Original Convertible Top Design Verification - Material and Window

[Banana]

Just want to do a sanity check on what was original top design from factory for 1970 Challenger Convertible:

- Crush Grain
- Plastic Window with Zipper
- Where there any options available for the top from factory?
- Any options from the dealer on the top?
- Anything else I need to know?

Please let me know if this is correct. Not sure if my car has the original top so I need to check. Planning on buying a new top soon. Thanks much.

[anlauto]

One thing to know would be that NO E Body ever had a "plastic back window" 

[Banana]

OK, but it's confusing since ConvertibleTopGuys.com website says plastic is the original style. Also, other vendors offer both plastic and glass, but they don't mention which one is original. Confusing

[71vert340]

 The original top/window (in 1976) on my 70 R/T convertible  was glass  just like my 71 has.
Terry

[Banana]

Thanks for the input......glass it is......

[anlauto]

You're best to buy it from Legendary Auto Interiors that makes them for you car rather then a place that makes one size fits all 

[js27]

I have the Legendary top on my 70's and like it. Original was glass and their top is also glass. MY car had a aftermarket top on when I bought it and the rear window was plastic. Original glass is smaller in size that the after market plastic.
JS27

[Burdar]

So, is there a zipper around the glass?  Do you need to unzip the glass before lowering the top or should it all go down into the trunk as one piece?  I've heard different things.

One of those automotive TV shows I was watching over the weekend said the glass windows needed to be unzipped.  They had a Chevy in the shop with a broken back window and said it was because they let the top down without unzipping the window.

[CudamanTom]

There is a zipper with the glass window (but not around the whole glass, just along the top of the glass). There is no need to unzip the glass prior to lowering it. It all goes down together.

[anlauto]

There is a zipper with the glass window (but not around the whole glass, just along the top of the glass). There is no need to unzip the glass prior to lowering it. It all goes down together.

Thanks for saving me typing time 

[js27]

I have never unzipped mine and it has been up and down a lot in the last 19 years.
JS27

[cudaize]

If everything is adjusted correct the rear window does not need to be unzipped to prevent breakage.  What I've found is that by unzipping it before folding the top you virtually eliminate the crease that is evident on flap of material above the rear window as seen on orange challenger in the post above.  With the window zipped up it causes this flap to fold back the opposite way as it lays on the car.  With the window zipped out the flap can lay in a little more natural way.

After I had the top put on my challenger I ran the top almost all the way down without the well liner both with the window zipped in and zipped out and could see there was much less stress on this top flap with the window unzipped.

This top has probably been folded down 50 or more times, sometimes for a couple weeks at a shot, over the last 12 years every time the window was unzipped.

Mike Afflerbach

[Cuda_mark]

So, is that the only point in having the zipper? To save the top from creasing? Or was it an assembly line time saver?

[CudamanTom]

I think it's more of having the option to have the top up but rear window down for air circulation. Especially with the side windows down.
But that's just me.
To me, it's just not worth climbing back there to unzip and zip back up.