Convertible Top Materials: Choosing the Right One

As we’ve talked about in How to Choose a Convertible Top Replacement, choosing the right convertible top material is a big part of the decision process when shopping for a replacement convertible top. We’ve given a summary of material options before, but let’s do a deep dive into the material choices for a new soft top.

First, there are two main categories of materials for a convertible top: Cloth (also known as Canvas or Mohair)  and Vinyl. Both are great choices for soft top replacements and each has its own benefits. 

What is the Best Convertible Top Material: Cloth Convertible Tops or Vinyl Convertible Tops? 

Choosing between cloth and vinyl soft tops is mostly about preference of how tops look visually on your model of convertible, roadster or cabriolet.  

You’ll find that cloth convertible tops will often be referred to as “canvas” since the material weave is so tightly woven together. Cloth convertible tops come in more colors than vinyl tops,  and absorb light more than they reflect. They will give a softer look to the exterior of your convertible and tend to be more popular for that reason. They are also more pliable and offer more acoustic soundproofing than vinyl tops.  Because cloth convertible tops are harder to clean than vinyl convertible tops, they are kept looking their best when in a covered storage or garage area. Regular treatment with a fabric protectant is recommended to extend the life and look of your canvas convertible top material and a specialized cloth convertible top protectant should be applied when water no longer beads on top of the exterior of the canvas.

Vinyl convertible top material has a pliable plastic outer layer that can be patterned into leather grain or synthetic textures, like pinpoints, and they will reflect the sunlight more than their cloth counterparts. They are more durable than cloth and more resistant to stains from trees or birds, so can be a better option if you won’t be keeping your convertible in a covered area, like a garage. Vinyl soft tops are more prone to cracking and UV damage, so frequent with a vinyl protectant is recommended. (We recommend at the start of summer and the start of winter, with additional applications in desert or super wet climates.) For many people, the cost savings of going with a convertible top replacement made of vinyl is the tipping factor for choosing vinyl over cloth.

Cloth Convertible Tops

If you decide to go with a cloth convertible top, you’ll want to understand the composition of the material and the options that you will have for this type of convertible top replacement. 

Cloth Convertible Top Composition

First, cloth / canvas convertible top material is composed of several layers fused together:

1. Outer Facing Material - This is the exterior layer of your convertible top that is seen on the outside of the convertible. This is mostly what you are choosing when you are shopping for a new convertible top.
   
   
2. Middle Insulated Core - This is the unseen, middle layer of your convertible top construction, which provides stretch, water resistance and insulation from temperature and noise. The thickness of this layer will generally affect how much noise protection your convertible top has. Higher quality convertible tops will usually have a better middle core to provide more sound proofing. (And in some cases, like A5B Sonnenland, this middle layer will be 2 layers.)
   
   
3. Interior Backing Material - This is the layer that is found on the interior side of the convertible top. For most convertibles, you won’t see this backing material though because it will rest on your convertible top pads and frame, which are then hidden behind a convertible headliner with some exceptions like Mustang convertibles all the way up to 1992 and Corvette convertibles up to 1986 which don’t have headliners to cover this backing.  Most backing materials will be black, but a few Mercedes convertible top replacements will have an option for tan convertible backing and others where there is gray, charcoal or buckskin.

TIP: It’s worth noting that your Convertible Headliner can be reused if it is in good condition and does not have to be replaced when you replace your convertible top. However, you can purchase a new headliner to replace at the same time as you replace your convertible top.

All three of the layers above are fused together to create the composite cloth convertible soft top material. 

Cloth Convertible Top Materials

Here are the canvas convertible top materials you’ll find for soft tops that are made to withstand the elements and provide you with a reasonably long life:

• A5 German Sonnenland Canvas - This is a premium European convertible topping material that is commonly found in German and European cabriolets, roadsters and convertibles. It has a variation that is called “Classic”. This is an original convertible top material for BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche. German A5 cloth has an acrylic twill weave facing, rubber inner layer and crosshatch dobby pattern backing and comes in many colors. It offers the best acoustic barrier available and is the best choice if you want to reduce exterior noise. A5B Sonnenland is a variation of this material that offers another interior core layer and therefore has the best acoustic protection.
  
