Vet76te

I own a very cleaning looking, all original 1971 Vert. It has survived all these years without a luggage rack.

However, I personally like the looks of the rack. I'm considering adding a rack....but don't want to hurt the value of my car.

What's the opinions out there? Will the addition of a luggage rack hurt or enhance the value of a chrome bumper convertible?

Iceaxe

When I was looking for my Corvette there were two requirements. It had to be a 4-speed and it couldn't have a luggage rack. Everything else was negotiable except those two items. YMMV

oldgto

I think the luggage rack is an aquired taste.... either you like them or you don`t. Personally, I don`t care for them. My wife loves the look. Our 71 coupe will NOT have a luggage rack. Why? Because she already has one mounted on her 65 Mustang!
What matters most on YOUR car is how YOU want it to look.

Easy Mike

It's your car. If you want the rack, add one.

The Hot Rod Grille

I like the looks of a nice rack ...... just not on a Corvette!

Jim

grumman41

I'm clipping the rear of my car to get rid of mine. No joke! That being said, I don't think they "look bad" when I see one drive by.

Kevin

gjohnson

I had one but took it off cause I like the look w/o. They are great for holding your T-tops though ,instead of cramming them in the back.

80Baby

If your car is all original and was never equipped with a rack, trying to sell the car later on as "all original" but with a rack added on will affect its value with hardcore Vette aficionados. But what the heck, like Mike says... it's your car enjoy it.

AdamMeh

I agree with the previous posts - if you want it / like it, go for it

Just keep in mind - drilling all those holes for the mounting is not something you can just "reverse". Takes a fair amount of bodywork and painting, and could even mean a total repaint if they can't match it. Just something to consider.

Good luck with you project!
Adam

wisoutlaw

I like to look but since my '69 didn't have one I won't add one. I'd probably get it on crooked or sideways or something. Seriously, it's your car. Add one if you like. That's what it's about.

qwank

7T1vette

The chrome rack looks pretty good on a coupe with dark colored paint. But, not so good on any convertible, or light colored car, IMO.

1969RAY

Try taking you and your buddy to a golf course without one.

Alwyn678

I had one on mine since I got it. I never realized how much better it looks w/out the rack until I removed it. Especially on a convertible!

3JsVette

One of the most polarizing options (right there with 17" or larger diameter wheels) the difference is you just can't unbolt it to get rid of it (the wheels you can). Think long and hard before you add it because the road back is long and expensive.

U17

Once you go rack you'll never go back.... I can't imagine NOT having one.... The top panels live there using the brackets....

PG C6

I like the rag very much on convertibles but would never ever consider a rag on a coupe. As you see, opinions vary :-)

Peter

overBlown

I completely understand their appeal on the practicality side. Especially on a vert with its further reduced cargo space. But despite that, the style side of me wins every time and I just can't get over how the rack distracts from those clean, flowing body lines. I mean, its like everything is smooth and clean and then BAM! There's a oversized oven rack staring at me. But hey, at the end of the day, it's YOUR car!

marshal135

I have a period installed stainless steel rack on my '68 coupe.
I think it fills the great void of open space between the tail and rear window areas.
I use my rack all the time too.
When I remove my T-Tops, I open the bags up one at a time and set them on the rack.
Then I remove the tops individually and install in bag.
The lipped edge on the end of the rack prevents the top from getting away from me and damaging either the orig. top or the orig. paint.
I then snap up the storage bag and in the rear compartment they go.
I don't know where I would do this balancing act w/o the rack.
So it's more of a work bench for me.
I think mine looks good on a Safari Yellow BB coupe.
On a convertible it maybe a different opinion cause the top retracts and the rack sorta
just sits there all alone on this vast open space.
I also think a c-3 was meant to be a t top coupe.
A new body design for '68 and a revolutionary design t tops.
Convertibles look great don't get me wrong but they have been around since the beginning of automobiling.
Henry Ford just didn't envision the t top when he made the model T.
It took Z Duntov.
Just my 2 pence.
Marshal

marshal135

U17,
love the shark tank in the back ground!
Cool effect
Is your avatar a recon plane?
Former jar head...... had to ask
Marshal