RE: IML: LeBaron ?Vinyl Tops Trim Differences

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

The trim differences between cars with vinyl tops and those without were mainly in '64, '65, and '66 on all Imperial models. The biggest difference was the roof rail moulding. On the steel top cars, it was simple stainless strip over the drip rail edges. The vinyl top cars had a thick (and possibly even cast) moulding extended above the drip rail. About half of these cars were ordered with vinyl tops and half were not. You could also look at the sales literature to see the differences. I have seen many '64 through '66 Imperials that have had the vinyl top added after the fact in upholstery shops. It is an obvious addition, since most folks were not aware of this trim difference.

If there is a trim difference in '67 and '68 LeBaron's, it would have to be very minor. I don't think that there is a difference, but I haven't seen enough of them without a vinyl top to know for sure. The '67 Crown Coupe model may not have been available with an all steel top since one of its main features was the divided half padded top, but of course anything is possible. In '68 I believe that the Crown Coupe had a full padded roof, and it may be a different shape than the '67 Crown Coupe roof as well. The cars look very different when parked side by side. That would be another thing to look for in the sales literature.

It will be interesting to see what others might add to this.

Paul W.

In an email dated 11/6/2005 2:51:19 am GMT Daylight time, "Rob McCall" <Rob_Mopar@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>Mine is what I would call maroon. ?I think the factory name for the color
>was Flame. ?The top is black as is the interior. ?If I do decide to paint
>the top, it would be black or something else in the dark end of the
>spectrum.
>
>Normally I want to paint any and all of my cars black, but I think maroon
>works well with the lines of this car. ?I've been examining some late model
>colors and I have one in mind to replace the factory maroon. ?It's not a
>stock restoration, so I am going base-clear. ?I want the extra deep gloss
>with this particular car. ?However, I do appreciate the look of a highly
>polished single stage as well. ?That's just not what I have envisioned for
>this car.
>
>And I still need to place a magnet on the car by the rear window, but I'm
>feeling pretty good about it being steel back there. ?Can anybody confirm or
>deny that the trim on the "slick-top" is different from the vinyl top cars?
>
>Rob McCall
>'67 LeBaron
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mark Jefferson
>Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 2:53 PM
>To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: IML: LeBaron Vinyl Tops
>
>Changing from vinyl to "slick-top" does change the look of the car. If the
>car is black w/black top (like mint) the change is probably less so.
>Dudley's '68 LeBaron (REAL nice car by the way)for example, is black w/out
>vinyl top and it still has that formal pseudo-limo look. However, if it has
>a contrasting color vinyl top, and you switch to body color metal it WILL
>look different.
>
>Have seen few LeBaron "slick-tops," but I seem to remember seeing one in
>light blue, it looked less formal (to me) than w/the vinyl top, more like a
>Crown or sedan. Maybe with a dark silver or midnight blue it will still have
>a formal appearance, but it seems to change on lighter colors.
>
>More formal, or less formal, it's a matter of taste.....
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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