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Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:21 am

Is there any where I can buy a grey canvas top for my '58?
Everyone I spoke to here in the states, so far, claim it can not be found any longer.

thank you.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:12 am

you try chuck?

http://www.chucksconvertibleparts.com/

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:58 am

Or further East you could try M&T MFG

http://www.mtmfg.com/order/custom

They can source all colours (army camouflage anyone?) and all finishes (various German canvas - sonnenland etc).

I'm panning to buy new roof from here - but cant vouch for them directly.....

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:40 pm

Klaus H Mayer in Germany is the pinnacle of quality top fabrics @ cabrio.de They are not cheap and you will never regret your purchase. They will send swatches so you can preview their fabrics.

They have more than one grey...

http://cabrio.de/khm/index.php?option=com_content&...mp;lang=en

IIRC, they bought the original Karmann factory bow jigs sometime after Karmann ceased Ghia production. The only US company I've seen that compares to KHM, is Chuck's Convertibles but I don't know his fabric selection.

I needed to match the original dark green canvas on a car and KHM had a perfect match.

Have a nice day! Miles

Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:46 pm

yes, agree, go Mayer all the way
use Sonnenland

for a Black Cab, ask them to send you a sample for each of the greys here
http://cabrio.de/khm/index.php?option=com_content&...sonnenland
ie for Light Grey (used for the 58/9 Black Cab, & 58/9 Graphite Silver Cab) try samples 118, 129, 130, & 136

i do have 3 of these samples, & the advice I received (from John Figg, UK) was that sample 130 Orion Grey was likely to be the most authentic in colour & construction/weave

do it right. get your trimmer to bespoke fit the hood to YOUR cab
(although i'm not sure if Mayer will supply a top made/partially made? Miles?)

Mayer also do an authentic stretch wool headlining material, in grey & beige. ask them to send samples of these too (samples 316 & 317)

Chucks fit was cheap and CRAP when I bought a ready made hood from them, for a 56 Beetle Cab, in 1995/6! they'd be good for noddy MGs
not so cheap after you've paid a trimmer, & the result looks like Stallone's mom

nice top, Exaktaphile! care to break down the cost for us?

Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:56 pm

Got it. Checking on all of it now. I did speak to Enrico at West Coast Classic VW. He said he had a grey canvas and grey german cloth for headliner. Anyone seen his grey canvas?

Thanks.

Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:44 am

Thanks Rock! The precut fabric alone was around $750US including shipping.

Mayer doesn't make prefabricated tops. When you receive a Mayer top - the two longitudinal seams are sewn and sealed while the remainder is unfinished.

The pattern is oversize and cut/bound to the final dimension as you fit the top. This allows you to tailor the fit according to the padding thickness/contours and how the bows are adjusted.

I have trimming experience so I didn't pay a shop but I would expect total charges to run in the $2-2.5k range for a quality installation (less for a Ghia).

Have a nice day! Miles

Thu Sep 20, 2012 6:14 am

I was told KHM have a template from a NOS wool cloth headliner but they've never responded to my emails.

Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:14 am

Convertible Specialists, Signal Hill, CA 800-760-1255, formerly The Guild, (David Wright founder passed away). Camille Tran, who did all the sewing anyay, still runs the business. Makes great tops and many of the local restorers use them. I did my 1970 with theirs. I am sure they can use any of the canvases available. email is [email protected]
Veterans Company in Los Angeles imports all of the German fabrics and vinyls. Here is the link for Happich canvas http://www.veteranco.com/swatch/card16.html

Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:26 am

Correction: It's Convertible Specialites.
http://www.convertiblespecialties.com/

Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:00 pm

Thanks all.
I've been in contact with KHM and like Miles said, it will run around $2200 after its all said and done :shock: ....Ouch!

Fri May 29, 2020 12:31 pm

anybody know who makes the grey stretch wool headliner for 58 Ghias Convertable ?

Also looking for a pdf installation guide? I know that there are plastic grommets and such that go on the frame and other only early ghia stuff.
Robbins has no idea but I got the Top from them in stayfast gray

I have a cotton headliner from M&t but it is not the stretch
wool version. Is all the padding basically the same that wraps around the frame?

I understand that the floating bow is the one hardest to install right.

Have a local guy installing it - he is smart and has done Ghias before
but I worry because everyone says the tops are so
hard to get perfect.

Any advice on where to find the already made wool headliner and advice on trouble spots in the installation ? And if you have a god pdf instruction manual guide?

Thanks in advance.

Fri May 29, 2020 1:24 pm

I would try talking to "Chucks Convertible Tops". If anyone can help you, I think he would know.
If he doesn't, he'll be able to point you to who does.
https://chucksconvertibleparts.com/

Mike at "House Of Ghia" might be of some help as well.

Thu Jun 18, 2020 1:13 pm

Hey I hear there is a pdf guide somewhere on installing a lowlight top ??and interior? ??

Help me if you can My guy is struggling and it’s too late to bring to someone else.

I got my interior from My friend Kev @Trimic it’s awesome as always but i just need to find the how to pdf if it is indeed available ?

BTW ROBBINS HAS A GREY stay fast top boy their headliner is grey cloth not the stretchy wool.
thx
lmk
David

Fri Jun 19, 2020 1:43 am

try this,
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/ghia_top_assembly.php

And this , after page 98
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/1960_...l_Body.pdf

The latter one covers the front bow with the chrome trim.
Nicholas

Fri Jun 19, 2020 2:34 pm

Look at Sunbrella.
Their main market is Awnings and Bimini toppers for boats.
They have a million colors. Of course it won’t be cut and stitched into the shape of a Ghia but that’s where the talent of the upholsterer comes in.