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View Cart1953-55 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Top and Convertible Top Parts
Fabrics: The original dealer soft tops on Corvettes of this period was a cloth called "Harmony Cloth." These were sold only in tan. Haartz pinpoint vinyl was the original fabric beginning in 1956. Later Corvettes featured canvas tops and Chrysler Sailcloth vinyl tops.
Haartz Stayfast Canvas has a canvas outer layer and a preshrunk cotton inner layer. The two are bonded with and separated by a butyl rubber core. It is this core that makes the fabric last a very long time, with both better static and dynamic wear ratings than vinyl toppings. Haartz Stayfast is the American substitute for the German canvases used in Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, some models of Mustang and Lebaron and others. Canvas is widely regarded as "richer looking" than vinyl. It is a little harder to clean. The inside of the top is pre-shrunk cotton. The inner lining is usually black.
Chrysler Sailcloth Vinyl is a two ply composite made of a PVC sailcloth grain outer layer and a polyester/cotton lining fabric. It is the fabric developed for Sebrings and late model Mustangs several years ago. It is a vinyl whose surface grain emulates canvas. It is a less expensive, though beautiful, fabric than our canvas toppings. We therefore offer many of our originally canvas tops in this vinyl fabric.
Haartz Pinpoint Vinyl’s design is original to most American cars from the fifties to the nineties. Pinpoint refers to the little dots or pips that you see if you look closely at the vinyl surface. European cars, such as the old Beetles and others also used pinpoint vinyl as the topping fabric.
Original Windows:The original rear windows were plastic. The plastic windows we employ are always of the heaviest gauge plastic available.
Hold down cables:Cables are threaded through the top's inner side hems (the cable pockets) in later cars. At this writing, we are not certain that they were used in the 53-55 tops. If you require cables, please let us know as our factory makes them for the industry and we will either reproduce them as original or provide functional equivalents. Where used cables hold the top to the frame at the front corners and near the upper rear cornet. Cables are recommended with each top.
Tack Strips: Staples (or tacks) are used to attach the top at the header bow and rear top bow. These are driven into embedded tacking strips which are attached to the bows. Tack strips should last through two tops.
Top pads:The top is "padded out" along its sides with special webbing. Pads should last through at least two tops.
Package Specials: Our top packages include items needed for a complete top restoration. The top packages include an installation manual for this car's top. We can also quote on packages for you in any fabric and configuration.
Do-It-Yourself Installation:A sizable percentage of our customers do their own installation. Our manual, with notes made during the removal of the old top should allow owner installation; we cannot provide consulting services to installers. The top is attached with staples (or tacks) and with contact cement. There is no sewing involved.
Covercraft Custom Fit Car Covers
Since 1965 Covercraft has pioneered the market for custom fit vehicle car covers and today are the largest manufacturer of custom-patterned vehicle covers in the world. They have over 67,000 patterns, and are continually growing. Still family owned, Covercraft has always maintained the highest standards, utilized the finest materials and remained on the cutting of manufacturing technology.
Parts in this category (Chevrolet Corvette) fit cars for years: 1953, 1954 and 1955.
We a now pleased to offer hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic motor pumps, and hydraulic hose sets. Also, checkout our newly added roof rail weatherstripping seals, front header weatherstripping seals, door weatherstripping seals, trunk weatherstripping seals. Look for extra savings on weatherstripping seals kits.
