data collection and analysis system may be employed to do a statistical analysis ranging from not only simple statistics but also more elaborate analyses of types generally known to statisticians and engineers and suggested by this disclosure fig7 shows a test fixture according to the present invention in which pulldown actuator 32 is mounted within fixture 68 as shown in fig7 and 8 fixture 68 includes a plurality of clamps 70 for clamping and holding convertible top 14 in a simulation of the mounting of the top to an actual automotive vehicle such as vehicle 10 of fig1 the employment of fixture 68 allows tops to be tested in process by means of the present method and apparatus without the necessity of having the top installed on a vehicle thus if trend analysis of the results of the testing according to the present invention indicates that the operating forces or other operating parameters of the top are either excessive or too scattered or both adjustments may be made in the top build process or top operating mechanisms without the necessity of removing tops that have otherwise been installed upon vehicles fig9 and 10 illustrate gripper 38 which is attached to flexible inextensible member 40 with the flexible inextensible member being connected to end 56 of cylinder 54 gripper 38 may be used to functionally couple pulldown actuator 32 to not only handhold 28 for a manually operable convertible top but may also be used to couple the pulldown actuator to a power latched top by simply using a.