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Reggie Foote (Login rjlfoote) from IP address 69.247.82.127
Many owners of Shay's and Camelot's want to or have changed their convertible tops due wear and so forth...Many Shay resales were bought without tops.
I am at the point of wanting to purchase a new top for my 1980.
The only recent seller/vendor of Shay tops is Mac's auto Supplies www.macsautoparts.com .
Of course, most any auto top company can copy but the price quotes I've received, run the gamut from $700.00 to $1500.00 in my area.
Now, the reason for this posting.
A friend here bought a Mac's Shay replacement top but didn't personally like the small back window so in discussions with Mac's, he sent his actual Shay top to Mac's to be copied.
I contacted Mac's by both e-mail and telephone and talked to Dave Trank, Upholstery Department Manager to fill in some blanks for me.
A misconception for many, were the original Shay sales brochures which were a mish-mash of both Shay and many Model A parts..You can see the 1930/1931 large hubcaps, you can see the 5-lug rims, the cowl lamps were the 1928/1929 type and so forth....The top was a Model A top.
Now, the present....Mac's has copied a REAL SHAY top with a real Shay large plastic back window.
You now should have two choices..You can get with the Model A back window or the large plastic Shay roll-up window...This would and should be discussed with Dave when ordering over the phone (toll free: 1-800-777-0948 extension 105)...To me, this is way too important and expenditure to do by the Internet.
The aforementioned Dave Trank says a new Shay top with the large plastic back window runs $279.95 made in BLACK VINYL just like the original Shay tops...Dave recommends purchase of the top bow pads as well as the Shay never had them and they offer wear protection the Shay didn't come with..
I believe the Mac's top does not come with attached snaps - Forgot to ask as they need to be installed to match your particular Shay...I could be wrong on this one....Based on a persons' expertise, an owner can install the top him/her self but for those like me with two-left-thumbs, I need an expert....I've seen prices of professional installations mentioned here and I've had quotes of around $300.00 give or take to expertly install the Mac's top.
They do not come with snaps because no two Shays are alike and some have re-did snaps both in the back and front top to windshield for one reason or other.
Forgot to clarify that when talking to Mac's this morning...Was hoping someone reading my posting would clarify.
You are correct...Mac's does NOT furnish any SNAPS or FASTENERS with their tops.
Mac's does carry any type of snaps/fasteners for those that want to install it themselves and may be familiar or want to accept the challenge...Me, I'm a chicken...Believe they are called LIFT-THE-DOT fasteners and run $1.00 or so each.
Though not a perfect situation as far as being a direct "BOLT-ON" so to speak, to get a new top, in my case, I would use a professional installer who would furnish the necessary details.
Depending on who you may talk to at Mac's there are some possible miscommunication there as far as the fasteners...I would think any discrepancies would be ironed out when an order is placed.
I called and talked to a nice girl at Mac's a short while ago before receiving your postings and she said they don't send the snaps/fasteners but I wouldn't trust that as the "bible" seeing Ron received snaps with his top.
As the tops are custom made after an order is received, there's maybe the chance there are slight differences in what may be received???
It's good to have a consensus of postings here from you guys so differences can be seen and expressed and any inconsistencies or errors corrected.
It's also great to have a choice of the rear windows...The small window is authentic Ford Model A and the large plastic window is authentic Shay.
A main point I found out this morning, and mentioned in my earlier posting, was that a lot of trust (at Mac's) was placed in the original Shay sales brochure which Mac's has, which used various parts...That's also the reason they went with a small back window.
Also, Mac's mentioned they had a recent, in person, visit of a Shay and its owner....Seeing they are located in Lockport, N.Y. maybe a reader of this site might be the person???
Lastly, having a group of fellows and gals around the states and world reading and posting here in the Forum, help to enhance the "Shay Experience"...Though we may not always agree, eventually we can piece together the threads that bind...Sorry for the poetic!!
I asked David Trank, Upholstery Department Manager at Mac's to check out what I had written here in the Forum to make sure I didn't misrepresent what Mac's was doing or has done or to clarify anything in error or missing.
A couple points from Dave.
Just as Ron Handy mentioned, all fasteners and snaps ARE INCLUDED with the Mac's top....They do not come installed because of differences in the mating part locations on the body and the windshield so it's left up to the installer to position...As Gary Woods mentions, "There are no two Shay's the same".
