Convertible Top Fade

[240nSD]

I just bought a 93 240SX SE Limited Edition Convertible. The car has 130,000 miles on it and overall it's in very good condition except for some wrinkles in the body that need some straightening. The paint isn't faded and the CarFax search showed that I'm now the 6th owner of this car. It's never been in an accident.

I was concerned about the number of ownership changes but I can't find any big problem with the car that would cause someone to sell it. The guy who sold it to me had bought it for his daughter in college but decided to get her another car later.

While I've never owned a convertible, I'm looking for a solution to the one obvious cosmetic problem that's on this car. The top is faded along the convertible frame supports. The top seems to be in good shape otherwise and the previous owner just replaced the back window.

What I'm wondering is if there is some way to have the top dyed or dressed so that the fade spots will disappear. Has anyone found a solution short of replacing the top for the fade problem?

I found this when I was searching on the web. Has anyone ever tried this? Do you think it would work?

Buy a can of black acrylic (water-based) paint. About one liter should do the trick. Thin it down by two thirds with clean water. - 1 L paint = 3L dilution.

Use a soft sponge and dab the entire top. (don't use a brush, it'll leave streaks) Do this twice to let the solution soak in well. Note - If your top is very bad, try a stronger solution 1L = 2L.

Your top should be fine for the next 2 years or so.
Modified by 240nSD at 3:55 PM 8/13/2006

[240nSD]

I did some more searching and found some very useful information the Alfa Romeo Spider Forum. You may find it as useful as I did.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forum...=4300

[GoinTopless240]

Hey 240nSD,Good site. Not quite sure about how well diluted paint will work on restoring color and still allowing the top to breath right, but ya never know. Although the guys on here have a few places to get replacement tops for next to nothing. Look on the marketplace ads or the search button. The site you posted has some good cleaning products...Good Find.

[240nSD]

I'm trying to avoid replacing the top right now because I want to focus my money on other parts of the car. The softop is in good shape, it just has color fade.

I found a solution for this problem IF it's a cloth top. There is a company called Renovo and they make the clear, restorer and repellant. It will cover up the fade but only if it's a cloth top!!

I called the company and according to him, the original tops on the 240SX were cloth tops, not vinyl tops, like most Japanese convertibles. If it's a vinyl infused top I'm out of luck, but it doesn't look to me like it has vinyl in it.

Does anyone know if all of these cars have cloth tops?

If you're interested in finding out more about Renovo, here is the link - http://www.renovousa.com. The guys in the Alfa forum gave them high marks for a good product.