1953 C6

Does the color of the top and interior really make a difference in the temperature of the car in the summer? Is black really that much hotter than tan or grey?

3GenVettes

Science class 101 -- Black absorbs heat, White reflects heat.

Yes, it does make a difference. The hotter and sunnier a geographic area is the higher the percentage of light colored cars to lessen the effects of heat build-up on the interiors.

jimmie jam

the top color will have a greater effect on the interior temp than the interior color will.

1953 C6

I get the laws of thermodynamics... but if it's 80 degrees outside, is the light colored interior 85 degrees and the black interior 125 degrees, big difference, or is the light interior 85 degrees and the black interior 86 degrees, minor difference??????

AORoads

like that guy for mens clothes says, I guarantee you the ebony interior is much hotter even on an 80 degree day. and while the black top may have more effect than the color of the interior, you would rather sit on a lighter colored interior than the ebony.

StanNH

I've owned a lot of open top roadsters over the years. All modern cars have air conditioning, so the top color has little to do with the interior temperature. The air will simply adjust the temperature as needed. Most newer tops are also insulated with headliners, and this helps limit heat transmission through the top.

With the top down, the interior color has a huge effect on heat in the car when the car has been sitting. I now avoid buying black interiors on my convertibles simply because black absorbs enough heat to make the surface temperature of the seats uncomfortable...if the top is left down. Lighter seat colors are cooler when you first get in the car, darker colors are hotter. After the car is moving and you get some circulation and cooling, all interior colors will feel about the same.

JerryC5

First off, the top on my car is black, but generally doesn't make any difference to the interior temp, because if it isn't rainng, the top is always down.

Second, you will feel like you are burning your skin when you touch a black piece of upholstery when it's been sitting in the sun for a while, wheras the tan leather is not nearly so hot.

I have avoided black interiors for that reason.

Rabeah22

If its hot outside just drop your top

Vettein

I can't express how much I wish I had this problem again in Chicago right now

blue max

I had an 89 with a black top and the car cooled nicely. It had a red interior which did get warm with the top down but not a problem

My c-6 has at tan top(shows everything) which looks great with the Velocity Yellow paint. It has a tan seats. which look great and are cool.
However, the black cover on the center storage would burn your arm if it was outside with the top down. Easy fix put any one of several covers available in a light color.

vettedoogie

The truth is there isn't much choice in top colors...tan or black. I'm kinda old school in that I'd like to see white offered again along with white interiors.

I imagine if you lived in a very hot environment like AZ, tan would help but only with certain body colors. I leave my black top up in the parking lots to protect the interior from bird crap but also to keep the seats (two-tone black and gray) a little cooler and away from UV damage.

As for interior color, the two-tone black and gray helps a little over a purely black interior. That said, the Corvette's AC is excellent!

JerryC5

I didn't mean to imply the top was down right now. That is only on 60+ degree weather. Right now its 35 degrees, and I have same problem here in St.Louis. Brand new C6 with less than 500 miles, I only wish it was warm enough to put the top down.

cclive

My top stays down almost 100% of the time in the summer and with the titanium interior, I can sit right down on the seat with shorts on and not burn my legs. In direct sun, you can't do this with a black interior.

AORoads

Um, umm, ummmmm, how about the gray top?

Correct-o-mundo!!!

vettedoogie

There is gray? I've never seen one. Thanks for the education!

brimee

Here ya go... Now you have seen one

vettedoogie

Hmmm, looks nice with the silver.

cclive

What a great looking car!

brimee

Thanks, Kinda looks like yours

The tint helps mine to stay cooler with the top up more than anything else. I really notice a difference in all my cars down here between tint and no tint.

I have the Steel Gray interior which is alot cooler than black to jump into after the sun has been beating down on the seats.

SpdWhite

Unless the top is down. I have had dark interiors. Leave the top down on a sunny summers day and burn your butt when you get back in.

I currently have LMB with Tan top and Tan interior. I find the tan good in the summer. Last vette was light gray interior and even that got hot on a summers day.