Mac's has made the business decision to manufacture only the correct Shay top, for the Shay & Camelot with the large "roll-up" capable plastic back window....They are using the top patterned after a local owner sent in his original Shay top...A buyer should still have the choice of canvas/vinyl grain material and color.
Now, the only possible downside, is that the tops will all be styled like the original Shay tops and not like copies of the real Ford Model A tops...This would affect anyone wanting to have a 1929 period correct small back window...I guess if anyone wanted the small back window, Dave Trank at Mac's may be amicable???
Maybe we can get Mac's to possibly copy a Shay top BOOT as I see there are owners that don't have or want to replace????
I purchased one from MAC'S on a discount offered by December. It came with the plastic and materials to do the back window your choice, either large or small. None of the fasteners are installed, you have to hire an upholstery who works in convertible tops unless you are good on this type of work. At least in my case I did it. MAC"S offers the top specifically in their parts catalog for shay with a different part # than the one for Model A. Mine is Canvas AAA and ended up gorgeous after purchase and cost of the expert guy I ended up on $1100.00 bucks. This is because I did not installed the wood bows for the top, instead they were made out of aluminum, powder coated and insulated,then a special jacket was made to wrap around the top to the bows using fasteners to secure it together and of course the jackets were sewn to the top. On the front, he had to use screws to attach fasteners to the bow and the other part of the fastener to the top to attach top. The good think is no more staples, looks pretty, and I can remove the top from frame by un-fastening all the locks leaving the frame on the car to clean the top or whatever I need to do. Kit comes in a box, all the clear plastic needs to be cut and copied to the same size of the original. MAC's offered a discount but was never honored despite many calls.Just excuses were given to me and this put and end on further purchases to this vendor.
Reggie,
Thanks for the complete rundown ,works for me,keep up the good work.
And for those that choose to use this great informative method we have available to we Shay members and don't know how to spell their name to sign what they have to say , we have a name here in Canada for those but its not printable and I have more respect for this site .Have a great weekend
Paul in Prince Edward Island Canada
I bought a replacement top from Mac's last fall for my 1980 Shay. I chose the vinyl top and it listed no rear window. I received the top and it had a small rear window which I decided to keep. I had a local auto trim and top shop install the top and he had many problems. The top did not fit the car and a possibility is that Shays are different. Mac's made new side pieces and sent more material to rework the top. Mac's was very good at resolving the problem and it cost me an extra $100 to have the top reworked. I am happy with the end result but I would not attempt to install the top myself. Just be aware that you may have some rework problems but it is still cheaper than makeng a tpo from scratch.
Mac's Shay top kit includes the fasteners that are attached to the TOP material only..If you don't have the original Shay fasteners attached to the windshield top and the body, Mac's do sell all types of fasteners.
Mac's will only be supplying the LARGE Shay type rear plastic curtain/window. If someone wants the small window, Mac's will make a Shay top kit with a "BLANK" (no window sewn in) rear curtain...The customer can either have a local shop sew in a smaller window or he/she can install the original style metal framed glass window which is available from Mac's and other Model A suppliers.
My personal thanks to Dave Trank of Mac's for providing a reasonably priced direct replacement for our Shay's and many thanks to those Shay owners who have posted their informative comments and experiences here in the Forum.
Reggie - You've covered all segments of the top issue it seems to me. The guys at Mac's obviously are wanting to make everything in the most expeditious manner.
Is there such thing as a "sticky" for this website???
This would be great info to have in the permanently accessible archives.
Understand what you mean..I guess it would have be up to those responsible for this site as I have no input or control.
As far as what I personally try and do in any Forum, is to use "SEARCHABLE" subject matter in all of my postings so they can be looked up in the ARCHIVE with the SUBJECT "dot"...The subject here is Mac's Shay Replacement Top and an example of my own way of writing.
If something other than the near or exact subject wording isn't used in the Header/Message Title, than most searches are "fruitless" and a lot of great information from many a fine contributor falls between the proverbial cracks.
This way, for those new or familiar with the ARCHIVE, searching for certain information would be much more easy.
