Convertible Up-Tops?

[Snake45]

Does anyone make convertible up-tops in either resin or vac? I know R&R Vacuum used to have many of them, but they've been out of business a long time. I'm specifically looking for an up-top for a GM 68-72 A-body (Chevelle). 

[Mark]

I have only seen a couple of tops in resin, none for the Chevelle though.  The top from the Revell '72 Cutlass might work...just a matter of finding one...

[Greg Wann]

I have some up tops from some vintage kits.  Camaro, Firebird, one that might fit a Chevelle.  I have some I could cast from original issue Buick kits too.  Maybe a up tops pack might be a good idea to create.  I have been buying original mint unbuilt kits for a few years now.  I also have some people around me that would loan me original parts to make molds from too.

Edited February 24, 2019 by Greg Wann

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, Mark said:

The top from the Revell '72 Cutlass might work...just a matter of finding one...

Yeah, it might, but I don't wanna buy a whole expensive kit just for it. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

There's a guy selling 3d printed parts on ebay under the name of "3dscaleparts".

He has some interesting stuff including convertible up tops for a lot of early 60s Chevys. ('61-'64}

But I haven't seen any Chevelle stuff.

And if price is an issue, you'll want to skip it anyway.

The stuff is not cheap!

An up top will make your wallet lighter by $25.00!

 

Steve

 

[Mark]

41 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

Yeah, it might, but I don't wanna buy a whole expensive kit just for it. 

That, and the "custom" version with the top probably isn't readily available now.  I'd guess most of them were bought specifically because that top was included, so the chance of finding a "loose" one would be pretty thin.

[Mike999]

Missing Link makes a nice up-top for the AMT '59 Imperial.  Maybe others, I didn't check all his eBay listings.  Here's a thread I posted about it, with a pic:

 

Edited February 24, 2019 by Mike999
omit

[Rob Hall]

Time Machine Resin (as 't m resin' on eBay) has sold them in the past..I've bought ones for the '67-69 Camaros and '68-72 A-bodies (Chevelle, etc). 

[High octane]

There's a raised convertible top with the Polar Lights '65 Coronet convertible also.

[kevin l]

22 hours ago, Mike999 said:

Missing Link makes a nice up-top for the AMT '59 Imperial.  Maybe others, I didn't check all his eBay listings.  Here's a thread I posted about it, with a pic:

 

At the moment all i have is the the imperial top & just made a mold for the 62 galaxie top!

[tbill]

The cutlass top does not quite fit the AMT 69 chevelle rag top kit. Close, but no cigar

[Alan]

Ed Fluck

[disabled modeler]

I feel your pain Snake.... I have many that Id rather have an realistic looking up top on I think it makes them look classy but finding them...???

63,64,68,70 Bonnevilles

70 GTO/Lemans

64 Cutlass

68,70 Impalas

61 Buick Invicta

63 Electra

68 Cadillac coupe deville

67/68 Ambassador

68/69 Roadrunner

68/69 Coronet

63 Falcon

63,64,67 Galaxies

etc. 

[MrObsessive]

I'm sure the fellow that 3D printed this took some considerable time to make the .stl file to do this.

However....................to my eyes they're not quite shaped right according to pics I have of a '63 Chevy for instance with an up top.

The rear sections could stand to be considerably 'longer'.

This is just me and how I build, but when all else fails and I can't find an up top for a convertible I'm building, I'll fashion one out of the existing hardtop. More work yes, but I'll have an up top that should fit well enough since it was originally a hardtop.

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

37 minutes ago, MrObsessive said:

I'm sure the fellow that 3D printed this took some considerable time to make the .stl file to do this.

However....................to my eyes they're not quite shaped right according to pics I have of a '63 Chevy for instance with an up top.

The rear sections could stand to be considerably 'longer'.

This is just me and how I build, but when all else fails and I can't find an up top for a convertible I'm building, I'll fashion one out of the existing hardtop. More work yes, but I'll have an up top that should fit well enough since it was originally a hardtop.

 

True, but at least they would be a starting point.

A top can be modified a bit to look closer to correct.

I had to do quite a bit of modification on the original Johan up top for my '62 Chrysler 300.

Most of the Johan tops were not even close to correct.

I had to shorten the entire top and then shorten the sail panels considerably.

It looks good enough for me now.

 

Steve

 

[MrObsessive]

Oooh! I remember when you had that here as a WIP.........still gorgeous!

I guess the point I'm getting at with this fellow's tops comes down to price. $25 bucks for one of these is a bit steep and then to have to make corrections yet..........I dunno.

On that note Tom mentioned above about the Revell '72 Cutlass top not fitting the AMT '69 Chevelle convertible. True enough as I test fitted that and as you mentioned............it can be made to fit, but you'd have to do pretty much like what you did with your Chrysler 300. The top is a little long, but it looks like the rear section would fit without much trouble. Just some reshaping of the front of it should do the trick.

[StevenGuthmiller]

49 minutes ago, MrObsessive said:

I guess the point I'm getting at with this fellow's tops comes down to price. $25 bucks for one of these is a bit steep and then to have to make corrections yet..........I dunno.

I will agree with that point.

I think before I spent the $25.00 on one of these, I would do a little searching on ebay for a kit top that would be close enough to make it work.

Chances are that you could get it for less than $25.00!

 

Steve

[dino246gt]

Steve, that Chrysler is so awesome, and the uptop is a big part of that, it just looks so cool!