Customs Carson Tops and other kinds as well

I was told, Sam has passed away.

 

Brewsir is a member here, one of the original HAMBers way back when it all started. Unfortunately he hasn't been around in ages and he is missed. He is the real deal when it comes to building customs and hot rods.
The orange Merc @Rand Man posted was built by him. It took me a little time searching to find what I was looking for, but I found it. I remember following along as Brewsir turned his lowly four door sedan into a two door Carson topped beauty. Here's a link to the thread. Hope this helps everyone out. E

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/carson-top-tech-my-way-anyway.169855/

 

Thanks to everyone for the posting the pictures and contributing to this topic. Keep it up. Here`s the major issue that has to be changed when converting a sedan into a Carson styled top. The windshield header and the front of the door posts.

 

It`s 1982, Leadsled spectacular in Des Moines Iowa. I kept going back to look at Posies 36 Ford. If welding isn`t your thing. Just build it out of wood.

 

A later date, someone changed the top colors. And a different yellow 36 Ford coupster. My photo`s. notice the difference in the styles of tops.

 

Ahhh, that's to bad. I've only kept in contact with Dan Leedom, and that hasn't been very much.

 

July of 1951 Hot Rod feature. I `ve had this laying out for a couple months to scan. Portland Top Company ? And Gaylords did the interior ?

 

That and reinforcing the body structure so it doesn't fold up like a taco.

 

The differe nce between a coupe body and a convertible body.

 

Thanks, I’m aware of the engineering involved in converting a a sedan into convertible. I’ll be lucky to get my car on the road. I won’t be cutting it up any time soon. If I ever do, the new top will as structurally sound as the old one or better.

 

I stand corrected ! BTW, Portland Top Company is where Tom Medley worked, before moving to LA, and becoming "Stroker McGurk".

 

You never can trust what is written. You can never trust what someone thinks is known either. Research is the only way to find the real answers. The subject on who did the top is waying to Portland Top Company, Maybe you can find out which is true. Do you have any other info Portland Top Company. Was thinkin Medley`s wife was from Omaha Nebraska. 50 miles from where I`m from.

 

Tom Medley grew up in Lebanon, Oregon, about 70 miles south of Portland. There is a great video about Tom's life story, with some interviews as well, It's called "Stroker". Yes, Tom's wife was from Omaha, he met her while in the service. I will try to call my old friend, Al Drake, he will know all about the Portland Top Company. BTW, you must be in Red Oak, Iowa, my folks were from Clarinda.

 

Here’s one like I was talking about. Doesn’t look too bad.

 

Do you need any parts, there one is in U - Pull - It in Omaha, it`s a 51 Lincoln 4-dr. Power seats and power windows. The front clip is gone.

 

I would have wanted the door trim, but I came up with a different plan. I am looking for a good deal on fender skirts.

 

@Marty Strode I was working on a project for a guy in Clarinda when you posted that. It`s amazing what Albert Drake has retained in his memory banks. Love reading his articles and books. He wrote about this Roadster as well.

 

That article must be about Duck Collins, he was a friend, and a metal Genius. I need to call Al and catch up, haven't seen him for a year and a half.

 

Here`s a 40 Merc 2-dr sedan that was turned into a 4-dr convertible. Finished working on a customers stock 40 Merc 4-dr convertible a couple months ago.

 

@Marty Strode

 

From Hot Rod October of 53. It gives a good overhead pic.

 

My tub Carson done by me and covered by North Hollywood Upholstery about 5 years ago?

 

Ray Vega's tub with a Carson Top Shop top.

 

My '40 started out as a Standard coupe:

Don Dillard built it into a phantom convertible with postwar-style quarter windows added to reduce the Conestoga wagon look of the stock '40 convert:


Don built the top structure in sheet aluminum to save weight. It was patterned on the contours of a '42 Ford convertible top. The covering was made and fitted by Sid Chavers; I believe the material was German as used on Porsche.

 

Old photo of my roadster and top before I went to 16" wheels. I made a metal frame, skinned in aluminium, covered in 4mm closed cell foam and trimmed in Haartz material, also has Rolls Royce wool type headliner inside.

 

Very true. I bought the windshield, windows and regulators from a '51 Victoria to use for my '40, but in the end we only used the regulators, windwings, and part of the A-pillars to make an authentic looking convertible windshield. Everything else was fabricated from scratch.

 

I pulled a set of wing windows out of a bug convertible. Was gonna use it for my current project, but it has suicide doors. So no wing windows.

 

H ere we go. It took me a while to find this article Enjoy !