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[C1] 1959 corvette

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Old Jun 16, 2022 | 10:56 AM
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Default 1959 corvette

Good morning,
I wanted to see if anyone could help me out I have recently purchased a later vin # 1959 corvette and I do not know what the difference is with an early # vin 1960? I’m trying to purchase female hood latches for my car but I’m not sure what I should look for? 1959 or 1960?
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Old Jun 16, 2022 | 11:16 AM
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What's on the car now?

1960 and later used this style of latch:




A lot of 1959s (all of them, for all I know), used this style:




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Old Jun 16, 2022 | 12:12 PM
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Agree with Jim.
Very few differences between 59 and 60.. but that is one of the bigger ones!
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Old Jun 16, 2022 | 02:36 PM
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There are a few suspension differences. The upgrades for 60 are good improvements.
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Old Jun 16, 2022 | 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by jim lockwood
What's on the car now?

1960 and later used this style of latch:




A lot of 1959s (all of them, for all I know), used this style:



when I purchased the car a lot of missing pieces including the hood latches, I was informed that 58 & 59 had issues with sticking when trying to open the hood and the 60-62 were a better design not sure if this is true or not though??
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Old Jun 16, 2022 | 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Straight axel
when I purchased the car a lot of missing pieces including the hood latches, I was informed that 58 & 59 had issues with sticking when trying to open the hood and the 60-62 were a better design not sure if this is true or not though??
The early style of latches rely on friction between the latch and the male hood pin to keep the hood closed. Typically these lose their ability to grip and the hood slowly works its way open as you drive. So sticking isn't the issue. Rather, it's the loss of ability to "stick".

And yes, '60 and later latches are a better design because they don't have this problem.
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Old Jun 16, 2022 | 03:30 PM
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If you do not care about originality, here is a much cleaner,neater solution:
http://www.carols62.com/59/jan10.htm
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Old Jun 17, 2022 | 06:48 AM
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Here is a pdf of an article by Dave Zuberer and Rich Mozzetta that outlines with photos the specific differences.

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Old Jun 19, 2022 | 02:13 AM
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Originally Posted by SDVette
Agree with Jim.
Very few differences between 59 and 60.. but that is one of the bigger ones!
Probably close to 100 changes! Seat covers, tack, ashtray, glove box cove, headlight design., Vin tag location, heads, valve cover design(straight to staggered), hood design, wheel colors, valve stem caps, brass to aluminum radiators, expansion tank, spacer behind fan blade, radiator shrouds, change from the one piece air cleaners, heat sealed windows in 60 conv. tops, interior carpets, tee nuts in 60 to retain side door weatherstripping......
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Old Jun 19, 2022 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by scopeli
Probably close to 100 changes! Seat covers, tack, ashtray, glove box cove, headlight design., Vin tag location, heads, valve cover design(straight to staggered), hood design, wheel colors, valve stem caps, brass to aluminum radiators, expansion tank, spacer behind fan blade, radiator shrouds, change from the one piece air cleaners, heat sealed windows in 60 conv. tops, interior carpets, tee nuts in 60 to retain side door weatherstripping......

And all of these things add up to a better engineered car even though at first glance they appear the same.
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Old Jun 19, 2022 | 11:08 PM
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Two other ones, addition of rear torsion bar on 60 and emblem change in cove behind grab bar.
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Old Jun 20, 2022 | 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 59BlueSilver
Two other ones, addition of rear torsion bar on 60 and emblem change in cove behind grab bar.
The cove was mentioned
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