day.  Yes I will do it my way but was wondering the opinion on tops.   Al

just out of curiosity what color combination ?  

IMO   don't  think I would  not put a vinyl top on if it never had one originally ,  although I like the look with a vinyl top

   Its a 68 QQ1 blue I think it is so my idea was a white top and black interior with a blue car if I go that rout OR  just blue with black . A black top will increase the heat and no AC.

white top with black interior would look a striking color  combination !
although  I would have a long hard  think about drilling  holes for the vinyl top trim ! in a second generation that did not have a vinyl top  factory fitted
excluding  the orange GL chargers , a second generation charger with out a vinyl top while not rare they are not common either, well seem to see more with a vinyl top.
not sure what your build plan is for the 68  even if your not doing any kind of factory OEM style resto the more i'm thinking about it, if it was mine ,  it would look as striking in just different way with no vinyl top!   bright blue metallic  black interior &  set of 15x8 painted steel wheels & factory hub caps ..
 

[Highbanked Hauler]

  Hey Tan Top,  this was a parts car and the only thing original in this car is the metal roof and the 8:75 rear. This thing is the poster child for  "saved another one" and a testament  to used and reproduction parts. The original color is SS1 yellow., no top.  The engine is a 72 440, the trans. is a 68 833  ( NO  NOS PARTS WERE USED ON THIS BUILD )..   and its a LONG way from paint.  I have partly installed 3 in. Summit exhaust  on it which sucks so its a mongrel at best so the vinyl top question is for  if you were looking for a 68 where does the vinyl top fit in.  If i have to sell it which is the  best dress to put on it is where I am at ?

[tan top]

Ah I see !    drilling holes no biggie  !

first two pictures below are of a charger that is supposed to be QQ1 going by fender tag code .
then a 68 with out a vinyl top , not sure what the color code is on that other ! look similar .

while there is nothing wrong with white vinyl tops & they do look awesome with some / all color combinations .... for me personally a white top looks too pretty too nice  ( not sure those are the right words to use ) but  don't  scream muscle car , I even think the SE option also A/C  power windows  has the same effect too, & was the reason I was not going to put back the wood grain dash bezels SE sail panel name plates on mine, it takes away the mean 'n' nasty ! makes it more sedate  not sure if that's the right word to use either !  Buddy Baker & Bobby Isaac never had that on their grandnational charger race cars although they had wood grain    

so when you mentioned  68 charger  440 & a four speed  with 3 inch pipes I visualise a souped up charger  mean  & nasty  with  painted or black steel or wide slots or cragers etc  with  NO Vinyl  or a black vinyl top,
will it sell with a white top yes & no biggie to change for a black one if the next owner wishes but if the next owner wants no vinyl/ prefers  a painted roof its a big headache & paint & maybe some body work required ! might be enough to make him look for another car ??.

IMO  as awesome as blue & a white top looks , it takes away the muscle image or dilutes it , makes it more family friendly  makes it more of a PG  rating rather than a 18 well for  me anyways , a charger could have a  1000 horse FHO or barton hemi I would still feel the same  if had a white top
again I mean no offence white top guys they look awesome !    

[Highbanked Hauler]

  Yea I agree with you, I was just getting delusional there I guess. It might be the lights in the building  on the vinyl top car as it is way light almost a B-3. The one outside looks like my color of what is  painted. Yep the question is answered.   Age got in the way and IF i can finish it, it will look like the outside car.

[Rolling_Thunder]

My car was originally optioned for a black top - when I got bought it the top had already been taken off - I liked the slick roof so I decided to keep it that way. Chargers do look good with vinyl though - but as others have said - depends on a lot of factors especially color - I think the high impact colots like top banana, panther pink, sublime, and plum crazy all look better with vinyl tops...     

[darbgnik]

No vinyl tops, or fender trim for me.

Replacement quarters got rid of the holes for both on mine, as it came with both.

[VegasCharger]

.....or fender trim for me.....

Fender trim is a MUST for me in my world. But each its own.   

Other items for my '68 that are a MUST:
- Side markers
- Charger sail panel scripts
- Tail panel being blacked out
- Stock hood
- Stock interior
- Stock gauges

You know, the way it rolled off the line. LoL

Well with the exception of the wheels.