Silverrick

100% correcto mundo. My buyer would have given up the hardtop in an instant if there had been a soft-top!

Stan's Customs

I bought a hardtop that was purchased with a Corvette in Dallas.

The dealer that sold the car asked the customer when he would be back for the hardtop..since he declined to take it with him the day he bought the car?
The customer said he didn't want it to just keep it. After three years with the top on a rack in the showroom...the dealer ran an ad and sold it.

I still have it...and have since had Glass Works make it like new. (although it was nice to begin with, give or take a couple things).

As long as I have the car..I'll have the top, and would buy another one if this one disappeared or something.


BUT... I like a soft top in the fall and spring. AND a hardtop mostly in the heat of the year.

I've imagine where you live could make a big difference as to whether you would use a hardtop or not...

Texas heat can be a killer in a black interior convertible of any kind with the top down.

mmaturo

Mine had one when I bought it at auction...matters to me not. It is unrestored so now a thing sitting in the corner taunting me to send it to Glassworks and spend a pile of cash for something I know I will never use. Two years and never have thought about it. So to me from a private seller if I bought a C1 again it would be gravy in a deal but I would not pay more for it explicitly being with the car. I think 62s look great with it but my 60 I like it top down period. I'm thinking of redoing the soft top frame but I have no idea why...I never use the top. It just bugs me.

61 Roadster

Yes, for the second and early third seasons, Todd and Buzz were in an all Fawn 62. Fantastic color!

68hemi

The only reason they use that color was because of the way it photographed in black-and-white.

MikeM

Does this apply to boats too?

OC-1

Hardtop make the vette a 'transformer'. Two different cars with and without a hardtop. A HT is a must have. Rag top feels like driving in a cave, HT is a whole different experience, plenty of light, interior noise improved, better in the rain and snow. Depends on your preferences like anything else. Rag top for use when you get caught in unfavorable weather when the HT is not in place. Never had a problem switching the HT back and forth. No HT is a bargaining chip for sure , can't put a real price on it because of other variables involving car's condition, options.

Stan's Customs

I hadn't equated it to a Transformer...but that is exactly right.

I also have two sets of wheels...one set for the hardtop and one set for the rag top up or down.

It really does make it two totally different cars.

59BlueSilver

, and like you say, in Texas I don’t use it either in spring or fall, but nice to have in winter and summer!

61 Roadster

The first season featured a Jewel Blue 61. a Saddle tan 63 was used for the end of season 3 and all of 4.

Roger Walling

The day I bought my 57 I took the top off and put it in storage, And I don't even have a soft top!

So what if it rains, nether glass nor *** spoil when they get wet!

Stan's Customs

[QUOTE=Roger Walling;1596355312]The day I bought my 57 I took the top off and put it in storage, And I don't even have a soft top!

So what if it rains, nether glass nor *** spoil when they get wet!

[/QUOTE

So how many months of the year can you drive without a top in Massachusetts?

Roger Walling

[QUOTE=Stan's Customs;1596355644]At least 8 mo. The rest of the time I use my 55 New Yorker.

(Really good in the snow!)

Muttley

I'm in the camp that likes the hardtop primarily for the looks. I have a soft top as well, but chose Stayfast material for that to avoid shrinkage while folded.

Stan's Customs

[QUOTE=Roger Walling;1596355854]Cool..that's better than the top down driving season in Texas.

wmf62

coupes are miserable without a/c... I've had 2...

Bill

MOXIE62

Right now in KY, without air, not miserable.

Jeffthunbird

I have an old fella neighbor with a '62 that I hope to buy soon. I sure hope it has a hardtop. I haven't seen one and I haven't asked. I expect to get it thrown in on whatever deal we make.
On my C2 convertible, I didn't receive a hardtop so I found one and bought it. I had to pay big bucks because it was a rare black vinyl and mint original condition. Previous owner had it 40 years in storage.
Bottom line to me is that sellers don't get full value and buyers who want one or need one for their car pay a premium.
You are looking at paying a premium to later get under value for the top.

1snake

It depends on where you live. I've had several coupes and never had an issue. Regarding hard tops, the one for my C-1 hasn't been on the car since 1985 and the one for my C-2 will never go back on once I'm done with the body-off restoration.

wmf62

FWIW, I had both 65 coupes while I lived in Michigan; finally, when I moved to NC I added a 'hang-under-the-glove box" unit to the last one... 90+ degrees is still 90+ degrees, no matter where you live...

this was 40 years ago and the compressor used was a Tecumseh and had to be nestled on top of the engine next to the Rochester FI...

fun... but cool....

Bill