328 GTS top restoration

Do you mean the outside face of the targa top?

It's vinyl, and I use Griot's vinyl dressing on mine. But it was just bit dull when I got the car, not damaged. The spoiler on mine stays black with minimal attention - just wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

Don't take it the wrong way, but why would you put leather on the roof?

 

Actually, the targa top and the spoiler are fiberglass, and simply have a leather-like pattern imprinted on them. There's no leather or vinyl involved at all. Mother's Back to Black helps the stock items quite a bit.

You've have the targa and spoiler leather-covered? Care to post some pictures?

 

Good to know. My top has a tiny nick on the forward edge, and it looks like there is some sort of tan material beneath the black. So I assumed two layers of material.

 

Their responses were understandable since it sounded like you re-uphostered it in leather.

When mine was fading I had it painted, and am glad I did. Even the Griots stain I found didn't last. And other products run off in the rain (and onto your windows).

So I would go ahead and have it painted. And if you have a non-black car like red, consider painting it red, it looks great!

 

I have not had much luck with dressings on my top.
What worked well for me was a product called "Gel Gloss" and it is for fiberglass & acyrylic tubs, showers etc. It is a very fine polishing compound. The boat industry also has some polish products.
The targa top & spoiler looks like leather, but is really fiberglass so it should be treated with a product designed to enhance fiberglass gel coat.

 

Here's a good link regarding painting them to match the car, looks great I think and if your needing to repaint otherwise....

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142253

Do a search for other examples of this, I know Tillman's car is like this. Also can remove some of the side louvers to create a GTB like 328. I guess it depends on if you want to keep it stock or not as you can't change back to original once its done and the replacements are very difficult to find and $$$$$. Good luck!

Jeff

 

Interesting...I've never heard that one before.
Did it bring back the black much? Or did it just keep what you had better.

How long does it last is of course the other "obligatory" question.

 

My top had a white haze on it and the "Gel-gloss" worked great. It seemed to be a fine rubbing compound that removed (verses wax over) the oxidization. The gel coat is thick so you don't really have to worry about rubbing thru it. The more I applied it the rag would continue to turn black, but after a few applications, I left well enogh alone. When it was all wipped-off it looked great.

Mark

 

Why would you put vinyl?

 

That sounds awesome Mark, you should post a similar summary in the "So you've bought a 308/328......" thread. If you decide not to, please forgive me for doing it then.

 

Wes:
Where is that "So you've bought a 308/328..." theread?

Thanks,
Mark

 

It's a sticky at the top of the Model Specific section, under 308/328/Mondial.

Thanks!
Wes

 

Yes, it did. They can keep this pattern if you want by just not being too aggressive with their sanding. Or as some others did, you can have it sanded smooth. I didn't because with the handling of it I'm sure it will be more scratched than the rest of the car, and with mine being black, that's tough to hide without the pattern.

The only difficulty I had was this: They used the same paint as on the rest of my car, and somehow it came out really really glossy, so it didn't match too good. So they may have to use some "intuition" and add something to the paint to take the gloss down a bit. I wish I could be more specific, but they worked this out at the shop.

Hope that helps!
Wes