How To Salvage A Vinyl Top

If you have a 1970s or ’80s era car, you may be familiar with vinyl tops — Here are a few tips and tricks how you can salvage or restore yours.

First, you’ll want to assess the top for cracks and dry rot from being out in the weather. If you find damage, unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do and the top should be replaced. The cracks will have allowed water and moisture to seep through and cause rust.

However, if it just needs a good cleaning you don’t want to grab just any old cleaner. Some are too harsh and can damage the material and color. It’s a good idea to use an upholstery cleaner like the Multistar Universal Cleaner from Sonax. It’s also good to use a scrub brush to help loosen all the crud from the grain.

You’ll want to spray it on and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Then with medium to light pressure scrub the surface. For final clean up, wipe the top down with a clean, damp cloth and let it dry.

If you want to brighten it up after cleaning, the Polymer Net Shield from Sonax will seal the surface, restore the color, and give it some shine. To apply all you’ll need is a sponge and a clean cloth. You can either spray the product directly onto the panel or onto the sponge. There is no special pattern or direction when applying simply apply evenly and in moderate amounts.