1957 is my soft top original? | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models

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1957 is my soft top original?

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1957 soft top. How do you determine if the frame is original or aftermarket? Thanks

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by looking at it. The replacement ones are not like the original. Post some photos.
 
1955 How can I tell if I have an Original Convertible Top on my 1955 Thunderbird. Current top is not canvas but a black cloth material. The underside and the frame all look original. There is a stamping in the plastic window about cleaning the window.
 
My 1957 TBird did not come with the soft top per the build sheet. I assume that the dealers would install it after the fact at their dealership. Mine is a canvas top and has the cleaning instructions on the plastic window on the lower drivers side. Dose that make it an original factory soft top?
 
DispatchJoe, if your top matches the original picture posted in this thread than it is an original top. If your invoice indicates hardtop only then your soft top was possibly bought from and installed by the dealer. If could have also come from a wrecked car. If your car came from the factory with both tops then both would have been installed at the factory. As the cars went down the assembly line the hardtop (if so ordered) was placed on a rack over the hood. The soft top was then installed and folded behind the seat. At that point the hardtop was transferred from the rack to its standard position.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White
 
Thank you for your quick response. I was very lucky with my purchase. It was sold by Hollywood Ford in LA, with all of the options available on the build sheet, except the soft top. It has been stored in a Classic car storage unit in LA. It was only driven a few miles a week, by the storage facility. It came will all of the maintenance records with the mileage of the car each time it was work on. It spent several years in a museum in San Diego. It only has 9000 original miles, so I would think that the original owner had the soft top and Tonneau cover installed by the dealer. Do you have any idea what it would have cost to have them both installed?
 
The tonneau that was available over the counter from Ford parts had a suggested time of 1.7 hours to install. It is different than the factory installation because it can be completely removed, folded, and stored in the trunk. Not sure about the price. As for the soft top, I have a feeling that to get one would be a special order from the factory. If available, it would take probably take a couple of hours to install and adjust.
By the way, a lot of Southern California delivery cars came with hardtop only.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White
 
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