What kind of soft top is this?

Here's some pictures of the soft top that came with my Jeep. I have the bows and some rods that look like some structure for the doors to latch on to. I also have 2 sets of doors. It's in pretty good condition with a few holes and some broken snaps. The windows are all intact but will need a good rehab. I haven't tried to fit it as it's been too cold and I didn't want to crack the windows. but it does appear to fit. Is this a fabled Whitco? I found no markings and about the only distinctive thing I can see is the rear window shape. So what do I have? Is is any good?

 

Looks like a Whitco to me. Mine has the exact same tag above the door. The black door handles and the bow mounts on the tub also look like Whitco parts.

 

Also looks identical to my 1990-vintage Bestop replace-a-top. Is there any stamping in the corner of the windows? Pretty sure mine says Bestop and has a date code stamped in the window plastic. If it's Bestop I'm sure it was designed to use the factory bows and hardware.

 

No, there isn't any marking on the windows other than this. Note the fine condition of the window.

Whitco appears to be out of business, when did they go out?

 

Identical to the covering mfg. verbage stamp that came "ORIGINAL" on my 70's AMC CJ5's top Upon delivery.... as found in original Whitco manufacture in very large cardboard box that Dealer had edgewise on floorboard, etc.​

I instructed the Dealer to ensure my 70's CJ was totally Spartan on delivery and they followed my request to the very letter.... including not installing the top! LOL was fine with me, spent the rest of the morning drilling holes for the snaps of Whitco original top.

Now have the Bestop with watertite rail secuity in-place of the snaps. And envy the condition of the windows of your top... they are in As-New condition! :AMC:

Gunner
12/10/2012
Yes Sir, agree totally. I still remember standing outside with my best friend.. both of us on either side of my old CJ5 drilling holes as we fitted the male snaps and arranged the rest of the female snap for drilling. About two six packs took care of the perimeter as we remember it. My Whitco is on the third set of window having been sewn in replacement. As far as a replacement top... I like to think the Tiger Top has the closest mark for resembling the original Whitco coverage and the bows my 72' has in place.
Although the Whitco skin has been faithful for many years, my friend has a replacement due... Gunner.
Follow-Up: Although my 72' CJ top's Seamstress does not agree and states the original
top can withstand another few window installs? Time will tell this CJ Whitco's Lifespan Tale?

 

Gunner, as I recall, even the Jeeps with soft tops from the factory came with the top strapped to the Jeep and not assembled/erected. Too much hazard of damage in transit.

The dealership where I worked never ordered a Jeep with a top. The choice of top was up to the customer at time of sale. The tops you got through the Jeep dealer parts network were exactly the same as those delivered with Jeeps.

The dealership mechanics also did a better job than the factory installing the tops, esp. with the hard tops. The factory was quite sloppy wrt fit.

 

Survey say's.....A Whitco.

I'd say that's what it is now too. Good info from all but Gunner's post seem to nail it. And, I got a batch of what I thought was just receipts for 10 year old oil changes but I found a Jeep/Whitco How To sheet in that stuff. Thought it was just junk and was about to throw it out. I can scan this one page sheet if anyone wants it.

Well that's cool, it looks like I have the original top and it goes with the original spare tire.

 

Did you know that Whitco was located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I beleive they went out of business in the 1980's. The building they were in on Northpark Drive is still there.

 

I often drove a brand new '74 back then and those doors and door handles look just like what i remember. do those doors also fold in half and slide into a pouch? ( it took me a while but i finally bought my own jeep!)

 

If that Whitco 'how to sheet" incliudes installation instructions I could use a copy. I've got a Whitco top but no info on installing it. I did it on a Jeep 30 years ago but somehow cant remember the details!

 

Looks like mine but I am missing the parts that the bows mount to behind the doors. Would you be willing to measure them and or take a close up photo? I need to make something for mine.

 

Skippy, Yeah sure I can take a picture and measure the attachment point for the bows tomorrow. It isn't much and you should be able to fab it easily.

Gunner - I guess I should look at the forum a little more often hence my cryptic reply. I thought my thread died a long time ago and here it is helping someone.

 

You know, I think I'd like to have one of these rare Whitco tops for my 74 CJ, why I'd even trade the two Bestop Supertops I have for one. What does a regular guy need to do nowadays to get his hands on one??

 

OK 74 CJ5 Here's the pictures and some measurements you requested.

The bracket is just some 14? gauge steel bent into a U to support the bows. The bracket is about 2.75" long and the taller (front) portion is 2" high and the rear portion is about 1". The bow tubing on mine is 15/16 for both the vertical and angled rear bow. As you can see it is just bolted to the top edge of the tub right over the existing bow recess. Not much to it and should be easy to reproduce. I hope this was what you were looking for.

 

That is a big help. Thanks for taking the time. I think I can get something put together to make my top fit better with your info.

 

I see that Gunner and Jeepers1969 want to see the "Installation" instruction sheets from Whitco so I'll post them here. They're not very informative but may have use for someone. If anyone wants a better copy I can email the scanned images.