Ordering a spare top

[2birdblue]

I have had lousy luck trying to order an extra top for my bird. I have Part numbers, but dealer is telling me the top is not available. I want to order an extra Performance White to go on the Blue Bird (got the blue one with the original order). Has anyone had any success ordering a top?

[RTBRD]

It is my understanding that when you order a new top it is not assembled. You have to order the various pieces and have it assembled. Anyone, correct me if I am wrong.

[thenewtbird2]

Can't correct you on that one.

I've seen only one come up on ebay and it went for app. 1500 - a real bargain for the buyer plus it was a one-of-a-kind - red and painted with a Thunderbird design by Diane von Furstenburg.

[PaulH]

The top is currently only available in pieces and the total is near $5000. If everyone makes a request for one, Ford should make the top available as an accessory. However, the cost is the main factor. The top is worth $3,000. Will Ford offer it for that or will they mark it up? Wait and see.

Paul H.

[57 bluebird]

I had posted a reply on another string, not that you had to assemble the top but be careful how you order it. Make sure it is a complete top. A friend of mine ordered one and all that came was the shell. No windows, trim or headliner. He should have relized something was not right when they told him it was only around $600.

------------------
2002 Black/Black/Full Red
1957 Starmist Blue

[TbirdTim]

I spoke with someone here in Atlanta last week that found out about our "Thunderbird Group" here. I referred him to this website, so he may be out there watching, but he told me that he originally ordered a red/red Thunderbird and then changed his mind and ordered a white/white one. When the car arrived here in Atlanta, it came as a white car with a red hardtop!!! Yes, it had a red top!

He sent the hardtop back to Ford (I know several here on this forum that would probably have loved to have had it!) and Ford sent him back a white hardtop, but it was only the shell, with no headliner/ glass, etc.

He is now having quite an ordeal getting a complete white hardtop for his Thunderbird.

[thenewtbird2]

that's the first instance we've heard of Ford supplying a car with a top varying from the "standard" color combos available. Wonder if there are more out there with odd color tops?? quite possible if they've done it for one.

[RTBRD]

I have one other white with red top and a black with a blue top listed.

[TbirdTim]

I wonder what the assembly workers are thinking when they put together those odd color combinations???

[thenewtbird2]

Originally posted by RTBRD:
... and a black with a blue top listed.

did they get a blue accent interior?? or a black?

Originally posted by RTBRD:
I have one other white with red top .

did they get the red interior?

[2birdblue]

I can understand why an earlier order for a top was only the shell - Engineering had not released the part numbers for a complete top. I have all the part numbers for all the pices if you were to order that way. But, I got the new Part numbers for an assembled top from Derek DeBono @ Ford - Ass't Brand Manager to M.D'Armi.
The assembled tops are 1W6Z-76500S26-xxx. The suffix is different for the different colors:
AAA is Ceramic White, AAB is Yellow, etc. Have them all if anyone needs them. The Performance White top is 2W6Z-76500S26-AAA.
My local dealer is a little guy but he says the system is showing no prices and no availability- which D'Bobo says has been fixed. Any larger dealers out there with some clout in Parts??? http://www.fordthunderbirdforum.com/ubb/frown.gif
The price for the top should be about the difference between a "plain convertible" and the deluxe T-bird - about $1500.00. I'm sure Ford has had to supply tops for accident issues - and they had a bunch of tops of different colors when the tour was going on last summer. Would appreciate any help from someone with contact inside???

[rlstonejr]

black w/ blue top and accent would be very similar to the neimans. ok, I'm color blind and TO ME they would look similar. anyway, I don't think it would look bad.

------------------
neiman vin#00035
delivered October 4, 2001

[RTBRD]

Red/White is full red interior, Black/Blue is black accent.

[thenewtbird2]

Originally posted by RTBRD:
Red/White is full red interior, Black/Blue is black accent.

I think you meant white/red?? in keeping with the standard we've set on this forum.

Those are going to be really rare cars - hope the owners keep their paper work to prove the color combos.

[TbirdTim]

I agree, those color mishaps will be the more valuable Thunderbird's for collectors in the future!

[thenewtbird2]

Originally posted by 2birdblue:
...The assembled tops are 1W6Z-76500S26-xxx. The suffix is different for the different colors: AAA is Ceramic White, AAB is Yellow, etc. Have them all if anyone needs them. The Performance White top is 2W6Z-76500S26-AAA.


Thanks for that info. You have supplied us with something we haven't been able to find in the past. Would appreciate the other suffixes for the other colors and will keep them posted on my accessories page.


------------------
Dot, blu/wht/full blu #18/26 - VIN# countdown = 19005! build day May 20 = the New T-bird (http://www.geocities.com/***********)

[RedBirdDlx]

"The assembled tops are 1W6Z-76500S26-xxx. The suffix is different for the different colors: AAA is Ceramic White, AAB is Yellow, etc. Have them all if anyone needs them. The Performance White top is 2W6Z-76500S26-AAA."
Those are the "Engineering" numbers used to identify the complete top assembly at the plant. They are not "Service" part numbers and as far as we know, no "Service" part numbers have been assigned to the complete top assembly.
Ford has not been able to get enough top assemblies to meet demand for production - thus the requirement that dealers order at least 15% without tops. If someone had a ligit need, like an accident that was verifiable by a zone manager, etc. they could pull a top from the production line and send it out to a dealer. Unfortunately, some other dealer will not get a hardtop on a unit because that one is gone.
If they were able to get additional tops, I would expect the price to be in the $4,000 - $5,000 range ----$2.500 for the option, $800 crate and handling/shipping plus Parts Division and dealer mark-up - ???

