What is the best company to buy a convertible top for the 68' Camaro? Are the materials all the same? I need to have the plastic window also.

 

Classic Industries: They offer a wide range of parts for classic cars, including convertible tops for the 68 Camaro.

 

I have not bought a top in 15 years but there are a lot of options out there. There are materials that look to the normal eye like stock but they will last 20 years under the sun. If you are talking about a show car you need the original material. The original canvas will look good for about 5 years if the car sees a lot of sun. Now if you want a real show car you need a lot more then just the top. If I remember right the top is about 1/2 the material cost. You will need cables and other material to protect the top. Plus you need to make sure the frame is working as it should. When you are done you going to find that a well done top will change your door gaps a small amount. This keeps the body tension just right to keep the top quite. There are a lot of different things that have to come together to get that just right. I hate seeing a nice convertible on a hot day with waves flowing across the material as the drive or tops that look way to tight on a cool morning.

FYI I am a DIY'er former GM tech turned engineer. I let a Pro deal with my 67 RS/SS and 10 years later I did my own top for a 94 Cutlass Supreme after hours and hours of research. I learned a lot but my biggest take away was I was glad I did not do my 67 and I would never do it again. Installing a rag top is not really for DIYer thing on a real nice car. Sure you can keep the weather out and get it to seal and functional but to get pro like results requires experience. The best way to learn is to do it with someone that knows how to do it looking over your shoulder. After you do 6-10 tops you are ready to try solo.

Most pros are not going to work with carry in material. Just tell them what you want and let them source the material. Even if you know a guy that is going to help find out from him where to get the material. Finding the right guy is tuff. I bought my 67 it was a unfinished project. I took it for quotes because they where not sure what parts where missing, most of the places wanted to do time and material but told me it would be around $1200. The last guy I took it to pulled out a small note pad listed off all the parts I would need and said it would be $1600. He signed the paper and handed it to me. I knew I found my guy.. He was the only one that mentioned I needed a whole new gutter system and my frame was way out of adjustment.

Note: those above prices are 1998. I got the 20 year material and I keep it out of the sun.

 

The guy that’s gone replace my top (on a 4th gen camaro) promoted Robbins as very trustworthy brand, and he has 30 years’ experience replacing tops

https://robbinsautotop.com/?srsltid=...cg5PAvjMf__lFP

 

-I had the top replaced on my '68 with fabric/canvas instead of the vinyl that was torn. The fabric looks MUCH better IMHO.
-The old guy doing the replacement said it would take him 7 hours for the job. It is a complicated process, I'm glad I had an experienced guy doing it instead of buying the parts from Classic or someone else and attempting the job.
-The boot was a whole adventure as the trim snaps that come with the boot require modification to fit correctly.
-Watch out for some car covers with a nice flannel lining as they might leave white fibers on the roof.
-The roof will stretch into place for the first few months, sun helps the process.
-I think the top installation, new Pads, (old window was good) & boot was about $1700. Soft Tops in San Jose CA.