Cross Grain Vinyl Top Uncovered Under front Roof Panel Trim on Current Parts Car

[Jason Edge]

The body name plate said it had a white cross grain vinyl top (code 61), but it seemed to have been long gone on the current parts car, a 1964 Coupe DeVille I am taking down.  Well I was chuffed to see the original material under the front roof panel trim, which only comes out after the windshield is removed and makes it more less likely to ever get removed.  When I had my 64 CDV top done way back I wanted it to be as original as possible and only had my memory from a previous parts car and had to guess the pattern the best I could. Well today I got to compare a factory original aspen white vinyl top material and it is close but not exact. From a couple feet or more away you can't really even tell a difference but up close the original material has slightly bigger squares in the pattern.

The standard cross grain vinyl tops and their codes for 1964 were: 60 Black, 61 White, 63 Lt Blue, 64 Sandalwood.

Anyway, I easily amuse myself and seem to savor dismantling these cars more than ever taking hundreds of pictures as I go.  Below are a couple pictures showing the original vinyl top material and the body name plate:

[Robert Alan Shannon]

Jason ,if you don't mind me asking, do you remove and keep or otherwise document or record all the data from your parts cars ? I am an information junkie and think all that info would be beneficial to hang on to. I have a parts car I will keep the cowl tag when I strip it down. I  understand this can be a sensitive subject for some owners;  if so my apologies.

[Jason Edge]

I keep a folder and ALL documentation for a car, including title, registration, inspections, maintenance, etc. For parts cars from 1996 to 1999, I have a varying # of pictures from my pre-digital days that I want to go back and scan in at some point.

[00ayba0zlz01y]

Jason,

I just noticed something in your picture of the vinyl top material with the windshield removed.

There is remnants of the old vinyl top.  I need to remove my windshield to replace it and I can't release the reveal clips with any tool that I have.  I have a reveal moulding tool I used for years in the body shop days and it still won't budge the clips.  I've soaked the moulding with WD 40 in hopes that the glazing putty would dissolve enough to clean it out, but still no success.  I read a post of yours a while back where you explained using two small screw drivers.  I don't want to further damage the moulding, can you offer any other suggestions that I am overlooking.

Also my car had a red vinyl top on it at one time but the trim plate shows blank for the TOP shows "00" and ACC shows EYKV like your above plate.  Paint is 12 for Aspen White.

Where do we find the code definitions for the trim tag?

Thanks,

Dan

[Jason Edge]

The Specifications Manual has all the breakdown codes. You sometimes see them on ebay... search or 1964 Cadillac Specification Manual. The standard cross grain vinyl tops and their codes for 1964 were: 60 Black, 61 White, 63 Lt Blue, 64 Sandalwood.

Not sure about the 00. That might have indicated special order...maybe with the red.

[00ayba0zlz01y]

Thank You Jason for the information.  The Restoration is coming along and getting ready for epoxy primer after I remove door handles, mirror, locks, and rear bumper.

Q.  I'm ordering rubber parts, mostly from OPGI. and need to know how much window track felt to order in feet, and also what size 1/32 or 1/8.  I haven't taken the door panels off yet to check the condition, but assume that these will need replacing. I am replacing all rubber seals on the caddy coupe.

[00ayba0zlz01y]

I do have a digital copy of the original repair manual with 729 pages and I found the explanation for  the tag but did not see the codes shown by numbers and letters for each option choice.

Dan