VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 '26 Touring Top

I'm ready to try my hand at making a top for my 1926 Touring. I have been exploring possibilities as to materials. I understand that the original material was some sort of rubberized material similar to what was used on a Model T and not canvas. I have more or less decided to go with "Cobra Shortgrain Vinyl" sold by Cartouche Upholstery (www.cartoucheupholstery.com) through Mac's. It is recommended for open cars and looks to me a lot like the material used on an original '28 top that I was able to examine. Does anyone have any experience with making a touring top?

Not hearing anything to the contrary, I assume that Cobra Short Grain Vinyl is the right material for an open Chevy and I have therefore put in my order for 16 lineal feet of the stuff today.

Hi,

Sorry I am on the road and just viewed your question. Yes, the correct material is the rubberized material with the rice grain pattern. It will be black on the outside with the pattern and black on the inside.

Thanks.

Do you have the wooden roof bows? Did you make those as well?

I made my own bows last year. I did bent laminations, using eight 1/8" strips of birch and urethane glue. I tried steam bending this spring but all I mannaged to make was a lot of oak kindling. I might try again sometime. I like the natural wood look so I'm not planning to cover them with black cloth.

I had been researching replacing the top on my '23 - it needs it!
Here is what I had found.

I do agree that the short grain is the correct pattern.

Ray - Do you know if the inside color changed between the '23-'24 and '25-'26 models?

I believe that the inside of my '23 top should be off white or tanish in color. I know of 3 cars that had the off-white inside color on their original tops. The cars were 1919, 1923, and 1924.

I know a guy that actually put 2 tops on his car to have the off-white on the inside and black on the outside.

I did find that Haartz makes a black short cobra with an off white inner color. I don't have my information with me at the moment, but here is what I got on a quick internet search: http://www.haartz.com/en/consumer_info/current_material/current_material_options.asp

Just like the rest of us, I am trying to learn more about this topic.

I don't know when and if they changed from Tan to Black interior on Chevy Top material. Most replacement material was Black inside and out so many people consider it to be "correct". Maybe someone will have a few official Chevrolet references that clearly dictate the top interior type and color.