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| Hardtop Cart & Cover | Hardtop Hoists | Where to find Hardtops | Leaks | The Facts The hardtop is the same for all years of this model so is interchangeable with any year, 2002-2005. The lining color is lighter on the 2002s than the later years. The 05 cashmere top lining is also different than the lining of any of the other models. Any year hardtop will fit on any year T-bird whether it came with a hardtop originally or not. Adjustments can be made at the header to make a better fit for each individual car Hard top weighs in at about 84# All hardtops come with a porthole on each side of the top. The Neiman Marcus edition is the only hardtop with an etched logo (Thunderbird) in the porthole glass. All other hardtop portholes are "plain". Owners have customized their porthole glass with etchings or stickers. Judging from a TSB that came out on the early 04 models, there might be a slight difference on the interior of some 2004 hardtops as some have been known to scrape the softtop when in place on the car. This'll have to be researched some more ie - I'll need to make photo comparisons someday. Just about all of the body colors have been available with the same color hardtop. The only exceptions have been the Special Editions for 2002 to 2004. The Evening Black Neiman Marcus came with a Satin Silver hardtop, the Coral 007 Edition came with a Performance White hardtop, and the Monterey Mist Pacific Coast Roadster came with an Ash hardtop. Most of the standard body colors have also been available with a Performance White or an Evening Black hardtop. There have been exceptions to that, too.
* For 2003 - The Performance White was not available on the Mountain Shadow Grey * For 2004 - The Performance White hardtop was not available on the Merlot, * and the Evening Black Hardtop was not available on the Light Ice Blue - the first main color that the black has not been available on. * For 2005 - The only colors that the Performance White hardtop is allowed on is the red or the black bodies and Inca Gold. * Inca Gold - white hardtop only available with the partial white interior. * The Evening Black hardtop is limited to the Red, Black, and Silver on the 05s - none of the new 05 colors. [ed note - I thought it's weird that the black is not an optional color for the gold looking bronze color - would have looked sharp especially paired with the light sand interior.]
I will be adding photos to this page -- of the hardtops, the handles,
the "shelf", the header, and the liners, and where it fastens down
to the car.
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Hard Top Liner
For most hardtop colors, the liner is either Midnight Black(02s) or Black Ink (03s-05s) The special edition Cashmere 05 hardtop comes with a Medium Stone liner to match the interior. |
Part #s for the Hardtop booklet
2002: 2W6J-19G17-AA - quick reference guide 2003:3W6J-19G217-CB - quick reference guide
2004: 4W6J-19G217-CA - quick reference guide An online version of the Hardtop booklet (quick
reference guide) is available for a FREE download
from:
Hardtop tool: 4W6Z-76502F08
2002 - long shaft with red handle 2003 - short shaft with red handle 2003 late - short shaft with plain black handle 2004- short shaft with plain black handle - early production 2004-2005 - short shaft with Thunderbird logo on black handle. |
Hard Top Cart:
2002-2003 - have straps to hold top to cart, 2004-2005 - no straps with cart - Ford made a change here. Not sure why? though have heard a few reports of straps damaging paint of tops.
http://removabletops.com carries a hardtop cart
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Hardtop Hoists or Lifts:
These are the manufacturers of the hardtop lifts you find on the market (1) http://www.eztop.com (2) http://www.topcaplift.com - to view a couple of installations go here to the photo files of the newtbirddata site >Accessory hardtop (must be yahoo member of the group to view ) (3) http://removabletops.com |
Where can you find a Hardtop for your 2002,
2003, 2004, or 2005 Thunderbird? Most common resource has been
the auction site www.ebay.com. Prices may run from $800 to $2000
depending on color and bidders for a particlar auction. Ford dealers
will ask for much more than that if they have to order one. Shipping
will add more unless you can get a hardtop relay going but don't count
on getting a relay going across the country, may be regional. Best
to look for a local hardtop you can pick up yourself if at all possible.
Also, check with Ford dealers in your area to see if they have one in storage
that is no longer wanted by it's owner. You might get a decent price
that way too.
The hardtop was a $2000 to $2500 option when originally ordered with the car, depending on year. |
Leaks? This one is a hard one to mention - If you have
tried everything - such as replacing rubber seals, adjusting windows, doors
and above all, making the screw adjustments at the header, there are a
few hardtops out there that do leak, no matter what kind of adjustments
have been done. Best suggestion is to get rid of that hardtop to
someone that doesn't need to drive theirs in the rain at any time, and
buy another hardtop --- or just go without a hardtop.
If you have bought your t-bird used, do check to see if there has been any bodywork done to the car due to an accident - that can cause the hardtop to not line up correctly with the windshield header or the windows. Most of these hardtops do not have a leaking problem. The softtops don't seem to have the problem that some hardtops have. |
I received this question on my blog:
In your site, you stated the hardtop was a $2500.00 option. How come
I keep hearing people saying the hardtop was a $5000.00 option. Which is
correct?
My answer:
To buy one from an owner that has decided they do not want the hardtop, the price generally runs between $1200 and $2000 - just remember that it's considered used and may have blemishes. Always wise to check it out in person if possible. *1-OEM = Original Equipment Manufacture |
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