A carson top is a one piece (non-folding) removable top. They can be on an original convertible, but you'll usually see them on a sedan or coupe that's had the top cut off, usually '37 or later. Traditionally a carson top started off as a wooden frame formed something like the original top (almost always chopped) covered in material (vinyl, hartz cloth, or whatever), then fastened to the body at the windshield and deck lid. The idea was to make a coupe or sedan into a convertible without the cost of a 'vert, and nightmare of top mechanisms. Lots of carson tops frames are now being made out of aluminum, then covered with cloth. You can imagine how heavy one made out of wood would be. Plus wood is subject to the elements!
awsum34 November 21, 02 I have a carson top on my 34 chevy. It's a lift off top non folding. I does take two guys to take off the top.
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November 22, 02 Just for obsecure information, The Carson Top was originally made by a small upolstery shop here in Torrance Calif.. I believe it was called Carson Upolstery & Tops. It was on a 2 lane road named Carson street, and it was right near a set of railroad tracks that went to a lumber yard. Carson Street is now a 4 lane road, and The Carson Upolstery Shop has been gone now for probably 10 years. I also live near where the old Lions Drag Strip was, what a sad site that is, it's now a big truck shipping yard. ( boo hoo, boo hoo !! )
'Olen R. Pearson' <
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