Whatever happened to vinyl roofs on cars?
Discussion
Things you don't see these days...In fact it's years since I've seen a (newish) car with one.
In the seventies they were very popular, in fact I had three of my Capris fitted with them from new at the dealers, almost every other car seemed to have one, especially Fords..
Wonder if they'll make a comeback?.....
In the seventies they were very popular, in fact I had three of my Capris fitted with them from new at the dealers, almost every other car seemed to have one, especially Fords..
Wonder if they'll make a comeback?.....
I had an orange Avenger with a white vinyl roof!
And I wore brown flared trousers with turn-ups, platform zip-boots and a purple shirt with a collar that Harry Hill would envy.
I'd say the 1600E started the trend (though they didn't all have them).
Anybody think of an earlier example? (not including the 1947 Riley RM where it was functional - the metal underneath was honeycomb).
And I wore brown flared trousers with turn-ups, platform zip-boots and a purple shirt with a collar that Harry Hill would envy.
I'd say the 1600E started the trend (though they didn't all have them).
Anybody think of an earlier example? (not including the 1947 Riley RM where it was functional - the metal underneath was honeycomb).
The Jaguar XJ Coupe (XJC) of the 70s also had a vinyl roof. IMHO it looked better without it, and indeed I believe that some people have removed theirs as part of restoration work.
Presumably the idea is to give the car the look of a convertible. I can't imagine that it serves any practical purpose - although, like the chrome trim at the base of the C pillars on Jags of that era, it may serve to hide some dodgy workmanship. The cynic in me wonders whether they came about because it was cheaper than getting the roof panels and C pillars exactly right...
I suppose the modern equivalent is blacked out C pillars (e.g. Mini, XJ).
I think we will see a comeback in the next few years. Audi A3 with vinyl roof option here we come
Presumably the idea is to give the car the look of a convertible. I can't imagine that it serves any practical purpose - although, like the chrome trim at the base of the C pillars on Jags of that era, it may serve to hide some dodgy workmanship. The cynic in me wonders whether they came about because it was cheaper than getting the roof panels and C pillars exactly right...
I suppose the modern equivalent is blacked out C pillars (e.g. Mini, XJ).
I think we will see a comeback in the next few years. Audi A3 with vinyl roof option here we come
I'm sure it is to cover up dodgy weld lines in some cases - the XJC as mentioned for a start. My mother had a 1976 Mini that was dog crap brown with a black vinyl roof, and I don't remember every seeing another mini with one so it might have been done my a previous owner to cover something up.
Dave
Dave
They are making a come back in a sense...?!
http://www.xwraps.co.uk/Car-Wraping-Vinyls/roof-wr...
http://www.xwraps.co.uk/Car-Wraping-Vinyls/roof-wr...
Edited by Daaaveee on Thursday 27th January 09:52
The earliest examples are probably American and the trend seems to have come here with Ford. Certainly my father's 1967 Cortina GT had one though the Mk 1's never had them as far as I recall.
Can't think of an earlier one as again the Viva HA seems to have not had them and the HB did - ditto the 60s Hillman Minx/Hunter and the 60's Victors. Certainly the Coke bottle style lent itself to vinyl roofs.
Can't think of an earlier one as again the Viva HA seems to have not had them and the HB did - ditto the 60s Hillman Minx/Hunter and the 60's Victors. Certainly the Coke bottle style lent itself to vinyl roofs.
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