68 white vinyl top

[warpspeed]

My 68 charger had a white vinyl top. Yes, it is on the fender plate.  Legendary claims 68's didn't have a white top, but I have proof that it did.  However, they want a lot more money for a white top for my 68.  Question: is there a difference between 68 and 69 that makes it smart to spend that kind of money for a top or can/should I just use a 69?  This is a 318 car that is being rebuilt for a driver with a 440 automatic.  The car was built at the very end of the 68 year so I figure it must have been a 69 vinyl top anyway.

[Dino]

My 68 charger had a white vinyl top. Yes, it is on the fender plate.  Legendary claims 68's didn't have a white top, but I have proof that it did.  However, they want a lot more money for a white top for my 68.  Question: is there a difference between 68 and 69 that makes it smart to spend that kind of money for a top or can/should I just use a 69?  This is a 318 car that is being rebuilt for a driver with a 440 automatic.  The car was built at the very end of the 68 year so I figure it must have been a 69 vinyl top anyway.

Of course 68's had white tops.  I don't know of any difference in grain between 68 and 69 so I would just get a 69 top.

[warpspeed]

Great!  Thanks! I will be ordering a 69 at Carlisle next week then.

[tan top]

My 68 charger had a white vinyl top. Yes, it is on the fender plate.  Legendary claims 68's didn't have a white top, but I have proof that it did.  However, they want a lot more money for a white top for my 68.  Question: is there a difference between 68 and 69 that makes it smart to spend that kind of money for a top or can/should I just use a 69?  This is a 318 car that is being rebuilt for a driver with a 440 automatic.  The car was built at the very end of the 68 year so I figure it must have been a 69 vinyl top anyway.

Of course 68's had white tops.  I don't know of any difference in grain between 68 and 69 so I would just get a 69 top.

were'nt   there a  pearl white  in  68 ?  or an option ? or was it just a fancy name for a white top  

or am i getting mixed up with something else

[69 OUR/TEA]

LOL,I ran into the same thing with Legendary !!!! But mine was a 69 they said DID NOT COME with a white vinyl top,and it was a custom order for it.How can you have a business like that and not know all your crucial info ??

[Ghoste]

I think I've seen almost as many white tops on 68 and 69 as black ones and certainly more than other colors.  Just my personal observation though, nothing to do with whatever the actual numbers might be.

[69 OUR/TEA]

Next week when I'm at Carlisle,I will placing an order with them for another vinyl top,and interior,but this time in black !!!! Unfortunately, leather front buckets,OUCH $$$$$$.That is one item they don't discount or show specail on !!!!!! Dam SE option !!!!!

[Dino]

My 68 charger had a white vinyl top. Yes, it is on the fender plate.  Legendary claims 68's didn't have a white top, but I have proof that it did.  However, they want a lot more money for a white top for my 68.  Question: is there a difference between 68 and 69 that makes it smart to spend that kind of money for a top or can/should I just use a 69?  This is a 318 car that is being rebuilt for a driver with a 440 automatic.  The car was built at the very end of the 68 year so I figure it must have been a 69 vinyl top anyway.

Of course 68's had white tops.  I don't know of any difference in grain between 68 and 69 so I would just get a 69 top.

were'nt   they pearl white  in  68 ?  or an option ? or was it just a fancy name for a white top  

or am i getting mixed up with something else

Not sure about the top but you could get a pearl white interior in 68.  I 'think' you could get that or plain white but in 69 they ditched the pearl and kept the plain white only.

[warpspeed]

My fender tag indicates 30(7) for white vinyl top.  Then the interior under TRM, under M, shows a "W".  The Galen books indicates a white and black interior.  It doesn't say anything there about pearl.  My seats were as white as they could be when I bought the car.  The leftover material in the carpet was definitely black.  Pearl white? Don't see where that came from.  I need to be enlightened if possible.

[hemi68charger]

Maybe they, Legendary, are referring to the fact that in '68, the top was a pearl version of white and '69 and '70 had a more true-to-color white (basically really white as oopposed to the pearl white of '68).....

[warpspeed]

You are probably right.  I don't think there is a big enough difference to worry about, especially to pay a premium for "pearl" white.  Concours, yes; this beautiful car, no.  Thanks guys.

