Re: Caribbean Hardtop Vinyl Roof Material

Posted by fred kanter On 2011/2/5 7:23:39

The material on BH's hardtop is a bright white material used originally on GM cars, notably Cadillac. It is too bright a white to go nicely with the '56 Dover White Caribbean upper color which is a creamy white.

Hypalon was not a "grained" vinyl material for convertible tops, it was a synthetic woven material, woven like Haartz cloth canvas used on cars from the 30's to the 50's. In service the '55 Caribbean Convertible tops deteriorated quickly and Packard listed as a replacement top one made of the '56 grained vinyl. The '56 Caribbean Hardtop top covering was of a similar grained material. It did not hold up well, bec ame porous, and led to many Carib hardtops being scrapped due to rusted/rusted away roofs. I've scrapped 3 or 4