1957 thunderbird aftermarket soft tops

[1957Bird]

Have a hard top only 1957 Bird and am very curious what other members have experienced using any of the various aftermarket soft tops. Our car is a good solid #3 driver and feel confident I would be very happy with an aftermarket top.
thanks in advance
Roger

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[jack-in-sac]

Have a hard top only 1957 Bird and am very curious what other members have experienced using any of the various aftermarket soft tops. Our car is a good solid #3 driver and feel confident I would be very happy with an aftermarket top.
thanks in advance
Roger

Depending on where you live I might have different advice. The best top is probably from Jewell. If authenticity is not a big issue the best of the lesser tops is probably from Prestige Thunderbird. Other Thunderbird parts sellers all use Prestige's top and when you order it from another source it is then drop-shipped to you from Prestige. I have had a Prestige top for about 20 years. I have not needed to replace it as of yet but the "canvas" is showing some age. Aside from buying a top, you will most likely want to purchase a swing bar set-up. Without the swing bar, you can fold the top up and stow it behind the seat. It is difficult to use the top in this configuration, ie. you have to lift it up onto the deck behind the seat and then open it up to latch the top in place. The spring-loaded swing bar installs onto the studs in the floor that every 55-57 Thunderbird originally had from the factory. The top is attached to it and allows relatively easy stowing and then an assist to bring the top up to latch it down.

 

[1957Bird]

Thanks J
Car is New England based.
have indeed looked at other folks tops just looking for as much feedback as I can gather and feel this is as good a place to look as any.
glad to hear you have been happy with your Prestigue top as that is kinda what I am considering.
I like Frank, I think he’s a pretty straight shooter.
Tks again
Roger

 

[kahluver]

My 2 cents... I have a 55 Hardtop only TBird and I too was wanting an aftermarket soft top. However since I couldn't decide nor did I want to fork over the big $$ I got a tonneau cover in the meantime. I'm really happy with the tonneau and I don't think I'll need a soft top now as this is a fair weather only car. However I live in Southern California so I certainly have the luck of having fair weather most of the time.

 

[1957Bird]

Not that fortunate here in New Hampshire
Besides I really like the look of these early birds with a soft top.
just have to decide weather it’s worth the price $$$

 

[Jsjay]

Have a hard top only 1957 Bird and am very curious what other members have experienced using any of the various aftermarket soft tops. Our car is a good solid #3 driver and feel confident I would be very happy with an aftermarket top.
thanks in advance
Roger

i have a convertedle top 1955 black like new

 

[Tater Salad]

i have a convertedle top 1955 black like new

Asking price?

 

[1957Bird]

What is the asking price on that 55 top?
is it complete with swing arm assy?
Tks
Roger

 

[Jsjay]

Asking price?

5000 complete with swing arm

 

[ThunderKip]

1957Bird - I too had a hard top only 1956 and wanted a soft top. I got my aftermarket soft top through Hills Thunderbird in Ohio (I'm not affiliated). I wanted some color as the car and hard top are white. They have vinyl and canvas and also offer the swing arms. They will even send swatches so you can see the material/color before you order. Installation took only a couple of hours and everything was included to complete the install. - Kip

 

[ButWhatDoIKnow]

1957Bird - I too had a hard top only 1956 and wanted a soft top. I got my aftermarket soft top through Hills Thunderbird in Ohio (I'm not affiliated). I wanted some color as the car and hard top are white. They have vinyl and canvas and also offer the swing arms. They will even send swatches so you can see the material/color before you order. Installation took only a couple of hours and everything was included to complete the install. - Kip

View attachment 10469View attachment 10470

Love that red top!
Did you install it yourself?

 

[OhioTbird]

Hi

new member and new 57 TBird owner. Can you buy a swing arm only and somehow attach to the soft top? I have all three tops but no swing arm. Thanks

 

[Tater Salad]

Hill's Thunderbird in Ohio has them.

 

[JDJ]

1957Bird - I too had a hard top only 1956 and wanted a soft top. I got my aftermarket soft top through Hills Thunderbird in Ohio (I'm not affiliated). I wanted some color as the car and hard top are white. They have vinyl and canvas and also offer the swing arms. They will even send swatches so you can see the material/color before you order. Installation took only a couple of hours and everything was included to complete the install. - Kip

View attachment 10469View attachment 10470

Good information

 

[FERENC]

Good day to all ,
Appreciate the response I received to my question yesterday 🙂
Thought I'd look for some more knowledge.
My car only has the Softop - I noticed there is a manufacturer of
HardTops - https://www.smoothline.com/thunderbird-hardtop

Has anyone purchased one of these, or seen them - perhaps knows of another
manufacturer?

The only OEM one(s) I've found on the web have been with Amos Minter in Texas.

Appreciate the help in advance,
Thanks, Ferenc

 

[OhioTbird]

How hard is it to install the swing arm and are all 57's built to take one? Seems like something to add.

 

[jack-in-sac]

How hard is it to install the swing arm and are all 57's built to take one? Seems like something to add.

Please check my earlier post regarding swing arms. You will likley need to make adjustments for the top and swing arm to work to their best ability.

 

[BirdGuy]

I LOVE the red top! I'm from Ohio (CA now) and have never heard the name before. Thanks for the info. I'll check them out.

 

[1957Bird]

Re: Fernec’s search for a hardtop.
add in N.E. Vintage Thunderbird publication this month for a port hole hardtop in “fair” condition That’s a Mass.number

 

[jack-in-sac]

To begin with; top coverings come in various colors. Originally only black and white were factory offered. OEM was also only in vinyl. Vinyl is still available for purists. The other than black or white are available in what I believe to be Hartz cloth. I have observed that white tops do not stay white for a long period and look dingy in a short period compared to other colors.
There are a number of Thunderbird suppliers. There is also some give and take between them in reproduction parts. ie. One shop will make/commission a part and the others will also sell it. No one shop is the overall supplier. I will probably omit some sources but that is only incidental and implies no like or dislike for them.
CASCO has been around a long time
Concours Parts also handles parts for other fords also. Owner of Concours originally started Larrys. He took some time off and could not resit jumping back in.
Larry's Thunderbird and Mustang parts. also a long time supplier.
Prestige Thunderbird parts also a long time supplier.
Thunderbird Headquarters also long time supplier.
Hill's previously bought out another supplier as they expanded.
National Parts Depot markets parts for a variety of makes.
Mac's has Thunderbird parts and is part of Eckler's which is a longtime Corvette supplier.
I suggest comparing prices and shipping to determine the total cost on your doorstep. Again there are probably more but these are the ones that come to mind.

Some other places to my knowledge, like Jewell, only supply one type of specific Thunderbird part. Jewell is a source for soft tops that are OEM quality and have some interchangeable parts with OEM. There is at least one other top supplier that I know of, but I forget their name. I have seen their hardtops and they are okay but not OEM quality nor exact style.