tikiwagon

Hi i have a 63 hardtop roadster and was thinking about getting a soft top for it, How do i know if the car ever had one? As there is nothing in the well when you lift the hardtop and rear deck off, Lalso i know i will need a used frame but are there any sources for getting the whole thing?
Thanks

Boyan

Does it have latches in the decklid?

Kerrmudgeon

Retro fitting a soft top onto a hardtop only car is pretty expensive and takes quite a bit of time to do right, but it can be done. I did it on my 62. They do make complete tops and all the hardware but expect to put up to 5K for everything you need. Complete used top assemblies with hardware are hard to come by, but if you're not in a hurry you might find one if you search on line. beleive the rear panel mount holes should be easy to locate. That panel is made of 2 sheets of fiberglass, the bottom one was predrilled with the soft top holes on hardtop only cars.

DomL64

On my 64 vert, there are 2 panels just behind the doors that are removable. They kind of pull out and towards the back of the car. Under them might be 2 bolt holes. That's where the soft top would attach to the car if it ever had one.

tikiwagon

Thanks i will have a look at what the car has, Is there any way of finding what options the car had from the factory?

Bluestripe67

On the deck lid should be two female latchs. Kind of oval shape with a hole in the middle and a small push pad in the vertical position. A convt top would latch into these with a male pin with notches on it. This would tell you it did have a convt top at one time. Some options are obvious, but with possible multi ownership, things can be added. Some easy to identify options are, PS, PB, radio, hi HP engine if original, tinted glass, A/C, posi rear. If any original paperwork came with the car, it might tell you something. Dennis

DomL64

Check where Dennis is telling you. It the easiest way to tell if it ever
had a soft top. You can't miss them. 2 chrome pieces on the piece that lifts.

Funny, I thought they all came with the soft top and the hard top was the option.

rongold

Nope, you had your choice of either one at no charge, or both at extra charge.

DomL64

As they say, learn something new every day.
That's what happens when I assume. lol

Thank you.
Dom

tikiwagon

Here are a couple of pics of the rear deck area, Would the soft top have been here? Also how do i found out what options the car would have had?
Thanks

5thvet

Yes, that is where the rear of the soft top connects. Look at your trim tag under the glove box for the other information. Post a pic if you can and someone can decipher.

Bluestripe67

tikiwagon, you got it. At some time it did have a conv top. Dennis

RK-TECT

Kerrmudgeon,
Your choice of avatars is phenomenal... your judgment is beyond reproach!! Each new avatar is somehow better than the previous one . I don't know how you do it, but keep up the outstanding work!!

Easy Rhino

^this^

You have the top latches on the convertible panel. A hard top only car would not have those, IMO.

tikiwagon

Here are pics of the 2 body tags if anyone knows about them

5thvet

That first pic is your serial number, the second is the trim tag, showing it is a 63 convertible ( 63 867), the body number is the 6,564th body made, the trim is STD, vinyl black, and the 936 color is Ermine white

Don

JohnZ

Actually, it's the 6,564th convertible body made...

tikiwagon

Okay thanks for that, How do i find out what options it had?

Frankie the Fink

Coffman is one source for complete soft top package for C1/C2s:
http://www.coffmancorvette.com/tops.html

Beyond the trim tag there is little to tell you what options a '63 had. Tank stickers had not been used that early on.

Dougs63

Just a thought - consider buying a Deck Lid with the latch cut-outs rather than cutting into yours. Replace and save your hardtop only Deck Lid.

Not talking big money here, and you would preserve the originality of the car.