  
• Twillfast RPC - This American-made premium material is often used as a substitute for German A5 canvas because it is also acoustically enhanced to give more soundproofing. It has an acrylic twill weave facing, rubber inner core and polyester dobby backing in a crosshatch pattern. It has a lower price point than A5 while still offering acoustic protection. Twillfast RPC is often used in Mercedes, BMW 3-Series, Volkswagens, Porsches, Mustangs, Camaros and C7 Corvettes.
  
  
• Stayfast Canvas - Stayfast Canvas sits right at the intersection of high quality and real affordability. This material is a very popular American automotive canvas and is considered a standard convertible top material because of its features and economical price point. It is used on modern BMW, Jaguar, and most US cars, so is very popular. It is made from a tightly woven cloth with a square weave, has a rubber inner core and cotton backing. Stayfast canvas is very durable, flexible (including in colder weather) and wrinkle resistant, which adds up to a great overall convertible material.  Stayfast does have a large color selection and even has an extensive “Hot Rod” collection of special order colors. (We offer Hot Rod Red and Oyster White but can also get other specialized colors like Orange, Sunflower Yellow and Persian Green for custom orders.)
  
  

• Twillfast / Twillfast II / Sonnendeck Canvas - This canvas is very close to Stayfast in composition, but it comes with a German cotton backing. This material has an acrylic square weave outer, elastomer inner and dobby crosshatch pattern backing and is commonly used in convertibles where the backing will be seen (in other words, not covered with a headliner on the interior of the vehicle).
  
  

Vinyl Convertible Top Materials

Vinyl convertible tops are composite tops with the outer plastic layer with a waterproof vinyl synthetic coating that is fused over an inner lining material. The outer layer is textured to mimic a natural material like a leather grain or a synthetic pattern like pinpoint or twill weave and much of the decision with a vinyl top is what you want that outer pattern to look like.

Vinyl Convertible Top Materials

Here are the main vinyl material options for quality convertible tops that will stand up to years of work and wear, with the main difference between each kind being the texture or pattern of the vinyl: 

• British Everflex Vinyl - This European made vinyl has the look of leather grain. It has a very supple or rich look that many convertible owners find attractive. It is your most durable vinyl option. This is the original convertible top material for Jaguar and Rolls Royce convertibles.
  
  
• Haartz Pinpoint Vinyl - The most popular option on the market, Pinpoint vinyl has many benefits, like durability and acoustic enhancement for noise protection. It is a topcoated and embossed PVC and has an attractive look of little dots (or pinpoints) making up the pattern. Pinpoint vinyl was the prevalent convertible top material for American cars from the 1950’s through the 1990’s. Even European cars like the Volkswagen Beetle used this material.
  
  

• Haartz Sailcloth Vinyl - This American made vinyl is a single texture sailcloth that looks like a pebble grain. It’s very popular when replacing the top on vintage cars because it mimics the original look that they had. It is 2 ply with a polyester/cotton lining. Sailcloth is strong and durable, making it a solid vinyl convertible top material. It’s often used on Jeep Wranglers, Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs and many American or European vintage cars.
  
  
• Haartz Twill Weave Vinyl - This heavy-duty American twill-look vinyl goes by a few names including HV Denim and Twill Grain vinyl. It has a PVC outer layer and a polyester/cotton inner layer that mimics the more expensive vinyl on luxury convertibles like Audi, Bentley, BMW and Rolls Royce. It’s a midrange vinyl option that is very durable but is less expensive than Everflex. It is the only vinyl to offer some acoustic protection, which is a plus. Some cars, like the Nissan 350Z, will often come with this as the vinyl material option.
  
  
• British Bison Vinyl - Often referred to as “Colonial Grain”, “Crush Grain” or “Leather Grain”, British Bison is an American-made vinyl made to resemble the more expensive Everflex vinyl. It’s similar to Sailcloth, but is less durable and has limited color options. Most popular option for British roadsters, like the Austin Healey 3000.

Weather & Elements Effects on Canvas and Vinyl Convertible Tops

You’ll want to make sure that you give your convertible top a little more consideration than you would a hardtop vehicle. Here is a brief summary of what to think about for your convertible and how cloth vs. vinyl effects each:

• Rain - Both canvas and vinyl convertible tops are designed to stand up to rain, including heavy rain. Although vinyl convertible tops are truly waterproof (meaning no water will penetrate the surface) that doesn’t mean that they offer superior water protection than canvas soft tops. Canvas convertible tops will absorb water on the outer facing layer, but that water won’t penetrate through the middle core, so they still offer the same degree of water protection for your interior.
  
