Convertible Top Care

By Prentice St. Clair

The Love For Rag Tops

Looking back on the history of motoring, it’s humorous to discover that, what we consider to be a luxury—driving with “no top”—was the norm for early automobiles, which did not have roofs at all. The first covered vehicles actually came about as a result of the demand by more affluent customers that the automobile be covered in the same manner as the horse and carriage. Early car tops were actually made of canvas-like material similar to that used in many convertible tops today.

Later, fully enclosed coach-built bodies became available, but were more expensive than their decreasingly popular convertible top counterparts. With the advent of improvements in manufacturing, the closed-top vehicle gradually became less expensive to build and purchase. In fact, the market completely shifted in the late 1940s so that the convertible top became a glamorous sports car option as opposed to the normal automotive feature that it was in the first years of production.

Through the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, the popularity and sales of convertibles slowly declined. In fact, there were fears in the 1970s that United States Federal transportation regulations might change to ban open top cars due to perceived safety concerns. But these regulatory changes did not come about, and sales of convertibles increased steadily in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, most manufacturers have at least one convertible top in their model line-up.

In Need of Protection

Convertible top material is subject to all of the ravages of the environment, including acid rain, ultraviolet rays, smog, tree sap, bird droppings, salt, tar, dirt, grease and grit. In more humid environments, the build-up of all of these contaminants can foster the growth of mold.

Environmental impact on newer convertible tops can be decreased tremendously with the application of a sealant product designed specifically for the material. Tops on used cars can be reconditioned through thorough cleaning using appropriate chemicals and then an application of the convertible sealant. The charge for this service can be a significant addition to a detail package, and it’s a relatively simple procedure to conduct.

Understanding Convertible Top Material

There are either of vinyl or  canvas. Vinyl is a strong, durable, abrasion-resistant, and moisture-resistant plastic made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The canvas tops are made up of woven textiles composed of a wide variety of synthetic fibers, acrylic, polyester, olefin, and various blends including cotton. The canvas tops are typically manufactured with a chemical treatment process that renders them water repellant. But this repellency typically diminishes rapidly after the car has been driven and regularly washed for a few months.

The next thing to understand is that these materials need to be cleaned of and protected against the myriad of environmental impacts mentioned earlier to prevent excess staining, discoloration and breakdown of the material. Regular washing as part of a normal car wash will help to remove dirt, grit, and some of the excess contaminants that fall on a convertible top. But normal washing procedures will not remove all of these contaminants.

Just like regular washing will not remove all of the contaminants from the painted surfaces of the car, resulting in the important service of occasional detailing, the convertible top should be “detailed” on a regular basis. Such a service will include a deep cleaning using a cleaner specifically designed for convertible tops, followed by an application of a sealing product specifically designed for convertible tops.

It is critical to understand the importance of using only chemicals designed for convertible top material. Such chemicals will not harm the material. Also, these products should be safe on the material that surrounds the convertible top as well, including glass, plastic windows, trim, and the painted surfaces of the vehicle.

The Process

Start by vacuuming the dry top to remove loose dirt and grit. Then rinse off the top and the entire vehicle. Use your convertible top cleaner as directed by the manufacturer, which usually means spraying on the cleaner directly to the top and agitating lightly with a stiff nylon brush. Rinse thoroughly and repeat as necessary.

On older tops with extensive mold build-up, you may need to use a 5 percent bleach solution (i.e., four ounces of bleach to one gallon of water). Using gloves, apron and safety goggles, wipe on the solution with a sponge and allow to sit for 20 minutes. Do not allow the bleach solution to dry on the vehicle and make sure that the rest of the car is wet to avoid incidental damage. Rinse thoroughly and follow with another cleaning with the regular top cleaner.

Remove excess water from the top and the rest of the vehicle. Then allow the top to completely dry. The easiest way to do this is park the vehicle so that the convertible top receives complete sun. Use a hair dryer if you have no sun and need to speed up the job.

Once the canvas top is dry, you can apply a convertible top sealant, which renews the repellency of the canvas and also helps to prevent re-soiling. The product that is currently available acts much like common fabric protectants used in interior carpeting and fabric seats, but the convertible top sealant is designed specifically for that material. Use only manufacturer-recommended products on the convertible top. Substituting other products may cause premature damage and even failure of the convertible top material.

Vinyl tops can be protected using a vinyl dressing that has ultraviolet inhibitors. Again, use only products that are recommended by the manufacturer of the convertible top. (Note: The primary manufacturer of virtually all convertible tops currently made is The Haartz® Corporation. You can check their Web site to find out what products they recommend using.)

Marketing Convertible Top Care

Selling convertible top care is similar to selling regular detailing or paint sealant application. Your job is to convince the customer of the benefits of regular service, including the fact that it will not only protect the car from the harsh elements but also keep it looking great.

Simply ask each owner of a convertible that comes into your shop if they are interested in special treatment that “beautifies and protects” their convertible top investment. Explain to the customers that without regular professional care, the convertible top material may eventually fail, resulting in an expensive repair. Replacement of a convertible top can cost several thousand dollars. Essentially, it’s a matter of making a small investment today to prevent an expensive replacement down the line.

Make sure the customer understands that you are using professional grade products that are specifically designed for the care of convertible top care, and that you are using a special process. Mention such benefits as protection against ultraviolet rays. Your treatment, performed on a regular basis, will keep the top protected and looking good for years to come.

For new vehicles, your approach will be the same as if selling new vehicle protection services like paint sealant application and carpet/fabric protection. Convince the customer of the benefits of “getting the vehicle off to a great start” by having the convertible top sealed from the beginning. More and more customers understand the concept of new vehicle protection thanks to the prominence of sealant application marketing. Be sure to advise the customer on the benefits of continued regular maintenance of the convertible top (just like regular detailing) throughout the life of the vehicle.

The price of a complete convertible top treatment including cleaning and protection can be from $75 to $175 per treatment, depending on the condition of the top. The lower end of the range is typically for newer vehicles, whose tops don’t need as much cleaning. The higher end of the range is for those tops that are older, neglected, and will require extensive cleaning before applying the protectant. Realize that this price is in addition to the price of the detail package that you are performing. You can provide a small discount off of your a la carte price for convertible top service that is combined with detailing.

Summary

Convertible top care is important. The benefit to the customer is two-fold: To help the top look great for years and, more importantly, keep it from premature failure that avoids expensive replacement cost. Using manufacturer-recommended products and procedures, the detailer can create a profitable additional detailing service that appeals to an increasing population of owners of automobiles with convertible tops.

Prentice St. Clair is the president of San Diego-based Detail in Progress Inc. which offers consulting and training in the automotive detailing and reconditioning industries. He can be reached directly at 619.701.1100 or by e-mail at prentice@detailinprogress.com.

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