[2birdblue]

Have confirmed the part numbers from Ford for the Assembled Hardtop:
1W6Z-76500S26-AAA Ceramic White
1W6Z-76500S26-AAB Inspiration Yellow
1W6Z-76500S26-AAC Thuderbird Blue
1W6Z-76500S26-AAD Colorado Red
1W6Z-76500S26-AAE Satin Silver
1W6Z-76500S26-AAF Ebony (Black)
1W6Z-76500S26-AAG Performance White

I have ordered my extra Perfromance White top to add to the Blue car.

These part numbers are released for only the 2002 Birds since the 2003's will come in different colors and possible different color interiors.
The tops will be shipped "with the inner header panel loose in the package. The instruction sheet will show the correct proceedure .... to torgue down the header bracket bolts and install the header panel" Quoted from the e-mail on the Ford DOES system to the dealer.

The e-mail also confirmed the part number of the "Mylar Tape Kit" "to prtect the paint when the hardtop is installed" P/N 1W6276202W30-AA

The assembly was released to the system to order on June 7th.

[yellowwing1]

This is how my dealer got an odd color combination. Buyer ordered black/black then changed his order to blue/blue.(so he thought) Salesman forgot to change the hard top color!!! Came in Blue/black, buyer said no, but it was bought very quickly...

[thenewtbird2]

Thanks, 2birdblue,
you have done some excellent research for us.

[kenrhack]

Can someone briefly explain the difference between "ceramic white" and performance white" for the Hard-Tops?


------------------
T'BIRD RUNNER

[Gobird]

I'm not sure which is which but I think one is used only with the white bottom and the other is used with the colored cars. Don't know why they had to have two differant shades of white. http://www.fordthunderbirdforum.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

------------------
02 T-Bird 9293
69 Vette
73 MGB
97 F-150 4x4
2-Seadoo Jet Skies
Live Long and Prosper!

[RTBRD]

Actually I think that performance and ceramic are the same, the white cars are "Whisper White".

The performance white top is the one available for all colors other than "Whisper White". Ceramic white is the color for a replacement top (I think). It is somewhat confusing.

[thenewtbird2]

Originally posted by RTBRD:
Actually I think that performance and ceramic are the same, the white cars are "Whisper White".

The performance white top is the one available for all colors other than "Whisper White". Ceramic white is the color for a replacement top (I think). It is somewhat confusing.

I think what you said should be corrected - the Ceramic White appears to be the Whisper White color - the Performance White top is named in his list with its own code.

This is a case of the manufacturer using different names for the same color which confuses the heck out of us. Since the code for the performance white top is labeled "performance white" that leads one to the conclusion that the whisper white and the ceramic white must be the same. The "performance white" is not used at the Wixom factory for the production cars since the tops are painted at the top factory.

I've looked at other lists of the paint codes and have come to the conclusion that Whisper White and Ceramic White are the same colors.

the dealer order code on our Performance White top was R2 but don't think that translates to a paint color code if you're trying to buy paint for it.



------------------
the New T-bird (http://www.geocities.com/***********)

[clebus]

How much is a new complete hardtop from ford?

[RedBirdDlx]

My contact says the complete top assembly is not priced yet.

Perhaps 2birdblue can share with us what he is paying for it, assuming his order went through.

[2birdblue]

Redbird-Yes, order did go through, Just got back from a business trip. Will post the price after I talk w/dealer tomorrow.

Regarding the Performance/Ceramic/Whisper white issue: Ceramic White is the color given to the white top that goes with the Whisper White car. Performance White is the color given to the top when ordered separately or in combination with the non-white cars. Performance White is not the same actual color as the Ceramic/Whisper white - it is a slightly brighter white - hence the different part number.It is difficult to see the difference unless you park an all white car next to a blue one with the Performance White top. We did the comparison when the cars were on the road show last summer in Newport RI. We also did a bunch of top swaps during a recent car meet.

[2birdblue]

Well folks, wait 'till you see this info.


The suggested retail price for an assembled top through the Parts Department of your local friendly dealer (?) is $4,620.00. The price was just released and it should (?????) include freight to the dealer. I understand that the tops are not being released for shipment until the Ford supplier has determined the best way to ship them.

This is quite a price shock when the actual difference in price of the standard convertible with the deluxe model (which includes the hardtop) is about $1,500.00, I believe.

My dealer is making a concession on the price and I won't have a final price until the shipping item is resolved. But, I think there is a lot of room for negotiation since Parts often have a 40% - 50% mark-up to play with.

So - if you're thinking of ordering an extra top - better to see what your final costs might be before proceeding.

It would be interesting to see if we could get more pricing information about dealers that have to replace tops because of ordering screwups.

[Gobird]

http://www.fordthunderbirdforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif rtbrd, I told you so. Seems there is a differance between the to colors or shades of white. http://www.fordthunderbirdforum.com/ubb/tongue.gif http://www.fordthunderbirdforum.com/ubb/tongue.gif

------------------
02 T-Bird 9293
69 Vette
73 MGB
97 F-150 4x4
2-Seadoo Jet Skies
Live Long and Prosper!

[This message has been edited by Gobird (edited 06-13-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Gobird (edited 06-13-2002).]

[JimmyFitz]

As best I can remember, the hard top option with the car added about $2800 to either Premium or Deluxe. You do have to consider that shipping the top on a car probably cost no more than shipping a car with only a soft top. But shipping the top, cart and dust cover by freight carrier is bound to be expensive. Oh, and don't forget that those little plastic protector strips they send. Those probably aren't cheap if you want to buy more of them.