Convertible top question for a C1
11-11-2005, 01:32 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Convertible top question for a C1
How do you tell whether a C1 came with a convertible top from the factory? The one I'm looking at has the clamps on the back deck for the soft top but currently only has the hard top. I understand there are some brackets that should be behind the seats(?) that the soft top frame mounts to but I'm not sure what I'm looking for or at. Anyone have pictures of these brackets installed or comments on what signs to look for?
11-11-2005, 03:55 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
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I believe all straight axle cars came from the factory with a convertible top. The option would be for the hard top. If you optioned for the hard top ,you got both. The exception would be if you optioned for the "big fuel tank". If this was factory installed, the convertible top had no room to go down so it was deleted.This option ,I believe, was available starting around 1959.
11-11-2005, 04:02 PM
#3
Pro
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[QUOTE=wib1961]I believe all straight axle cars came from the factory with a convertible top. [QUOTE]
Not true! My '59 Top Flight / Bloomington car is a hard top only car. Came that way from the factory (and without radio or heater too.)
Not true! My '59 Top Flight / Bloomington car is a hard top only car. Came that way from the factory (and without radio or heater too.)
11-11-2005, 04:05 PM
#4
C1 buyers could order a hardtop instead of a soft top. My 59 is a hardtop only car for example. I understand that most California C1 buyers opted for the hardtop only version (something like 90%). Go figure...
On my decklid. I have only the 3 nuts to hold down the hardtop. No softtop latches at all, and no cutouts for the softtop latches. Thus, if your decklid is original and has the soft top latches, your car left the factory with the softtop.
Soft tops required brackets - 2 big brackets and 4 smaller pieces. The 2 big brackets look like a slice of pizza - big heavy pieces about the same size as a slice of pizza. These big pieces attach somewhere on the sides of the car behind the seats (one on each side). I don't know exactly where however.
Also, hardtop only cars do not have a cloth cover over the gas tank cover. Lift open the deck lid and you have only the fiberglass gas tank cover.
Hope this helps,
Russ
On my decklid. I have only the 3 nuts to hold down the hardtop. No softtop latches at all, and no cutouts for the softtop latches. Thus, if your decklid is original and has the soft top latches, your car left the factory with the softtop.
Soft tops required brackets - 2 big brackets and 4 smaller pieces. The 2 big brackets look like a slice of pizza - big heavy pieces about the same size as a slice of pizza. These big pieces attach somewhere on the sides of the car behind the seats (one on each side). I don't know exactly where however.
Also, hardtop only cars do not have a cloth cover over the gas tank cover. Lift open the deck lid and you have only the fiberglass gas tank cover.
Hope this helps,
Russ
11-11-2005, 04:29 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
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Originally Posted by YesA59
C1 buyers could order a hardtop instead of a soft top. My 59 is a hardtop only car for example. I understand that most California C1 buyers opted for the hardtop only version (something like 90%). Russ
11-11-2005, 05:31 PM
#7
Safety Car
Mark:
I can take some pictures of these brackets and send them to you or you can drive over to my shop and look at them up close. If you are around Penny's Restaurant in Jamestown tomorrow (Saturday) around 5:30-6:00 PM you can look at the brackets in a '62 also.
Charles
I can take some pictures of these brackets and send them to you or you can drive over to my shop and look at them up close. If you are around Penny's Restaurant in Jamestown tomorrow (Saturday) around 5:30-6:00 PM you can look at the brackets in a '62 also.
Charles
11-11-2005, 07:07 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Thx Charles!
BTW, I've been watching your website on the 59's progress. That's going to be one bad ride when you're done!
If the brackets are mounted in the car without the soft top in the way, pics of that would be great since that would be the same view I'm lookin at if mine are still there. When I looked over the car last weekend, we couldn't take the hardtop off but the latches were still mounted on the rear deck. We'll be driving all weekend (up to PA to trailer the car back) so pics would be best. Send em to me at:
mshellberg@yahoo.com
Hopefully, if all goes well, she'll be tucked away in my garage Sunday night.
