Soft top wanted...

krausewich · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2020, 09:43 PM

Hi All,
I will be looking to replace at 'lightened' version of a soft top for a Midstates, because F@^K mice!! If anybody has a soft top they don't intent to use and may be looking to part with, please let me know. I have side windows, bows and all, just need to swap out the upholstery. Not sure what other makes brands fit, but open to options.

Thank you in advance,
Mike

Michael C Henry · #2 (**permalink**) 05-21-2020, 10:41 PM

I have a soft top that I won't be using. I bought a EM soft top for my 84 EM replica. I bought a complete kit around 2000. I'm just getting serious about getting the top and side curtains installed. the car has a functional rear braced roll bar. the roll bar is a little taller than the top and there is that rear brace. The shop that is doing the work was told by the upholster that it would not be much more difficult to just build a new top to fit. so the top has been in the box and is all but brand new. As it stands now, they said they intend on using my kits hardware. I'm not sure where it stand at this moment.

So maybe?

Mike I · #3 (**permalink**) 05-22-2020, 08:29 AM

Any upholstery shop, or marine cover shop can easily fabricate a new top for you, especially if you have the original they can use as a template.

krausewich · #4 (**permalink**) 05-22-2020, 10:06 AM

Thanks guys. I wish I could get the two panels replaced because it is in great shape otherwise, but who knows what material was used 20 yrs or so back. I have been looking into new top prices through different vendors. If I go custom, I'm going with something besides black. Hopefully the mice won't like the taste of it ; )

PS. Mike I, what size driving lights do you run ? Those are next on my upgrade/install list..

Mike I · #5 (**permalink**) 05-22-2020, 11:03 AM

They are 7" diameter.

Karl Bebout · #6 (**permalink**) 05-22-2020, 01:13 PM

Mike, as Mike I said, any place that makes boat tops or even a convertible shop should be able to do the job. Since you have the bows,header, and hardware, you've got the hard part done. I had no such luck and after considerable shopping around, finally just ordered one from ERA. It'll come black but I'll use the same vinyl paint I used on my tonneau cover to make it Navy Blue. With good prep, the paint has held up beautifully. Couldn't be more pleased.

krausewich · #7 (**permalink**) 05-22-2020, 09:29 PM

I have tried a few upholsterers around here several years back to do some seats I designed. 3 different places and 3 years later, bubkiss! Very unreliable. So much, that I bought my own machine to do them myself. Just not confident about doing a soft top. I look forward to seeing yours done. I would not have guessed that they could be painted. I know of several places that offer blue in the Haartz and Sonnendeck. I really would like a matching red for something different.

Karl Bebout · #8 (**permalink**) 05-23-2020, 05:41 AM

Did you try a boat upholsterer? It would be a piece of cake for them. There are also some sites on line that are very familiar with tops for Cobras that could help you, since you have all the hardware. Search "Shelby Cobra Soft Tops".

krausewich · #9 (**permalink**) 05-24-2020, 11:13 PM

Boat places were the first and third stops... deadbeats! Perhaps they just like to stick with tops, so this would be up their alley. I will continue the searches online as well. Thanks Karl.

Michael C Henry · #10 (**permalink**) 06-28-2020, 11:01 AM

I had my new soft top made using the hardware from the original EM soft top. The upholster said that getting the area needing alteration, of my first soft top under his machine would need to separate some panels and he might as well build a whole new top. The soft tops are sewn on power machines and when re sewing it would be impossible to hit the original holes again. It would make that new seem like the perforations like paper towels on the roll. ready to tear. My new soft top looks great, for what it cost, it should.