1958 Corvette
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 295
From: Galveston & Belton Texas
Maybe the separator painted area behind the soft top support plates might give you some potential clues? I don't have a soft top on mine so I don't know if the interior area was painted prior to or after installation of these plates. Don't think you will ever really know without an original invoice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,662
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From: Lake Minnetonka, Mn
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
About 61% were ordered with the hard top, so it is a little better than a 50/50 that your car had one. I am not sure how many, if any, hard top only cars were delivered to dealers.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 295
From: Galveston & Belton Texas
I thought that I should add that my 58 is a hardtop only car. As such, there are no upper separator holes where the large support plates would have been secured with bolts to the metal reinforcement on the back side of the separator. In your post I earlier assumed your car had the large support plates. If it doesn't have these plates and there are no upper holes--then it would be a hardtop only car. If you have no support plates but you have the upper bolt holes then there is a good chance that it did have the support plates at one time and the soft top too. Unfortunately, still no guarantee that the soft top would be factory equipped as it could have been added later.
Last edited by tgtexas02; Mar 8, 2019 at 07:45 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Plano IL
2026 Corvette of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2025 C1 of the Year - Unmodified Winner
2019 C1 of Year Finalist (stock)
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
On the two I have here - both have three holes drilled for the hardtop and the brackets are present for the soft top
Also
behind the passenger side in green crayon was "HT"
on the dash on the passenger side of the dash under the pad in green crayon was "HT"
Chris
Also
behind the passenger side in green crayon was "HT"
on the dash on the passenger side of the dash under the pad in green crayon was "HT"
Chris
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Looking for help with soft top installation
Can someone that has a 58 or similar Vette give me some measurements please?
I've bought a soft top for my car and I have to install the clamps on the rear deck lid. Frame is installed but I'm not sure where to cut in the rear clamps.
Really don't want to screw this up!
I need the measurements etc. Pictures would be awesome too.
I've bought a soft top for my car and I have to install the clamps on the rear deck lid. Frame is installed but I'm not sure where to cut in the rear clamps.
Really don't want to screw this up!
I need the measurements etc. Pictures would be awesome too.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Can someone that has a 58 or similar Vette give me some measurements please?
I've bought a soft top for my car and I have to install the clamps on the rear deck lid. Frame is installed but I'm not sure where to cut in the rear clamps.
Really don't want to screw this up!
I need the measurements etc. Pictures would be awesome too.
I've bought a soft top for my car and I have to install the clamps on the rear deck lid. Frame is installed but I'm not sure where to cut in the rear clamps.
Really don't want to screw this up!
I need the measurements etc. Pictures would be awesome too.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
My 62 hardtop only car had the captured nuts in the rear bulkhead for the triangle plates for the softop, BUT, they were filled from the factory with some sort of filler and painted body color which made finding them a bit of a chore. Once I found the filled holes, using the triangle plate as a template, it was simply a matter of drilling out and chasing the captured nut threads in the panel. Same as JohnZ says of the ragtop key holes in the compartment cover. Use pilot holes from the under side and gradually open the top panel to match. Interesting job.