BTW, I've been watching your website on the 59's progress. That's going to be one bad ride when you're done!
If the brackets are mounted in the car without the soft top in the way, pics of that would be great since that would be the same view I'm lookin at if mine are still there. When I looked over the car last weekend, we couldn't take the hardtop off but the latches were still mounted on the rear deck. We'll be driving all weekend (up to PA to trailer the car back) so pics would be best. Send em to me at:
mshellberg@yahoo.com
Hopefully, if all goes well, she'll be tucked away in my garage Sunday night.
11-11-2005, 08:05 PM
#10
[QUOTE=lemish][QUOTE=wib1961]I believe all straight axle cars came from the factory with a convertible top.
Not true! My '59 Top Flight / Bloomington car is a hard top only car. Came that way from the factory (and without radio or heater too.)
Have you registered your car in the 59 registry? I am sure u have, what a silly question.
Not true! My '59 Top Flight / Bloomington car is a hard top only car. Came that way from the factory (and without radio or heater too.)
Have you registered your car in the 59 registry? I am sure u have, what a silly question.
11-11-2005, 11:29 PM
#13
Race Director
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We'll be driving all weekend (up to PA to trailer the car back) so pics would be best. Send em to me at:
mshellberg@yahoo.com
Hopefully, if all goes well, she'll be tucked away in my garage Sunday night.[/QUOTE]
Where're you going in Pa.?
Cruz
mshellberg@yahoo.com
Hopefully, if all goes well, she'll be tucked away in my garage Sunday night.
[/QUOTE]Where're you going in Pa.?
Cruz
11-12-2005, 12:20 AM
#15
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by cbernhardt
Mark:
I sent you a picture. Are you buying a car to restore?
Charles
I sent you a picture. Are you buying a car to restore?
Charles
11-12-2005, 09:44 AM
#16
Race Director
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2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
And its about the size of a slice of pizza??????????????????
Man, that would be a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG pizza!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The early cars could be ordered with only one top (soft or hard) and the second top was an extra cost option.
GENERALLY speaking, many Vettes were ordered by the dealer for their inventory (since they were only available in very limited quantities per dealer) and the dealer selected the options. As a result, many cars came with both tops and the customer had to pay for all included options. Over the years, there have been a tiny handful of cars show up with ZERO provisions for either top-----------------but I don't know if any have been satisfactorily documented.
But for sure, if a car came with a soft top, all those steel parts (plates and brackets behind the seats) must be installed to support the soft top.
And also, if the car came from the factory with only ONE top, there were NO provisions for the second top, such as attaching holes in the top cover for the second top. I recently had a 62 from an estate stored in my shop that was a virgin, one owner power soft top car and there were NO hold down bolts in the cover for a hard top.
Man, that would be a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG pizza!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The early cars could be ordered with only one top (soft or hard) and the second top was an extra cost option.
GENERALLY speaking, many Vettes were ordered by the dealer for their inventory (since they were only available in very limited quantities per dealer) and the dealer selected the options. As a result, many cars came with both tops and the customer had to pay for all included options. Over the years, there have been a tiny handful of cars show up with ZERO provisions for either top-----------------but I don't know if any have been satisfactorily documented.
But for sure, if a car came with a soft top, all those steel parts (plates and brackets behind the seats) must be installed to support the soft top.
And also, if the car came from the factory with only ONE top, there were NO provisions for the second top, such as attaching holes in the top cover for the second top. I recently had a 62 from an estate stored in my shop that was a virgin, one owner power soft top car and there were NO hold down bolts in the cover for a hard top.
11-14-2005, 10:48 AM
#17
Melting Slicks
These are the plates that mount behind the seats for the soft top.
oWEN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1956-...QQcmdZViewItem
I have nothing to do with this auction.
oWEN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1956-...QQcmdZViewItem
I have nothing to do with this auction.