"If something other than the near or exact subject wording isn't used in the Header/Message Title, than most searches are "fruitless" and a lot of great information from many a fine contributor falls between the proverbial cracks."
That's me to a "T"!!!
I struggle with searches all the time, eventually finding what I need, but it's a bunch of work!
Allot of it would help if people would keep sample posting and replies. If a person needs more information then email the person. It does make a different if you search by date or match.
I agree that the posting and replies should be simple. I have had no problem in using our history to find information. If a subject matter is posted that I think I will need for the future I save it to a file on my computer.
You give very consise and informative information. This will help future Shay owners and make it easier to solve problems.
You spend a lot of time researching. Keepimng it short and sweet is not what a forum is for, we want info.
We all write and type and inform in different ways.
It's easy for Bill O'Reilly to say "Be pithy".
I believe I mentioned in postings past, that I try to cover all bases and to anticipate any questions generated by same in advance and nip it in the bud rather than having to go back and forth.
Of course, the downside may mean the occasional posting of length...It depends on the subject and the information or answer I'm trying to relate.
This is my way of writing when I use the Forum, to be most informative and unfortunately can't satisfy in all situations...I like it when someone, be it myself or others write something and posters come along and add more information, detail or comments...We all experience differently...I don't think there's a single one of us that cannot benefit from being cohesive...We are so lucky to have a site and Forum visited by so many.
My recent postings on Mac's Shay Replacement Tops is a more complicated subject requiring more detail to explain...My intent was, firstly, to get it across that Mac's have updated and now makes a more exact, reasonably priced, replica of our replica's top and some rationale behind the recent pattern changes and options not previously available...I personally will be ordering one soon.
And the beauty of this site is that if you don't like the comments or suggestions you can simpley delete or move on OR even better-
ad your comments to the file and assist those that have a genuine interest in advancing the knowledge of our Shays.
As always, thanks to Reggie for being the consumate researcher! And, while I've bought stuff from Mac's and will probably continue to do so, buying a top for my "no 2 Shays are alike" SD was kinda spooky, so I opted for a local upholsterer who is, for $650 out the door, going to replace my top (which never did fit right) with a canvas one with the rear window the same size, but with slightly radiused corners. When complete I'll post a picture if anyone is interested.
Please keep in mind, I live in San Diego and there is a pretty fiercely competitive upholstery/bodywork industry here due to Mexico being so near, so while we're getting reamed with gas prices, some things turn out to be (relative) bargains!
take care/Chris
We bought Mac's vinyl top to install on the Shay we just sold, we specified we needed snaps and they came in a bag. We sent the top with the car as we never had time to install.
Reggie thanks for the info you are a treasure for this club.
I'm but one of many Shay & Camelot contributors that try and help others whenever possible based on the limited experiences of my particular 3 year "guardianship" of a Cream color 1980 Shay...I am lucky to say that yours truly's ownership hasn't had many of the trials and tribulations that some have had, at least up to the here and now.
There's a lot of knowledge available to anyone that participates in this site and no one person has it all...Just see how many times one question can generate several diversified responses.
Experiences are just that when it comes to any aspect of Shay ownership....There are the tried and true "Olde Timers" that may have had their rides since new or for a time longer than many of us and still continue their participation.
One of the best parts of this site, let alone the participation from around the globe, is the ARCHIVE where all those years of busted knuckles, chrome add-ons, axle grease, steering wheels, and hubcaps are the subjects documented and waiting for someone new to discover.
To those of us that started our Forum participation slowly and built up some forms of knowledge or experiences, we just want to share with the new owners who join the site and run into something that one or more of us skinned a knuckle in the pursuit of making our particular ride "different".
With a continual turnover of ownerships visible on sites like eBay and others, and the growing list of owners documented here by those at the head of the table, we've pooled our written words here for those joining the "Shay Experience".
Thankfully we are lucky to have companies like Mac's who actually have a Shay Top if we need, and the many Model A suppliers like Snyder's, Smith & Jones, Mac's, Bratton's, Coker Tire, Vintique and a multitude of others like Rock Auto that provide those Ford sometime easy and sometimes hard to install parts.
Stepping off my "soap-box" to go to the garage and polish my pride and joy right after I finish off that mushroom and sausage pizza and the diet Coke.
