Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available?

Posted By: MONC

Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/15/08 12:53 AM

Is this material available or being faithfully reproduced?
I saw a Cuda with this top on it in the past (but not correct for the car).

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/15/08 04:17 AM

Quote:

Is this material available or being faithfully reproduced?
I saw a Cuda with this top on it in the past (but not correct for the car).

Legendary just came out with a repro of it. (Edit-Gator Grain)

A club member said he got the first one. Long ago he got a NOS material sample from Legendary but they didn't have enough to do a whole top.

So he had the old NOS example next to the new repro and he said it was dead on. -Just passing on what he said.

Posted By: Kirby

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/15/08 02:13 PM

I have what is thought to be the last NOS Gator grain top for a E-body. I had Legendary send me a sample of their repop material. It is VERY close- but not sure if I'd say dead on. Probably as close as you could get though.

Posted By: KISSAlien

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/15/08 05:03 PM

He's talking about tortoise grain, not gator grain. I don't think you'll see anyone repop it because it was used on C-bodies and the demand isn't there.

Too bad that guy ended up putting the top on that Gran Coupe. It told him several times it was the wrong material and offered to buy the top off of him, but he insisted it was correct and finally had it put on the car.

Posted By: KISSAlien

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/15/08 05:04 PM

closeup

Posted By: MONC

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/16/08 12:03 AM

Quote:

He's talking about tortoise grain, the gator grain. I don't think you'll see anyone repop it because it was used on C-bodies and the demand isn't there.

Too bad that guy ended up putting the top on that Gran Coupe. It told him several times it was the wrong material and offered to buy the top off of him, but he insisted it was correct and finally had it put on the car.

Right Ken, I mean the tortoise grain that was put incorrectly on the Cuda.
At least you made an effort to get him not to put it on. Too bad he couldn't wait until the Legendary repros.

Ken, FYI the car I saw coded with it was an E- body not a C body

Posted By: MONC

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/16/08 12:08 AM

Quote:

I have what is thought to be the last NOS Gator grain top for a E-body. I had Legendary send me a sample of their repop material. It is VERY close- but not sure if I'd say dead on. Probably as close as you could get though.

Here is the Legendary repro Gator Grain top:
(click on attachment for a more detail view)

Attached picture 4553599-GG1.jpg

Posted By: Quikshft

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/16/08 03:27 AM

That material shown in the picture appears to be simply plain black with no trace of mottling or brown, is this accurate?

Posted By: Finoke

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/16/08 10:44 AM

Quote:

That material shown in the picture appears to be simply plain black with no trace of mottling or brown, is this accurate?

There was an E body gator grain top on display at Carlisle, as well as larger samples (thank goodness, the mailed samples are too small).

Definitely has brown in it. I would say, not so much a mottling effect, but a dark brown hue throughout the entire top.

Posted By: MONC

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/16/08 12:32 PM

Quote:

That material shown in the picture appears to be simply plain black with no trace of mottling or brown, is this accurate?

You're right it is hard to tell from that pic, but it definitely has the mottled brown effect when seen in person.

I'll try to get better pics this weekend.

Posted By: MONC

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/19/08 05:08 PM

Here's a pic of an NOS Gator Grain Top. Still looks very dark. You will only see the mottled brown appearance in person I think:

Attached picture 4561612-NOSVIG.jpg

Posted By: Quikshft

Re: Is the Tortoise Grain Top material available? - 07/19/08 10:48 PM

I have an NOS top for my car, depending on the light it is difficult to see the brown but here is one where it is evident;

Attached picture 4562069-GatorTop2.JPG