[gtx6970]

1968  tops were not white,
More of an ivory pearl color ( they have a sort of a  silver tone to them depending on the angle viewed ) 

1969 and later is white

[Dino]

I knew you guys would come up with the real answer!   

OP you can always get SEM dye, mix it to match a true 68 pearl white and spray it.  It'll still be cheaper than having one custom made.

[Troy]

Three of my six 68 Chargers had white vinyl tops and two of those had white interiors (which is technically white and black but the black is implied). The top and interior are both pearl white (again, this is implied not specifically stated). Both changed in 69 to a plain white.

The only three vinyl top colors offered in 68 were white, black, and green and a whole lot of cars came with vinyl tops (only one of mine hasn't). It worries me that the primary vendor of these things can't get it right - although the people manning the booths/phones aren't exactly "product specialists" most of the time.

Troy

[Alaskan_TA]

1968 Dodge vinyl top info with original samples - http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/colorAndTrim/1968/68_Dodge_convertible_and_Vinyl_tops.jpg

1969 Dodge vinyl top info with original samples - http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/colorAndTrim/1969/69_Dodge_Vinyl_tops.jpg

[Dino]

Looking at those samples it makes me wonder how different the white tops are from 68 to 69.  As a business it would make sense that they used the exact same tops.  You can insert sarcasm right here.   

[Ghoste]

As a rule though, Legendary are pretty good about doing things right.

[tan top]

yep legendary good guys !! & awesome seat covers   
but
i remember asking  legendary about 12 years back , about  do they know the where abouts of any NOS tan vinyl top material ,  after i read a guy restoring 69 charger , bought NOS tan top from them  ,
 legendary guy on the phone said ,  no idea , 69 Chargers were never offered with a tan vinyl top !!

[Ghoste]

So your car doesn't exist?   

[68blue]

My 68 has a pearl white top and interior. It's a mix of repainted/refurbished parts and repros.

[warpspeed]

Well now, the question left is do I pay more to legendary for pearl white or just get a white (69) to make do.  Since this is JUST a plain jane 318 that will have a lot of money tied up in it to retrofit a 440 in it, (it won't be getting the orginial color of yellow either), then what to do, what to do, oh whoa's a me, what to do.

[Dino]

Well now, the question left is do I pay more to legendary for pearl white or just get a white (69) to make do.  Since this is JUST a plain jane 318 that will have a lot of money tied up in it to retrofit a 440 in it, (it won't be getting the orginial color of yellow either), then what to do, what to do, oh whoa's a me, what to do.

If your biggest concern with the car is the vinyl top then you're one of the lucky ones.   

Either way it'll look great.  If your interior is pearl white then try to match the top.  I'd still get the plain white top and if it doesn't look right you can redye it while it's installed.

How much is Legendary charging for the custom made pearl top?

[warpspeed]

Darn, (I would use a stronger word, but not sure it's appropriate), Dino, you make a good point!  I would have to order white 69 seat covers too.  Not going to happen!  You just made my decision easier, but more expensive.  Only way to do it.  A mismatch in those colors is not my plan.

[Dino]

Darn, (I would use a stronger word, but not sure it's appropriate), Dino, you make a good point!  I would have to order white 69 seat covers too.  Not going to happen!  You just made my decision easier, but more expensive.  Only way to do it.  A mismatch in those colors is not my plan.

Look at it this way.  If the cost of the custom top is not high enough to send you into cardiac arrest, then it just might be worth it.  You'll only have to install one and done right should last for many, many years to come.  And the heartache of seeing a wrong tint of white on your car compared to the seats would be worth a few bucks imo.

[warpspeed]

yep! you asked the price, it was last year when I checked the price but I remember it being two to three times a 69.  Not too bad, but still questionable when you consider that Legendary said it wasn't standard, thus, the reason for being more expensive, not, that it is pearl white, a standard for 68.

[hatersaurusrex]

For what it's worth, my 68, while no longer sporting the top, was bright red and built with a white top and a white interior according to the fender tag.   It's a 383 car, not an R/T.

[warpspeed]

I turned the pale yellow into "Amber".  Everyone who has seen it thinks it is pretty!  White top, uh, pearl white top and pearl white seats are too good for me, but, I want the best I can have.  Thanks everyone for your imput.