Pinch marks in Convertible Tops

My 69 convertible has an older top and has a pinch mark on each side which has now developed into a 1 inch tear. I put the top up and down all summer and it gets a lot of use because the car is a driver, not a show car.

The convertible tops on just about every first generation car eventually develop a crease or pinch on the sides of the tops between the side window and rear window due to the frame bracket mechanism hinge that pinches the canvas. Another convertible owner told me that this was a design problem with the top frame and all the tops eventually develop the pinched canvas. When he sent in his car for a new convertible top a few years ago, he had a new black canvas top installed. He has never had the new top folded down to this day because he wants to show the car at car shows and he doesn't want that pinch mark to develop again.

Great Info, Thnaks for the Post.

Rick H