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How to choose the right top?

Understanding the vocabulary, choosing the right colour and material... You will find below some explanations to guide you as best as possible in the choice of the soft top you are looking for for your vehicle. Our experts will guide you!

Understanding your convertible

The material There are several types of materials for convertible tops, the two main ones being: alpaca or fabric canvas and vinyl or pvc canvas. Some vehicles were originally equipped with one or the other of the materials. Today it is possible to opt for a material other than the original. The vinyl was mainly used on the Peugeot 205, Volkswagen Beetle, Golf and Mazda MX-5 ... The Alpaca was used on the Audi 80, BMW E30, Z3, Volkswagen Golf 3 & 4. Within these two materials, there are different qualities of finish that we explain below.
The color Now that you know that there are several materials and quality of soft top, it is necessary that you know that there are different colors. Indeed, depending on the material chosen, the color chart may vary. In order not to have unpleasant surprises, we offer canvas samples to help you validate your choice.
Padding Depending on your convertible, you may be equipped with padding. The padding acts as sound insulation between the convertible top (external part) and the roof or headliner (internal part). It is not always necessary to change the padding when changing the convertible top, however we strongly recommend it.
The interior roof or headliner The headliner is the internal part which makes it possible to hide the arches of the frame of your convertible. Not all convertibles are necessarily equipped with it. The roof can also play on the soundproofing of your vehicle.
Gaskets Gaskets for the convertible top are not supplied with the latter. Special care should be observed however. The seals play an active role in the waterproofing of your convertible top. We do offer a few joints, however the offer is limited. We recommend changing these rubber seals. If necessary, do not hesitate to contact your dealer if we do not offer the seals for your vehicle.

Choose its material

Below you will find more details on the different materials that we are able to offer you:

Vinyl

Vinyl Canvas Leathergrain (GC, GC2)

2-layer convertible top vinyl, exterior leather-look vinyl on cotton canvas, cotton-blend interior. This vinyl has been fitted to many English convertibles (Triumph, MG, Austin Healey, ...) - Black underside

2-layer vinyl canvas GC

The main colors:

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Vinyl Canvas Pintpoint Haartz® - dotted look (GCL, GCL2)

2-layer soft top vinyl, outer face fine grain vinyl (dotted appearance), inner face cotton blend texture. This vinyl has been fitted to many American, French and Italian convertibles - Black underside

Vinyl 2-layer GCL canvas

The main colors:

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Vinyl Canvas RC Haartz® (GV, GV2)

2-layer soft top vinyl, outer side vinyl orange peel look, plain inner side cotton blend texture. Fitted for example the Volkswagen Golf… - Black underside.

Canvas 2 layers GV

The main colors:

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Vinyl Canvas Everflex Haartz® (EV)

2-layer soft top vinyl, exterior vinyl face reproducing the specific grain of top-of-the-range English women, inner face cotton blend texture. - Gray or beige underside

Vinyl 2-layer Everflex canvas

The main colors:

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Vinyl canvas Fiat grain (GF)

2-layer soft top vinyl, outer side in vinyl-woven look, internal side cotton-blend texture, linen-woven look. Vinyl used on Fiat and some Opel convertibles. - Black underside

Vinyl 2-layer GF canvas

The main colors:

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Vinyl Canvas Sailcloth Haartz® - (GA, GA2)

2-layer soft top vinyl, outer face, outer face in large-dimension vinyl look on cotton canvas, inner face cotton / polyester blend texture. Vinyl used on American cars (Chrysler Le Baron, Sebring…) - Gray underside

2-layer vinyl canvas GA

The main colors:

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Alpaca

Alpaca canvas Stayfast® & Sun-fast® (SF, ST, ST2)

3-layer soft top fabric, outer face 100% acrylic texture woven with linen, cotton blend inner face, rubber mid-layer, nowadays used on a large number of vehicles around the world. (Fiat, MG Alfa Romeo,…)

3 layers Alpaca Stayfast

The main colors:

Black Beige Dark beige Blue Bordeaux

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Alpaca canvas Twillfast® (TW, TW2, TWRP, TWRP2)

3-layer soft top fabric, outer side 100% acrylic texture, twill woven, inner side 100% polyester, waffle structure, rubber mid-layer, used since 1993 on a large number of vehicles around the world.

3 layers Alpaca Twillfast

The main colors:

Black Beige Dark beige Light oak Brown Blue Green

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Alpaca canvas Sonnenland (SN, SN2, SN3)

3-layer soft top fabric, outer face 50% acrylic, 50% polyester texture, twill woven, inner face in cotton canvas with embossed structure, rubber intermediate layer as for high-end vehicles after 1998.

3 layers Alpaca Sonnenland

The main colors:

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Alpaca canvas Sonnenland (A5, A52, A5B, A5R, A5S)

3-layer soft top fabric, outer face 100% acrylic texture, twill woven, inner face 100% polyester, embossed structure, rubber intermediate layer as for high-end vehicles after 1998.

3 layers Alpaca Sonnenland A5

The main colors:

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Cotton

Cotton canvas DG

3-layer hood fabric, outer side 100% cotton fabric treated with fine grain linen, inner side cotton blend texture, fine grain linen weave internal side cotton blend texture, linen weave. This is the PININFARINA cotton canvas which fitted many Italian and French convertibles in Monte Constructeur until the 1980s - Black underside

Cotton canvas 3 layers Pininfarina

Black

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