1961 Survivor Soft Top - Improve?

[Peter M.]

I have an nice condition survivor 1961 Soft Top that has been stored since the 70's. Original paint frame, soft rubber seals, fabric and padding all nice. However, the plastic rear window,while supple has yellowed. Has anyone had favorable experience with liquid restoring agents such as boat and car plastic window cleaner / restorer like Star Brite or similar?

[Steven B.]

Re: 1961 Survivor Soft Top - Improve?

I had a '57 soft top in '65 I used watered down polishing compound then 0000 steel wool and it worked well.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1961 Survivor Soft Top - Improve?

Are you sure that’s an original. Looks to me like the heat sealing on the back window isn’t correct. Then again, my memory is not what it used to be. My memory tells me it should say Vinylite in the lower left and be heat sealed in the inside. Yours looks to be heat sealed on the outside.

[Peter M.]

Re: 1961 Survivor Soft Top - Improve?

Mike - that top may have been replaced along the way sometime in the early 70's but nice non-the-less - still would like to fiqure out if the widow can be restored to a less yellow of clear condition.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1961 Survivor Soft Top - Improve?

Unfortunately, the yellowing extends throughout the plastic. If it was a surface issue only, you could polish it off. It won't hurt to try and polish with the plastic polish.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1961 Survivor Soft Top - Improve?

In 1992 I replaced my original with a new Al Knoch soft top on my 59. In 2020 its yellowing was restored to amazing clarity using Meguir's Plastic Window Cleaner, a 25+ year old bottle I had on the shelf.

I was pleasantly impressed.

FYI, For hard plastic like clear cluster lenses or tail lamp lenses, I use Mother's Aluminum Polish. Works great.

Rich