Chuckinnj

That dark colored top^^^^^ with the white paint looks alot better than the red LS that is in the OP....... I came back a few times to this pic and it is starting to look good.
Not for me! But remember........ Lowered cars with painted wheels were NOT "the rage" back in the 1970's. Styles and personal tastes are always changing.

Devh

Very true. I consider the top as a modern throwback without the white wall tires. It grows on you but more then that it makes the car look a little more regal then plane. Maybe a little more effeminate but I couldn't pass on the deal and it wasn't a deal breaker.

Chuckinnj

If you like it...... That's all that matters! I can see this car getting a lot of attention, what are some of the comments you hear?

This look is/was very popular on the Grand Pa Marquis...... And they took on a totally different look from the Crown Vic even though it was "basically" the same car.

R Z

To each their own . . . . stupid or not.

Devh

It's not a question so much if I like it, more like if 'm willing to live with it and it doesn't come off as ugly to the majority of people who see it. At the bare minimum if most people are indifferent then I think I did ok. If I bought the car new I would do without it.

People are going to be nice to you in person so you cant judge anyone's real critique however I can tell you when I pulled into the dealership to get a new battery a lot of the service writers and a few customers came out to see it and pointed out they never seen a top before on the east coast, they also commented that the combo was well done.
I have had people pull up to me while driving to complement the car as well as after I parked it at a shopping mall. Some people think it's a convertible lol. I'm sure there is someone who hates it with a passion but so far that hasn't been the case unless the people who like it have bad taste to begin with. . To me it makes the car look like a British Vauxhall more then a Toyota product.
There are other landu tops like the one the OP posted that just looks out of place and sticks out.. That would be a deal breaker for me.
I have no problem giving an honest opinion about someones car if they asked me so the way I see it my car is fair game.

comotiger

Hi devh, you seem to be unsure whether you like it, and seem to be resigned to driving it. Since one cannot buy such a car new, I hope you bought it as a compromise because you got a super duper deal, maybe a substantial discount over similar "non-convertible" LSs. It looks like you are getting a fair bit of attention, and hopefully you are basking in the glow!

Devh

The deal was too good to pass up for the condition and the millage however I did not choose the car because of the top, I'm mostly indifferent to it although deep down inside I do like it otherwise I wouldn't have bought it. If I was buying the car new I would do without it because I wouldn't want to pay a premium for it and in hindsight I can do without some of the attention as I said before. If other people thought it was hideously ugly but I didn't I would have passed on it because how other people view the car is also a big consideration unless it laid golden eggs.

I could care less about the attention to be honest and I think it's a little weird for a luxury car to get any attention especially from young people considering it has old man mods. My previous BMW did not even bat an eye.

droclex

The thing that just kills me about carriage tops is how much they cost to install, remove, and the damage that they do to the car's paint/exterior. Few cars wear them well and, in most cases, the scars of installation are for life..

Devh

I remember seeing the dealer invoice however I forgot how much but it was an exuberant amount. I will say that the materials used are of the highest quality comparable to the best luxury cars with synthetic cloth convertible tops. From what I understand from the notes, the top was installed at the dealer for the purpose of being a show room car not at the owners request. It was then sold four months later.

droclex

I'm sure it would hold up pretty well given what you say. I've read that the higher quality tops are quite durable and, with the high cost of installation, removal and restoration, it just makes sense to leave them in place. Several years ago I was about to buy a Cadillac DTS that had everything I was looking for option-wise, with the exception of a carriage top installed. Naively assuming that it would be easy to remove, at the last minute I decided to check before I bought the car. Found out just in time that the work easily would have exceeded 1k, which included welding all the holes and repainting the entire surface area beneath, which was likely discolored or damaged after several years concealment. This was an estimate from a trusted source too. If I could have gotten around to liking it/living with it, it would have been a sweet deal,but I passed. It looked something like this:



Now if it was one of these, I'd be all over it!

Devh

The carriage top on both those cars look just fine or should I say indifferent to the overall car. It blends in well and its not loud. I don't think anyone could call it tacky.
Carriage tops like the one I have is permanent. If it's maintained and garaged it should last the lifetime on the car. If not then it would look horrible especially if it's not black. What I like about my top in regard to the look is that it's dark and non reflective unlike your typical vinyl top. I think if I remove the chrome molding and blacken the antenna it would be perfect.

droclex

[/QUOTE]

FWIW, this looks original and tasteful. Not for everyone, I know, but it I just think it works here

droclex

Couldn't hurt. The chrome strip does kind of interrupt the look.

Devh

Looks like I have a weekend project. I'm almost sure that strip is just garnish. The top from what I understand is glued on. I can see this being an insurance nightmare if the top gets vandalized or damaged.

superdenso

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...7a237368c5.jpg

1. I would add the accents to the rear doors just below the window (i.e. like the red car has). http://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.club...af3ee3f8b6.jpg
2. Install or paint the antenna black.
3. Add more topping to the A-Pillars or paint them black..
4. Paint the strip behind the windows black, put the buttons through the pvd (chrome) process to match the emblems.
5. I'm not a fan of tint, but I would add it to make the car look black from the middle to the roofline.
6. White wheels/black wheel, something like this--> http://www.goodroads.net/wheel.cfm?wid=13498&id=296

http://www.wheelspecialists.com/whee...k-white-accent