Vinyl or no Vinyl? That is the question.

[TK73]

My vote:    on a vinyl top.

[Old Moparz]

Most Charger owners after a resoration do not expose them to an envirement where rust is going to be much of an issue anymore. Unless you are planning on leaving it outside all the time after you spend thousands of dollars restoring it.
When I had my roof re-done the underlying roof was stripped to bare metal and all rusted metal area's were fixed with new metal and then the whole roof was treated with serveral coatings of rust proventative coating and rust preventative enamal primer so I highly doubt I'll be seeing a visit from Mr rust under the lizards roof again in my lifetime.

This is what I was thinking too, why restore it for thousands of dollars if it's going to be left out in the elements? I think dirt being trapped under window mouldings is just as bad for trapping water & holding moisture to start the rusting process.

As for putting it on the car, I like the vinyl top better on certain color combinations. A black top on a bright colored car like red, looks awesome, or a white top on a darker color like black. I didn't see what year Charger you're doing, but the vinyl top looks strange to me on the '66 & '67 cars. I'll do it on my '68 if I don't convert it to a Daytona, but not because it had one, but because I like it. It'll stay indoors when I'm not driving it so rust & moisture won't be an issue.

If you're worried about it, then just to add something to the moisture debate, my Scamp still has it's original vinyl top from 1971. It was garaged kept most of it's life except for several years that it was my daily driver from 1988 to 1992. The top is in good shape as well as the metal underneath, but the edges where the rear, window mouldings are in the lower corners, are starting to peel. No soft spots, but I would suspect there will be some minor repairs needed if I replace the top.

I have to get some close up shots, but here is a 35 year old vinyl top.

[70charginglizard]

My vote:    on a vinyl top.

Thanks alot Chris. 

[Old Moparz]

My vote:    on a vinyl top.

Thanks alot Chris. 

Don't worry about what he thinks of vinyl tops, your's looks cool. 

I won't say anything about green though. 

[suburbanfireman]

My 2 cents -

Race cars do not have vinyl tops.  Use the vinyl top if you are going for the "restored look".

[JimShine]

I think the biggest rust issue is due to the fact they didn't paint under the vinyl.

[TK73]

My vote:    on a vinyl top.

Thanks alot Chris. 

Yours looks good Kelly, I would not put a vinyl top back on my car.  I cut the vinyl top trim tabs off and RallyeMike filled in the trim holes on mine, also cut off the tabs for the rocker molding.  Took the wheel lip moldings off too.  Personal preferance...

[69fourspd]

I prefer no vinyl.  Both can look great, but it depends on the color config/material.  Like in the pictures, the gator tops look pretty wild, but prob. wouldnt look good on a blue car "Thanks captain obvious" - just an example.   

[TK73]

A caveat:  I do like vinyl on the 73/74 SEs...

[firefighter3931]

My 2 cents -

Race cars do not have vinyl tops.  Use the vinyl top if you are going for the "restored look".

Tell that to these guys 

Fwiw, my 68r/t street/strip car will be triple black 

Ron

[genlee1970]

My vote:    on a vinyl top.

Thanks alot Chris. 

.  I cut the vinyl top trim tabs off and RallyeMike filled in the trim holes on mine

I would say that if you left the top off of a 2nd Gen Charger, at least leave the trim on. It breaks up the transition from the roof to the quarter. It also serves to accent that area on the car, which is one of the high points of 2nd Gen styling. 
     

[MikeD]

I like the Vinyl but I think my car looks better without it But the bottom line its what YOU like.

Good Luck
MikeD

[70charginglizard]

I like the Vinyl but I think my car looks better without it But the bottom line its what YOU like.

Good Luck
MikeD

If my charger had the kick ass (can i say ass in here) paint job your charger has dude. ...oh...my...god!!!
I'd say go all color as well.

[Dennis K]

I like the vinyl tops on some colors, but not as much on others. I don't really understand why someone would want a vinyl top on a car that is all one color, such as black vinyl on a black car, or white on white, but I like white vinyl tops on darker colored cars. The 2 nicest looking 68's I have ever seen were an EE1 dark blue with white top & interior and an RR1 Burgundy with white top & interior as well. My MM1 bronze 68 will be getting a black vinyl top when it gets done, mostly because it was built that way, and partly because I like it that way.

[MikeD]

I like the Vinyl but I think my car looks better without it But the bottom line its what YOU like.

Good Luck
MikeD

If my charger had the kick ass (can i say ass in here) paint job your charger has dude. ...oh...my...god!!!
I'd say go all color as well.

Thank You
MikeD

[Silver R/T]

id put it back on if your car came with it. Sometimes car looks "cleaner" without it

[65post]

I don`t think a 2nd gen. charger can look bad either way can it ? Although with a vinyl they do look more dressed up !

[Dodge-Charger]

I like the Vinyl but I think my car looks better without it But the bottom line its what YOU like.

Good Luck
MikeD

That car shines so good I can see myself in the paint online . Holy S%!*

As too V or N/V, I couldnt decide on mine either so Im doing some with the top and some without the top. My 73 SE A5 #s matchin will have one though. 

Oh and Kab, what about 66 and 67s ?

[Ghoste]

If it came with it.

And you 2nd gen guys think your vinyl top trim is rare?

[dspaulding70]

Thanks for all of the responses.  I am going to go ahead and put it back on.  I have really been struggling with this and I have probably looked at hundreds of pictures of the 68-70 Chargers both with and without the vinyl.  I really do not think that either way looks bad and there are many cars that have such incredible paint jobs that the no vinyl is really nice.

However, I just seemed to really lean towards the black vinyl top.  My car is a dark cherry and the chrome trim around the vinyl and the contrast of the roof and body just seem to scream old muscle car cruiser to me.

I will be removing the old one to see if any metal work is required so they can address that with the rest of the car at the same time.  I will have the roof painted to prevent future rust and the car will be inside all the time so I am not too concerned about the moisture issue.

Thanks again to everyone that provided feedback.

[71 Bee Man]

I am trying to figure out whether to replace the vinyl top when I get the body work done or leave it off.  Please provide your opinion about the vinyl tops.

I never used to like vinyl, but I've changed my mind. A new vinyl top looks really smart. I'm just in the process of getting a new white one to replace my current one.

It's supposed to be white.

Peter