I have read several posts over the past couple years about Coffman Corvette in Mansfield, Ohio (www.coffmancorvette.com). Some of the posts were positive, some were not. I'd like to share my experience with Coffman.

As part of building my 61 Corvette resto-rod, I purchased a stay-fast material convertible top and new remanufactured frame from Coffman. The top came already mounted on the frame. I did this on the recommendation of a local Corvette restorer who had used Coffman frames and tops on C-2's he had restored.

The installation of the top wasn't too bad, since it mounts with just four bolts, but trying to adjust the top was one of my more frustrating experiences of the build (third behind installing the windshield frame, and then installing a custom wiring harness). I had trouble getting rid of the sag in the frame joint above both side windows at the same time, and also closing the gap between the top and the rear deck lid.

After several phone conversations with Clint Coffman, along with emailing him pictures of the problem, I was able to eliminate most of the sag problem, but not close the rear gap. I learned from Clint during these conversations that because of the four bolt mounting configuration, C-1 tops are often more difficult to adjust than C-2's, and that in order to properly align the body of my C-1, I should have aligned the body to a hard top after setting the body back on the frame and adjusting the shims to set the gaps. Since this was my first Corvette build, and my car showed no evidence of ever having a hard top, I was unaware of this step until I talked with Clint.

Clint was very patient and courteous with me during several months of phone conversations and emails. He offered to recheck the fabrication of the top if I shipped it back to him, and also to come adjust the top if that didn't help.

Last week Clint and his father Ernie came to my house in South Carolina and in less than 30 minutes, Clint had the top properly adjusted. Clint told me during the visit that it was very seldom that they couldn't solve the problems over the phone, but in the very few occasions they couldn't, they were willing to make the trips to their customer. I have not had this type of positive experience with all the suppliers I dealt with during the build. In my case, at least, Coffman stood behind their product and literally went the extra mile to demonstrate outstanding customer service.

I hope you'll take this experience into consideration if you're in need of a convertible top.

Marc

 

Marc, thanks for sharing the story. My 61 used to have both tops but the soft top was sold off a long time ago. I too had read the numerous stories about aftermarket tops, some good, some not so good. I have contacted a few sellers about their original soft top frames but most of the ones I found were as expected, nearly 50 years old, had some corrosion and hardware issues and had asking prices around $2500. The day that John McGraw helped me pick up my 61 from the sellers place in Austin, he showed me the Coffman top he had installed on his '59 along with that newer Haartz Cloth material. Looked great.
Tell me, did you buy direct from Coffman or through Crane or ?
I know Zip sells Sullys Tops but haven't heard back from Paragon as to whose top they sell. I'd like to find a package deal since I need just about everything excluding the pie-plates and brackets.
Thanks,
Mike T.

 

Wow ! Thanks for sharing.

Gary

 

Mike T.

I contacted Coffman directly by phone (419 522-2246, talk with Clint) to order my frame and top. Since mine was a resto-rod, not original, I traded my old frame for one of their new frames, complete with new latches, mounting hardware, and Stayfast top.

Good luck with yours.

Marc

 

Marc, I need to ask a couple of questions to make sure I understand better. Was the top you bought from Coffman one of their repro tops or a refurbished original frame? Also, did I read that right, that you actually ordered the soft top frame 'with' the material already attached? I personally have no experience with installing a soft top but had typically read that the top frame had to be adjusted to the car 'first' before the material could be added. Did I misunderstand?
Mike T.

 

When you talk of adjusting the frame, is that a way of saying you bend it?

 

Mike T,

I traded my original frame for one of Coffman's new repro frames. It is powdercoated and, according to Clint Coffman, they've improved it from the original frames (I don't remember exactly what the all improvements are, but one is improved pivot points). They will rebuild your original frame if that's what you want. The top came to me with the Stayfast material installed on the frame. They have a jig set up to hold the frame when they install the top material. They claim that if you body is properly shimmed on the frame (their recommendation is that you check this by installing a hard top to properly set body alignment), their top will fit. The only adjustments needed are made by fiddling with the frame supports at the four mounting bolt locations.

As I described in my original post, they're willing to back up their product, but claim they've had very few problems, and none they've not been able to fix. I had read some posts some time ago on one of the forums where someone had fit problems with a large gap at the rear deck lid and solved it by lengthening the straps and having someone other than Coffman install a new top. I don't know how much they worked with Clint to solve their problem before resorting to a new top. When I asked Clint and his dad Ernie (who started the business) about this, they told me they didn't remember that ever happening with one of their tops.

They have at least two materials available for the top; the original canvas top material and Stayfast. I chose the Stayfast because my car is not original and the Stayfast material is less likely to wrinkle or shrink than the original material.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, let me know and I'll try to help if I can.

Marc

 

Marc, thanks for the explanation. When reading some of the old posts on the Forum about soft top installations, it's hard to tell if the product is the cause of the fitment problems or if it's the installer. There has been a lot of finger pointing regarding soft tops and I'm still in the 'learning mode' and want to understand as much as I can before I take the plunge and make a purchase.

This is the first time I've ever heard of a soft top vendor providing a soft top frame already fitted with a top. Are we talking all hardware, weatherstrips and latches or just the top material on the frame? The hardtop on my 61 was restored by the Hardtop Shop and fits the car very well so hopefully that would be a plus when ordering up a full softtop frame and top.

What is your take on Coffman's installation instructions? I suppose the instructions are minimal when the top is already installed on the frame.

I also like the Stayfast material after seeing it on John's 65 and 59 and will definitely be ordering it when the time comes.

Thanks,
Mike T.

 

Mike T.

I ordered my top complete with weatherstripping, latches, and mounting hardware (four bolts, washers and nuts), although I suspect they'll supply them any way you want.

There were no installation instructions sent with mine. I got all my instructions over the phone with Clint. Adjusting the top with the four mounting bolts takes some practice. I also know that Clint will come install the top for you. You'd need to talk with him about the cost for that.

Regards,
Marc

 

I took my car to Coffmans Corvette, Clint did the install....







By the time I got home and took the top back down, the rubber on the rear end of the soft top had left marks in the clear coat. I have since bought one of those plastic liners that goes between the body and the rubber seal, but haven't had the soft top back up to use it. I think it is good to have the soft top for rain emergencies, but I am worried about putting marks on the rear deck between the rubber and the rear deck. This is just a fact of life with these soft tops.

Clint took me on a tour of their business. Quite the place. They have another business where they take in Sears scratch and dent appliances and they take pieces from one to fix another. There must be 3 floors of that stuff, it is really amazing. They have a couple of Corvette body bucks that lets them fit up soft tops on C1's and C2's. In the basement they have a machine shop that enables them to make the patterns for their intake manifolds and radiator supports.

Clints dad took me on a tour of his C2 collection in his other building. There must have been 8 or so big block C2's in there....he mentioned that some day he would get around to restoring them.

They are located in Mansfield, Ohio.

 

hello friends, flowers and well wishes can be sent to the ASHLAND GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH 1144 W MAIN ST ASHLAND OH 44805 LETS SHOW OUR SUPPORT TO CLINT AND THE FAMILY. CHURCH PHONE 419 289 8334

 

Please see new thread on Ernie Coffman...