Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

I recently got a 1937 120 touring sedan. The top is dull and dusty. What do you apply to the top to give it the appearance that it once had?

Well, if it's dusty, obviously wash it first. Years ago we treated those tops with Butcher's Wax but today any of the many rubber and vinyl cosmetic dressings should enhance it's appearance. Whether or not you can return it to it's original appearance depends on how severely it been weathered. UV radiation is largely responsible for its degradation.

If it is really faded and the color won't come back, they make special vinyl/leather upholstery paint that could be used to freshen it up.

I used that on my door panels and rumble seat. It worked great. The trick is to apply very thin, light coats that you build up.

This is the stuff I used:

Wonder if they have this in a convincing Sardonyx. The "windowsill" armrests in my 400 are faded disproportionately to any other vinyl in there.

The above give good advice as usual. Meanwhile, n e v e r use Armorall on anything exposed to the UV rays of the sun. Armorall exacerbates this, creating a greenhouse effect. A four-generation upholstery shop out here est. 1897 long catering to vintage cars will void his warranty if the customer used Armorall. Keep things clean and if at a show or meet, try to park in the shade. Never saw the point of the arduous work and expense bringing an old car back to life only to bake it in the sun all day for a goddam trophy.

I used to have a 1960 Superior-Pontiac landau hearse with a texture-painted top and ArmorAll was the last thing I would ever use on it. Unfortunately I can't recall the product's name but there was another that I used to use instead and the beading action of water would last all summer and into the winter when, with ArmorAll, it was gone in a month if not sooner.