Custom sewn and installed top on a 300ZX

May 29, 2007

Ok, I've been trying to research, and haven't found squat. A 1989 Nissan 300 ZX, sure. But how about as a factory convertible? Basically, they didn't make them. From what the owner has gathered, only a few were made of each year, and he's got one from 1989. He knows of three others from all over the country that are still around. Kind of like the Camaros from the 80s, they cut the top and fit a convertible. But, after that many years and lots of wear, his original top looked horrid. And, it wasn't really that well made. And it's not something that you can just call up and order.

The owner wanted the snaps for his boot (that we'd custom made the previous year) to be hidden when the top was up. Plus, he has a big piece of lexan that he wanted to be able to pull out and get air flow with the top up. Ok, no problem. Drop a few hundred on some nice BMW blue StayFast and a couple grand for us to do the building, and he's got a one-off built custom top.

carolinatinter · May 29, 2007

nice once again... this wasnt twin turbo was it? body style isnt my taste but would be an ultimate sleeper if it was tt

May 29, 2007

Nope. Not a TT. It's really a pretty basic piece, just with the top cut. It's a regular V6, with an AT behind it (I personally would have to have a stick. One of the Fieros I'm building came with a stick, and the other one will have a stick, by gosh, lolol). The owner added the curved rear wing. It doesn't flow with the car, but it's what he likes. Eventually he wants to redo the seats, some door panel work and a bra for it, all with the U of I Fighting Illini in mind.

May 29, 2007

That looks really good. So you did a solid rear window? can it stay in and go down or you got to take it out? Cause I didn't remember much room in that car...

tint_detective · May 29, 2007

That looks great, do you make all your own tops???

Ugly a$$ car though.....That spoiler looks like he robbed it from an old stealth.... :twocents

May 30, 2007

I dont' know if the car was in an accident in the past or what, but it just doesn't fit and finish very well. I have a front shot of it and the hood drops down below the front facia. He is planning on having it repainted next, so hopefully they'll do some panel alignment. I know the body guy who's going to do the work (He's into Vettes heavily, RP...Mitch over in Auburn). I told the owner to pass it along that if he gets ANY overspray, dust or damage to the top, I'm going to skin him alive. LOL.

As for the rear window, RP, nooooo way. You remember how tight it was down in there. The glass is about another 1 1/2 larger than what is seen, and it contacts the rearmost bow at about 3/4 way down. He has to pull the rear glass before it can nestle down in there. If you see in the pics the two straps going up through the middle of the glass. I put those in so it doesn't fall down into the car. They have snaps on the top edge so they can be unsnapped when the glass is out, and he doesn't have any obstructions. On the outside border, I have DuraLok velcro holding it in place. Plus, I've sandwiched 18oz heavy canvas around the opening to give more structure. The last thing I want is to hear that he jacked it up to 80 and the window blew out. :uh

I watched him pull out onto the highway. He revved it up and took out like a shot, and the window stayed right in place for as long as I could see. I didn't even see it billow out at all. we have two top listings across it, plus I replaced the tensioner cables with springloaded (springs from a Type I VW convert) to give it more gusto in holding it down.

No, we don't make tops. Considering how nice Electron, Robbins and EZ On are, there's no call for it. Just his material for this one was about $350 retail.