Average cost to redo a '73 Convertible top

[ghhatley]

I'm redoing the top on my '73 and spoke to the upholstery shop and found the price just for the labor  to be a bit high, $1200. Does this seem high, low, or average? I believe the tops are the same from 71-76 so please feel free to chime in if you have other years then '73.

[76eldo]

If you are getting a new top, back window, and pads, and a new well liner for $1200 that's too cheap.

If it's a Robbins or Electron top and the shop actually knows how to actually do it right that's a bargain.

If you get a cheap top it just won't last very long.

Brian

[Scot Minesinger]

The GM scissor tops from 1971 thru 76 are the convertible top shops most difficult challenge.  This is because the top frame mechanism is usually flawed and often the owner comes back after the installation of a new top and what was a mechanism problem is blamed on the top being changed and additional human resources are invested by top shop.  They may have anticipated this.  BTW convertible top shops also recommend to go with a plastic back window, as the glass ones frequently break due to a mal-adjustment. 

[TJ Hopland]

10-15 years ago I remember $1500 being a common price for the complete job.  Its not hard to spend $1000 on just parts these days and most shops are going to be at least $100 per hour and its going to be at least a days job so another $1000 there can happen pretty easily.     

I think I paid $2000 for a poor job on a Fox body Mustang about 4 years ago.  I had my Eldo done maybe 3 years ago and I think the final tally was just over $3000.  That was not a super premium top or defroster.   I don't remember the details but there was some well related parts I didn't need because they said the current production ones are not very good so they only replace them when they have to.   That did include clean, repair, and paint of the mechanism and a clean and lube of the gearboxes.   

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I would have thought that $1200.00 for the labour content wasn't that bad a price.

But, I would be having the shop also supply the top and related parts as well, unless you already have them.

When I finally have to get my own top replaced, I will be obtaining the best parts, including the well, and the drain, and giving them to the fitter.   Don't forget to replace the headliner as well.

Bruce.

[ghhatley]

$1200 to just do the labor on the top.
Guy has done alot of work for me in the past and specializes in these scissor tops so I think its work it.