Bestop is best known for making Jeep soft tops, which it’s been doing since the 1950s. It’s an interesting outlier in the car industry because it’s one of the few entities that operate as both a mainstream aftermarket accessory brand and a major OEM supplier. I find that fascinating, and I’m pleased to report that two of Bestop’s people were willing to give me an oral history of the company. Now, you’re about to learn yourself some lore.
Bestop began in 1954, when founder Tom Bradley (not the same guy the LAX terminal is named after) started sewing canvas roofs for Jeep CJs in Colorado. The company grew from seven people working out of a defu …
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Author: Andrew P. Collins
