1964-67(8?)Mustang Convertible Removable Hardtop (Towne Top) Super Rare Dealer Option
I have located one of the original auxilliary removable hardtops for eary Mustangs which were sold through Ford dealerships back in the day. These were supposedly marketed/made for 1964-1967 (not sure why it wouldn't work on a 68, however) convt's. The Mustang Monthly article on "Towne Tops" claims there are only three in existance. Well, maybe this makes the 4th. Very nice condition; has been in storage for years and years. Needs only minor work before it would be ready for installation (few pieces of weatherstripping). I have heard rumors and discussions about these over the past 20 years, but have never personally owned/viewed one in person. I have always known they are extremely rare, but no one seems to know how to properly price them/what one could be worth. I will have pics soon. I am unsure where this item will be priced, if you have serious interest, PM me/let me know. It's not likely going to be cheap based off what I am being told.
Here's the article from MM from 2008 talking about this piece:
2000 Cobra R Mustang, #46 of 300 produced, Full Bassani exhaust
1966 Mustang GT Convertible, early Shelby serial numbered SN-60 Paxton supercharged, signed by Carroll, World Class T5, Rack & Pinion, multiple magazine features
2008 Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin 4.6 3V, Six Speed
My recollection is that this was a very short-lived option for the 64 1/2 to 66 Mustangs. The body style changed for 67, and I don't believe the top would fit the redesign.
I have one. Mine's the supposedly even rarer Crown Towne Top. They were a dealer option back in the day, not a factory piece. Pretty cool look, the roofline is a bit like a chopped coupe. I stripped it down and made a set of molds from it, made a couple of repros back in the early '90s. The original has a wood frame set in a glass shell, my repros had a one-piece inner glass frame which made them much lighter & stiffer.
I'm sure there are more than three in existence, because I've seen more than three. Pretty rare, and really heavy. Like a Corvette top, it requires strong arms or a ceiling hoist to remove.
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Amateur restorer. (Well, once in a while I have been paid for it)
I don't know that it's that heavy, I've had the original on and off the car by myself more than a few times, no ceiling hoist. From experience, I can say that it's much lighter than an early T-bird top.
I also know of 1 in Charlotte. It's like the Roadster Covers- neat, "Gee Whiz" and fun to show.
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64 9/10 Convertible- 371,000 miles & counting (2nd owner)
65 GT Convertible
65 K GT Fastback- 59,000 original miles
69 GT Convertible- 73,000 miles
08 Coupe
200 F-250 Lariat, 2010 F-250 King Ranch
I remember seeing one of these on a car parked in a front yard in James Island SC back in the early '80's when I was working as a repo man for one of the TV rental shops. Thought it was something home made at the time.
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1995 GT convertible - Laser Red
1995 GT convertible - Black (Son's ride)
1966 GT Fastback under restoration- Code T Red
with White LeMans stripes.
I've still got the molds hanging around- I wouldn't be interested in building a complete top, but I'd probably dust it off and sell a bare top for you to trim out with your own weatherstrip, headliner, vinyl top, etc., etc.
2000 Cobra R Mustang, #46 of 300 produced, Full Bassani exhaust
1966 Mustang GT Convertible, early Shelby serial numbered SN-60 Paxton supercharged, signed by Carroll, World Class T5, Rack & Pinion, multiple magazine features
2008 Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin 4.6 3V, Six Speed
My recollection is that this was a very short-lived option for the 64 1/2 to 66 Mustangs. The body style changed for 67, and I don't believe the top would fit the redesign.
'67-68 were identical to the '65-66 from the beltline up. My guess is that it had something to do with the '68 going from snaps to attach the boot cover to plastic tabs that slipped under the moulding.
I've still got the molds hanging around- I wouldn't be interested in building a complete top, but I'd probably dust it off and sell a bare top for you to trim out with your own weatherstrip, headliner, vinyl top, etc., etc.
The shipping would probably kill me. But when you get a chance please p/m me I'd be curious to know how much and basically what you typically suggest for finishing as far as what I would need for a back window and such. I'm basically kicking some tires.
Blown v8 I'll shoot you an email as well, Thanks guys.
As I said I am effectively kicking tires but I might be interested in more than one top.Thanks again
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