  
• Sun - Both canvas and vinyl soft tops need protection from the UV and heat from the sun. For canvas convertible tops, you have a higher risk of the color fading over extended exposure to UV rays. For vinyl convertible tops, the issues are more with cracking and hardening. Both risks can be minimized by keeping your convertible stored in a covered area and treating the exterior with a protectant made for your type of convertible top (canvas or vinyl).
  
  
• Cold - Both canvas and vinyl convertible tops will become more rigid and less pliable when in cold temperatures, so you should not lower or raise your convertible top in cold temperatures as it can damage the top. Cold weather can cause convertible tops to shrink some, so if you get the top down, it might not be able to raise it without issues like ripping and tearing. If you must lower or raise the top and temperatures are cold, you should pull the convertible inside a heated area and let it sit a while before operating the convertible top mechanism. Remember not to keep your vehicle running in an enclosed area because of the toxic fumes generated by the exhaust. Instead run a heater and keep your vehicle off until the temperature is raised to an acceptable level for operating your convertible top mechanism. Read about cold weather tips for your convertible here.
  
  
• Dust, Dirt, & Debris  - Both canvas and vinyl soft tops should be kept clean and protected against dust, dirt and debris. Since canvas convertible tops are more porous than vinyl tops, they can be harder to keep clean, especially from stains from bird or tree droppings. Even small dust particles though can become embedded in your cloth convertible and when driving at high speeds it will vibrate and beat against the fibers causing damage over time. Therefore, it’s best to be diligent about cleaning your convertible top. Be mindful where your convertible is parked to lessen that impact. Vinyl tops are not impervious to stains, but the clear coat layer on top can provide more stain protection than the cloth exterior of a canvas soft top.
  
  

As you can see, both types of convertible tops have considerations for weather and the elements outside.

Keeping Your Replacement Convertible Top Looking Great

Once you purchase your new convertible top, you’ll want to keep it looking great. 

Things to do:

1. Hand wash your convertible top with a soft scrub brush and use a soft microfiber towel on the window
2. Wash your convertible at least monthly to avoid dust, dirt, debris settling into your canvas or on top of your vinyl top
3. Use protectant when water no longer beads on top of your canvas top and use protectant at least twice a year for vinyl soft tops 
4. Use a quality cleaner and protectant made for convertible tops like Raggtops cleaner & protectant for cloth tops and Raggtops cleaner & protectant for vinyl tops
5. Protect your windows and the body of your car from overspray and drips when applying a protectant
6. For vinyl convertible tops, spray your protectant directly onto the top
7. Use a chamois to absorb and blot water from your top after cleaning, but do not rub
8. Clean stains with a specialized upholstery cleaner like Car Guys Super Cleaner
9. Store your convertible in a covered location when possible
   
   

Things to avoid: 

1. Do not use automated car washes 
2. Do not use chenille, terry cloth or lambswool cleaning cloths, which will leave fibers on your top
3. Do not use cleaning products with ammonia, bleach, detergent, alcohol or vinegar, which will deteriorate your top
4. Do not use the brush on the window of your convertible top
5. Do not rub stains with shampoo, dish soap or a laundry stain remover
6. Do not apply protectant to a wet or damp top - It must be completely dry before the protectant is applied

These things will keep your convertible top looking great for years and increase its durability. 

Choosing Between Canvas and Vinyl Convertible Tops

As you can see, canvas convertible tops and vinyl convertible tops are both great choices. There are some tradeoffs between each type of replacement convertible top, but both will look great and last years.

It’s important to note that not all year, make and model convertibles offer all of the material choices that are listed above as standard options. You can see what is available for your particular convertible, roadster or cabriolet at our website. If there is a material or color that you would like which we do not offer on our site, please contact us; we are happy to help you with a swatch of material, so that you can get it in-hand, and then place a custom order.  (Please note that custom ordered, non-standard material/color convertible tops are not returnable.)  

As the leading distributor of convertible tops from all the top brands, we offer the best selection in one place, at the lowest prices online. We have been in the automotive upholstery business since 1987 and use our experience with virtually every convertible ever made to ensure that each convertible top that we offer will have the perfect fit and is made to last years. Shop now or contact us with your questions. We also offer a list of recommended convertible top replacement shops to do your installation.