Chip A

Would you buy a C7 convertible if GM offered an option for auxiliary removable hardtop?

ZL-1

In 1993 I ordered a Competition Yellow convertible with the removable hardtop. It was a great looking car and turned out to be quite rare - very few people would spend the $2000 for the option in the C4 years. The hardtop option was more popular in 56-62 when it only cost a few hundred dollars.

There is a company that makes good looking aftermarket hardtops for C5s and C6s but there doesn't seem to be a lot of demand for them. It doesn't appear that GM feels a need to produce one but it would be cool if they did.


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jschindler

I've owned two Corvette convertibles and it would make no difference to me. I buy convertibles to drive with the top down, and in Houston that is possible most of the year. I think the C4 with the hardtop was one of the best looking Corvettes made, but I just would not use it.

PaulB

I am a Coupe person. I used to buy the dual top option. I eventually went to just buying the single see thru top. With an additional convertible top it would appear that would be harder to store than the additional top of the coupe dual top option. So, if an optional convertible top would be available, I would hope it would include the Harness to hang it somewhere in the garage ...

tuxnharley

Yeah, I probably would. I have the original hard top for my '67, and had one for my '92. I will admit I never have used them very much - sometimes went years without having them on the car - but I love the different appearance and feel it gives the car when they are installed. It's kinda like having an already hot woman put on a different colored wig.............

Corgidog1

Absolutely irrelevant to my decision, even if it was a frebee. Might only impact a person who was on the fence.

Chip A

I am drawn towards convertibles myself, but out of curosity...Is the driving experience of a coupe with the top panel off similar to that of an convertible? I had a removable top on my 71 LT-1, but it was a bear to remove and replace. I did love the way it looked though!

tuxnharley

Well, my '06 coupe with the panel off is about 50% of the convertible experience, IMHO. It's nice, but you just don't get that same feeling of complete openness. Also, the wind buffeting gets captured in the back hatch area.

For open air feeling:

Coupe w/panel off < convertible

Convertible < motorcycle

TOBASCO

I would - in a heartbeat. But my preference, albeit at the expense of weight - would be to have a retractable hard top that folds down into the car. The main reason I would want this is that then I COULD take it to the track if I wanted to - I can't with my "normal" rag top. So, YES!

AORoads

IMO, the best looking add on hard tops were for the C1 Corvettes with the wrap around rear "glass." (pretty sure it was plexi and not glass)

Would I buy one, or decide a convertible C7 "needed it?" No, I don't think it needs it nor would I buy it. And I'm fairly certain if I owned a "hard top" I'd never put it on the car!

Years before, I bought a convertible something with an optional, painted top. It never went on the car and just took up space. Maybe it would've looked cool if I'd hung it from the ceiling, but I didn't.

GTJim

I'd prefer a folding hardtop

hig4s

That would be my thought

I have done the soft top with three different vehicles before I bought my Corvette and just can no longer put up with the wind noise in a daily driver, so I prefer the Targa. But with a aux hardtop a vert would be under consideration for the right price.

AaronDoud

This is my dream for the convertible but I doubt it will happen

Gonzo

I agree, I have a 96 LT4 vert with the hard top. Have only used it once, to tranport it home when I bought it, have not put it back on since.

User 2623

Answer: No it's archaic, cumbersome, and unsightly.
If anything they should offer a hard top convertible.
Bout time for dat, anybody else out deer feelin it ~ ya know what I'm saying?

Thanks for listening.

mpuzach

I plan to buy a C7 convertible regardless of whether or not a hard top is available.

05dsom

Seems most car makers these days offer a retractable hard top, but I think on the C7 I would prefer the rag top look... if only they can find a way to eliminate those awful creases everywhere in the canvas! My 05 vert looked great with the top down but less great with it up because of the sub par canvas and overly tight stretch across the metal frame.

We need something smooth (but taught) like the Bentley CGT

C-4 Now

Having owned C-1, C-2's, C-3's and currently C-4's with removable hardtops I am probably a good prospect for C-7 in that mode, but not sure it's a requirement. Like some of folding hardtops looks but not complexity and weight factor!

MikeyTX

Yeah that! Aside from the fact that it was a pita to sling correctly.

Supersonic 427

The aux. hardtop originally came out for Corvettes that were being driven in the Winters. The hardtop was most popular through the C1 and C2 era's. Those years, most people drove their Corvettes through the Winter months. Keep in mind too, that the vinyl convertible tops were a far cry from the convertible tops of today. Starting in the C3 period many Corvettes were being bought as second cars and stored during the harsh weather months. By the time of the C4 demand was so low that they finally discontinued the aux. tops, thus...not offered on the C5 and C6.