Bill Gaylord started out as a convertible top specialist. Most likely inspired by the Carson Padded top Bill set out to design his own, and created them sepecially for the 41-48 Ford convertible bodies. The tops Bill created for these models had the rear side windows completely covered. A wonderful low look was created and in the photo above we can see and unidentified 1941 Ford convertible with a nice speedboat stance and one of Bill’s padded tops. The car is parked in front of the Gaylord Tops shop. Parked on the left – with just the trunk and Caddy rear fender showing – is Ben Mario’s 47 Buick (still with stock height dark colored top) and on the right with only the nose in the photo is Dick Arkline 1941 Chevy (both built by Barris). This shop was close to the Barris shop and soon after Bill had opened his shop he worked closely together with Barris.

The Gaylord top for the 1941-48 Fords (and later other models as well) had a beautiful flow at the back as is evident in the photo above. The Barris brothers loved his tops better dan any others they had ordered before, it just suited their streamlined and taildraging customs better.

Gaylord’s Kustom Tops shop

Tommy D’Amico’s 1952 Chevy by Gaylord’s and Bill sitting in his shop truck.

Gaylord ran a few combined ads in Motor Trend magazine. But when these ads where published in the magazines Bill was stationed in Germany. So he never was able to make his money back

on them. They looked very nice though.

Later when business went well for Bill he ran several larger ads in R&C and other magazines. Including full pages adds on the back cover of mid 50’s R&C magazines.

The add above promoted his line of custom made folding convertible tops.