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1/2 or 1/4 soft top on Eldo

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Posted by: eldo99er

Hi,

I just recently bought a 99 Eldorado two months ago (in pearl white, an ETC with white/cream interior) and was thinking of putting on a 1/2 or 1/4 soft top in blue or maroon.

Has anbody done that? If so, how much would this cost me? Before I shop around I would need to know what to expect as a reasonable price.

And what's my best bet for getting it done - the dealer or an independent workshop? Does anybody know a place in Connecticut?

Posted by: CadillacETC1997

why on earth would you do that...
those tops are fugly

Posted by: eldo99er

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadillacETC1997

why on earth would you do that...
those tops are fugly

I think they look classy - and it helps to set the Eldo apart from the Japanese and Korean cars as those definitely don't have cloth soft tops at all.

Here's a picture of what I would want my white Eldo to look like:

Posted by: ALBUNDY

Personally I like the look and the Vogue tires go perfect with it. My only problem is how long do they last.

Posted by: MediumD

To me, a 92-02 Eldo is NOT the kind of car that should have a 'soft' top. A Deville, maybe. It totally kills the sporty look and crisp lines of an Eldo though.

Posted by: eldo99er

So how much would a nice half soft top cost?

Posted by: taylor414ce2003

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadillacETC1997

why on earth would you do that...
those tops are fugly

I agree!!!!!!!!!! hard top looks best or convertable

Posted by: Creeker

Dont go with the softtop,the japanese and koreans are selling lots of cars
without softtop models,maybe they know something?.I used to own a 92 eldo.
Wish I had one again.

Posted by: CadillacETC1997

well in answer to your question i dont know of any aftermarket co that sells them. also i doubt the dealer still has them around as the eldo is long departed. your best bet it find one on a junked eldo in good shape ripp it off and install. i kno the only way they were really held down was with velcrow and such.

Posted by: thamarkman

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALBUNDY

Personally I like the look and the Vogue tires go perfect with it. My only problem is how long do they last.

There are a couple of different rating for the Vogues with the whitewall and gold stripe. One lasts for 80,000 miles and the more performance oriented one is supposed to last 60,000 miles. So basically Vogues last a very long time.

Posted by: ALBUNDY

Quote:

Originally Posted by thamarkman

I wasn't speaking about the vogues. I ment the rag top.

Posted by: MediumD

If the tops are anything like the vinyl tops used in the 70s and 80s you will not be able to get a junkyard version. The material is glued to the metal, and you pretty much cannot remove it without destroying it. If you REALLY want to get one, find a local vinyl top place and see what they can do.

Posted by: TJAXFF

I have to agree with MediumD, nothing like ruining the clean, crisp, sporty lines of an Eldo with the 1/2 Vogue top. Would make it look like one of those
1970's disco era " Superfly " mobiles. Don't do it!!!

Posted by: eldo99er

Okay, so despite most replies warning me not to get the soft top done I am still hell-bent on doing it.

Unfortunately, the local Cadillac dealer said they don't do soft tops anymore. The first time I had asked (before I bought the Eldo) he mumbled something about outsourcing it to somebody, so I guess that connection dried up.

Still, if anybody knows a reputable outfit that could get this done (it's probably a custom job anyway, as Eldos aren't made anymore) in Connecticut or MA please let me know...

Posted by: CadillacETC1997

voguetyre.com
they still list them...

Posted by: eldo99er

I tried that link but they don't seem to have anything besides tyres for the 99 Eldorado. They do have vinyl tops for devilles etc., but nothing for the Eldorado.

So I guess my best bet is to ask for a quotation from a vinyl top specialist for a custom job. If it proves too expensive I'll let it go albeit with some disappointment. Or does it really take the 1/2 Landau top kit to do this so that a custom job without the kit would be impossible?

Posted by: eldo99er

So we have found somebody who is a specialist for soft tops.

But he wants about a thousand dollars for getting it done. Is that reasonable? Seems a litte steep to me, I would have thought no more than 800 dollars.

Posted by: CadillacETC1997

under 97 eldo they have tops.... and its the same body style...

Posted by: eldo99er

You're right, thanks. I've contacted them to find out the price since that isn't listed there. Let's see what they quote...

Posted by: eldo99er

Well, unfortunately they never replied, so I guess I'll just stick with the specialist for soft tops.

So what should I take, cloth or vinyl? Which is better for the car? I'd imagine that vinyl would be better for the body in the long run since vinyl repels water whereas the cloth probably doesn't...? Cloth somehow looks more regal.

Posted by: eldo99er

Well, now I finally did get a response from Vogue. They wrote:

"the 1/2 tops are no longer available, for that mater no tops are availble
for the eldos.
the only thing we carry anymore for the old eldos is the grill.

thanks,

ross at vogue"

So I guess I just have to trust the specialist we found. It's probably a custom job then.

Posted by: Future

I've slowly been gathering things in hopes to do a nice resto job on my 87 eldo, and one of the things was the 1/4 top cloth. My wife was lucky enough to win one off of e-bay that is still new and uncut, but it cost us a pretty penny. If I remember correctly it set us back about $65...lol

Moral of this story, be cheap like me and the wife and shop e-bay, good things come, they just take their sweet a** time.

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