Geoff of NV

Just curious. I'm in the process of putting a new convertible top on my 59 and although I don't want one, I'm curious how the electric tops of the day worked. Any links or info you'd care to share would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Geoff

claf

The tops were quite slow especially if you were waiting in the rain for it to go up. They were pretty reliable as long as the many micro switches were adjusted correctly. They were necessary to keep the top from self-destructing. It was a real Rube Goldberg creation with lots of moving parts.

Back in the day I bought a COMPLETE power top mechanism from a 1960 and installed it in my 1962. Before I installed it I assembled the whole mechanism on my driveway to test the functions. While adjusting the top in the car I found out just how fussy those micro switches were. Bob

roju1985

My uncles 60' had a power top set up in it that he installed himself. I've heard stories from family members of days and weeks at a time of the car hooked up to the battery charger so he could fuss with the micro switches getting everything to work in orchestra correctly. It really is quite remarkable to have a small understanding of whats going on at what point in the raising and lowering process and marvel when it all works accordingly.

Here is a good video:

Frankie the Fink

They are only partly automatic and messy to maintain just check out relevant posts here from rich5962.

DZAUTO

My 56 was built with a pwr top, but when I bought the car in 73, all of it had been removed. It would sort of be neat to have it, but also, I'm not sure that I would want to deal with the headaches.

rich5962

That top in the video ran down in about 20 seconds or so. Whoever did the work did a nice job.

The hold up straps would be a good thing to install and use to keep the rag in better control.

Geoff, feel free to send me a PM with your phone number and I can call you and give you a idea of what's involved to add a PT system. I am presently doing that to my '59. Some special pieces are needed to add a sysstem, and I have fabricated them and have plans I drafted for future reference.

Vetterway

Thanks for sharing the video. Great to see how it works. Hardly seems worth it with all you have to do beforehand...

Todd H.

I had one a few years ago in a '57 that had been restored. It was slow and fussy.. kinda like me, but I didn't like it. I would never add one. I can manually put a C1 top up or down in much less time. If I ever have another one I'll disconnect it and leave everything for the next guy to fuss with.

Frankie the Fink

I thought C1 power tops were ridiculously over-complicated until I helped a fellow at Old Town get his Skyliner retractable hardtop working. I think it has something like 24 relays or some such... Gads!

LouieM

Thanks for posting the video, which I'd not seen.

MAD IN NC

I can only imagine. I once saw a friend working on his top on his 66 Contienental. When you un latched the top and hit the switch, first the windows would drop down then the top retracted. The relays were behind the rear seat. Dozens and dozens of them....

Steve59

What has always concerned me is what would happen if you blew a fitting on the hydraulics? Most are inside the cabin, fluid every where. Same goes for the heater and windshield washer system, a major part of these systems are inside the cabin and if they leak, big mess.

cbernhardt

John Hinckley wrote an article describing the operation of the C1 power top. I saved a copy that I found on the internet several years ago. The title of the article was "Self Pop Top".
http://www.vetteclub.org/warehouse/t.../power/top.pdf
If this link does not work send me an email through the forum and I will email it to you.

Charles

grumpy10956

hi Charles, the link does not work on my computer, please advise, grumpy

3310vette

I installed a power top on my 1960 almost 4 years ago and it has worked every time I hit the button; except when a micro switch went out. I purchased an $18 replacement micro switch and that solved the problem. The micro switches occasionally need to be tweaked, but I understand what has to be done to correct the problem. I purchased a new hose set so I did not have to worry about a blow out of ATF. In the summer when the ATF is warm, my system will cycle at around 25 seconds each way. I still enjoy watching it go up and down and the looks it receives at car shows are nice too.
Joe

cbernhardt

Do an internet search for "Johh Hinckley self top pop" or send me an email.

Charles

Geoff of NV

Thanks guys.