Mark, you don't have to get a kit but if you don't the seams wont be flat heat sealed like you saw mine were. The fact that mine are a little flared was the installation guys. The 'kit' can't define the window because it is a function of exactly where the top vinyl is placed where the window openings become. Kerry --- Mark McDonald <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I am thinking of having a vinyl top put on my '71 > and had a question. > After talking to my local upholstery/auto top guy-- > who restores old > Mopars-- he said he could buy a kit, or a pre-cut > top for my Imperial. > > My concern is the seams. I like the way the > original seams on the > Chrysler & Imperial tops look, and I'm worried that > a pre-cut top will > not look right. > > Kerry Pinkerton pointed out to me the area where the > difference is most > noticeable: the rear. (Around the backlight) When > you stand directly > behind the car and look at an original top, the > seams are almost > perfectly vertical and parallel to each other. > > This is hard to describe in words. What I mean is, > the seam goes like > this: > > I > I > I > WINDOW > I > I > > On an aftermarket "kit," they look like this: > > I > I > I > WINDOW > I > I > > This is a poor respresentation, but hopefully you > get the idea. The > seams spread out toward the bottom. They are > straight if you lay the > vinvyl on the ground, but when you wrap the straight > edge over the > curved roof, the line doesn't stay straight. > > My question is, can you buy the vinyl in uncut > sheets? Has anyone done > it that way? Or do I HAVE to get a "kit?" > > Thanks, Mark > > >