A new top is three jobs, and most quotes only cover one.
The fabric, the rear window, and the frame underneath it. We look at all three before we give you a number, because the frame is what decides how long the new top lasts.
Monroe, NCServing Charlotte, Union County and the SC border townsMon–Fri 9:00–7:00 · Sat 11:00–5:00 · Sun closed
The fabric is what you see. The frame is what killed it.
Pads collapse, bows bend and the tension goes out of the frame. Once that happens the new fabric is stretched over a shape that is no longer right, so it wears through at the same corners and the rear window cracks again. Fitting a top to a tired frame is why some tops last fifteen years and some last three.
What a cheap quote leaves out
- The pads and bows are the part nobody itemises, and the part that decides whether the new top sits right.
- The rear window is often the reason the top failed first. On ours the heated glass window comes with the top.
- Trim and mouldings get cut around instead of taken off, and you can see it afterwards at every edge.
- Rust under the seals gets covered rather than dealt with. We will not put a new top over rust.
Old top off, frame sorted, new top fitted
The frame gets looked at with the old material off, which is the only point in the job where you can actually see it.
The old top comes off
- Mouldings and trim removed, not cut past
- Fasteners kept and bagged, not replaced with screws
- Tack strips and channels cleaned back
The frame comes down to bare bows
- Collapsed pads replaced
- Bent bows straightened and alignment checked
- Corrosion dealt with before anything new goes on
New top fitted and set
- Cloth, vinyl or canvas, chosen with you first
- Heated glass rear window fitted with the top
- Held and taped while it sets so it pulls up tight
The work, either side of the job
Every photograph was taken at the shop in Monroe.
After
After
After
Tops out of this shop
Real cars, photographed in the bay and on the lot at 4209 W Hwy 74, Monroe.
Nobody has ever left this shop a bad review
5.0 on Google. Every word below is copied straight off the profile.
“I had Auto Tops and Trim replace the headliner and center console leather in my 2008 Honda Accord. I was very happy with the quality of the work and would recommend using them.”
“Fantastic service. The job was done quickly, while I waited. The price was cheaper than what most people were charging here locally.”
“Mr. Hopton restored my sunroof shade back to new condition. He even allowed me to watch the process. I recommend him 100% for all of your reupholstery needs. Thank you!”
“Excellent work. We drove an hour to get our sunroof fixed and we were very happy with the service. Highly recommend!”
“Excellent service and great prices I'll take back my car all the time”
“Great auto shop”
“Good work”
People drive a long way for a top, and we know why
There are not many shops left that still cut and fit a top by hand, so this is the one job customers travel for — one of the reviews above is from someone who drove an hour. We are at 4209 W Hwy 74 in Monroe, out from Charlotte, and tops come to us from across Union and Mecklenburg County, Concord, Gastonia, and Rock Hill and Fort Mill in South Carolina.
- Shop
- 4209 W Hwy 74, Monroe, NC 28110
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 9:00–7:00 · Sat 11:00–5:00 · Sun closed
- Phone
- (980) 385-8101
Answers first
Do you do convertible tops near Charlotte?
How much does a convertible top cost?
Cloth or vinyl — which should I have?
Does the rear window come with it?
Is a ragtop the same thing as a convertible top?
Do you do Jeep soft tops?
What if there is rust under the old top?
A picture with the top up, plus the year, make and model, is usually enough to get you a number.
- Free, and itemised across fabric, window and frame
- Nobody will chase you afterwards
- We will tell you if the frame needs looking at in person
4209 W Hwy 74, Monroe, NC 28110
Mon–Fri 9:00–7:00 · Sat 11:00–5:00 · Sun closed