In one aspect of the present invention, a method is employed to fabricate a roof bow. A first body element and a second body element each have one or more tabs are both formed from a substrate. The tabs of the first body element are clinched to the second body element. The tabs of the second body element are clinched to the first body element. An upper cord is clinched to a top edge of the coupled body elements and a lower cord is clinched to a bottom edge of the coupled body elements to form the roof bow.