Hardtop Headliner

[George C.]

I am restoring my 1965 Hardtop, and am more confused than ever about the headliner material.

My original headliner had a cardboard backer with a thin cloth like cover. Unfortunately it was warped, ripped and generally unserviceable. My fourth edition judging manual says crosshatched pattern fiberboard.

I have a sample of the material from one vendor and it is an ABS vinyl material marked for 65 & 66.
Another vendor is advocating a cloth type headliner for 63-65 and vinyl for 66-67.
And yet another says early 65 cloth, late 65 uses a vinyl material.

Can you tell me what date is considered late production?

I have also been told that the reproduction cloth material headliners are very delicate and don't stand up very well.

Can you tell me what is correct for a May 6th build car?

I should have added that this is not a car to be judged, but I do try to put it back together with correct appearing repro parts.

And I have searched the discussion board and just could not find an answer.

Thank you,
Aflyer

[George C.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

Two days and 58 views but no responses, maybe I am doing something wrong. I want to order my headliner tomorrow but want to learn from your experiences.
Any answers I find on the board are more than nine years old.

Two questions I would really like help with;
When did the 1965 hardtop headliner change from cloth to vinyl?
Who's headliner would you install if you were restoring your May 6 build 1965 hardtop?

Thanks in advance.

[Jim D.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

All 65 headliners, both coupe and hardtop, were made from a textured cardboard/paper type material. I'm not aware of any supplier that makes a correct replacement.
My 65 coupe built April 10th -

My 65 conv. built May 5th-

[George C.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

Jim,
Thank you for the quick response, and the pictures. That is what I recall my old headliner looked like, however it was trashed as I stated in another post.

I attached a photo of the sample I got from AK, which is definitely not what I want. I will call them again tomorrow, because they were supposed to be sending me two samples.

I did read someone else's post that suggested no one was making a correct replacement, but that post was several years old, so I thought I would ask for more current information.

George

[George C.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

Trying one more time for some answers:
Two questions I would really like help with;
When did the 1965 hardtop headliner change from cloth to vinyl?
Who's headliner would you install if you were restoring your May 6 build 1965 hardtop?

[Jim D.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

Again, NO 65's had a vinyl or cloth headliner. They were a textured cardboard/paper type material. NOBODY makes a correct replacement.

[George C.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

Jim,
Thank you for the response.
I did not understand from your first response that there was not a change to vinyl in Late 65.
I did understand that NOBODY makes a correct replacement.
My outstanding question is:
Who's headliner would you install if you were restoring your May 6 build 1965 hardtop?
Thank you

[Don H.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

George
the 66 TIM&JG describes the hardtop headliner as foam padded smooth grained vinyl, essentially the same description as the 66 coupe headliner.
If I were in your shoes, I would go with whomever sells that for the hardtop. I would ignore what all the vendors say is "correct" for 65. We know that no one makes what is truly correct for 65. Your best bet is to go with what is correct for 66, which is vinyl. (in my opinion)

[George C.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

Don,
Hi, and thank you for your response, I appreciate your input.

I have attached a material sample photo I got from one vendor that I like better than the sample photo I attached to my original post. Think it looks much closer to the original, and also the photos that Jim posted.

I think you are saying the vinyl would be much more durable, and I have heard that from someone on another forum.

Thank you again,
George

[Harry S.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

Don,
Hi, and thank you for your response, I appreciate your input.

I have attached a material sample photo I got from one vendor that I like better than the sample photo I attached to my original post. Think it looks much closer to the original, and also the photos that Jim posted.

I think you are saying the vinyl would be much more durable, and I have heard that from someone on another forum.

Thank you again,
George

I gave Al Knoch a piece of the material off of my 63 hardtop. Turns out it is a very thin fiberglass. Like an early 63 sheer curtain material. As some have said, no one makes a reproduction that is even close. The 63 top was a layer of noise abatement material about 3/8 in. thick with the fiberglass glued to it. Over time the fiberglass becomes brittle and it will dent/rip/scratch easily. Having no choice I went with what Al sells, black plastic liner with colored vinyl glued to it. It came out looking original but I know it is not. Just remember if you are restoring the top yourself, each top is slightly different in shape. I had to trim the liner in places to make it fit.

[George C.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

Harry,
Thanks very much for your feedback. AK is sending me another sample as he does advertise a cloth headliner for 63 - 65. I am hoping someone on the TDB has some experience with that headliner VS the vinyl one, for comparison.
I am sure I will have to do some t******* after watching the NCRS Glassworks video from back in 2009.
I am restoring my top myself here are a couple pictures of my progress.
George

[George C.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

I decided to go with the Glassworks headliner, I think it is closer to the original than using the vinyl one. I also gave up on saving the old window and went with a new one.

Attached are picture's of headliner installed, and new rear window installed.

Anybody have any tips on what to use to seal between the rubber weatherstrip and the plexiglass window?

Thanks,
George

[Tom K.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

George, I am getting ready to finish off my 67 hardtop. Thanks for the information so far. Why did you decide to use a new back window instead of the original. I have a feeling that there might be more to that story. I will also be interested to hear what others say about sealing the window. I guess I assumed that the rubber seal did that in the way that it is designed.
Thanks Tom

[George C.]

Re: Hardtop Headliner

George, I am getting ready to finish off my 67 hardtop. Thanks for the information so far. Why did you decide to use a new back window instead of the original. I have a feeling that there might be more to that story. I will also be interested to hear what others say about sealing the window. I guess I assumed that the rubber seal did that in the way that it is designed.
Thanks Tom

Tom,
My window had little marks, what I was calling starbursts in several areas, both inside and out. I sanded it with 240 grit paper, and then worked my way up to 3600 and still had some marks I didn't get rid of. When I did it a second time with the same result I was afraid I was taking off too much material and decided the new one was worth the investment. It probably could have been saved, but I decided to just replace it, once I had sanded through the date stamp, LOL.

I too am interested in hearing more about sealing the window. I have read the Corvette service manual and they have sealer between the rubber and the glass, and more sealer between the stainless trim and the rubber, and more sealer between the rubber seal and the fiberglass shell.

Hopefully we can learn together.
Thank you,
George