I'm thinking of purchasing a 68-75 convt. If I need to get a hardtop for one, how much can I expect to pay, and will one top fit all those years? I have come to appreciate all the help from the Forum Senior members here. Thanks a million.

 

Hardtops can run anywhere from a couple hundred for a fixer-upper, to over 1000$ for a bolt on and go. Chances are you will have to repaint it to your color anyway, so take that into account when shopping. Vinyl are ok because they kinda go with any color. Personally I prefer painted tops. The headliner is another issue. It also has to match the interior of your car, unless you are going to re-dye it, which isn't a real big deal.
Now for the tops......68's are a little different in that they don't have a center mounting position on the rear bow. Also, 68's don't have the stainless tips in the corners, which generally means the tips tend to get broken. Unless your car is a 68, I might suggest you get a 69-75 top, which I think are the same. The 68 will fit any c3 up to 75, but the others are the same (I think).
Ebay is a good place for tops, however shipping can kill the price, so I would suggest trying to find one close to you. Best place is a local show/ swap meet. Good deals are out there. Make sure the top you find has all the stainless trim, as this is not reproduced and very expensive if you can find it. Another issue is weatherstrip. Repro kits are over 300$ (ouch), so take this into account when shopping. Basically, make sure the top is complete. The parts to restore it are crazy. Don't worry about paint, as you will probably have to repaint it anyway. You should be able to get a decent hardtop for under 700$ that may just need a repaint. Good luck.

 

Thanks, this helps alot. At least I have a starting point now. I had a feeling the 68 was different. Do you know if 68 or 69's came with them as an option., or did they start the removeable hardtop option in 70?

 

I'm not sure if this true or not but.....Do OEM hardtops bought over the counter after '68 have the 3 latches in back or only 2?

 

It was an option, or (again, I think) you could order a convertible with either one or the other as standard, but not both, then it became an option. My 68 has both and the hardtop is original to the car. What year is your car?

 

The three bolts in the rear of the hardtop began about middle of the '69 model year. My '69 is an early one with two bolt mounting holes, so when I found a 3-bolt hardtop for it I had to remove the center bolt.

 

I'm still looking. So basically any C3 hardtop will or can be made to fit any C3 convt.? Is that right?

 

I'm not sure if these hardtops will fit. I guess nobody here knows. I wouldn't even know where to tell you to look. I believe there is a book that you can get through "Mid America" that has C3 parts interchangeability info.

 

TRY THIS SITE

http://www.smoothline.com/

 

Just a question, why do you want the hardtop? When I did my car I was bound and determined that I had to have one-even though my friend that painted it told me I'd never use it. The only time it has been on the car was when I moved. I don't drive much unless the top is down. I wouldn't do it again if I had the chance. Now that it's painted I guess I'll keep it but all it does now is collect dust and take up room. If it comes with the car, keep it. If you have to buy one, don't bother IMHO.

 

Paid $500 for a nice top with perfect headliner. All it needed was to be painted to match the car..

 

I have a '72 vert that originaly came with both tops, however the previous owner sold the hardtop before I bought the car from him. The verts that came with the hardtop have the center hole in the deck lid, I thought I would get one for mine, but over the last 8 years, I have decided that is the last thing I would buy and then only if I have the space and a lift to take it on and off, takes two people. SO my advice to you is to look for the car you want, chrome bumper, rubber bumper, small block, big block, auto, 4 speed, etc. When you find it buy it and if it comes with the hard top, good, if not(it should be a little cheaper) then enjoy the car a year or so before you spend the money to get a hard top, cause there will be more urgent needs for the money. One more thing to consider is that the side glass can be adjusted to fit one or the other, but usually doesn't fit both perfectly. See the AIM or some other manual.

 

Thanks. What is AIM?

 

AIM is assembly manual that shows all the parts, the service manual gives the instructions. Here is a link to an online article on glass and top adjustment for a '71, but is the same for several years.

http://www.71corvette.com/cn-apr/25.jpg


Ps the link is for one page, there is 6 in all here is main link

http://www.71corvette.com/wt.html

 

It's a matter of taste, some actually like the look and prefer it to the soft top. Kinda the best of both worlds. I've owned my 68 since 1985 and my tastes have changed (refined)....I have PO2's as well, though most think they are not so nice. It's a pain to take off and on, but looks good. I also don't drive it like I used to as well.......I've slowed down (want to be around to enjoy it w/ the Family). take care and good luck finding your top.

 

I like the P02s as well. And I agree that it is a matter of taste. I personally see no reason to pay extra to buy a convertible and then run around with the hardtop on. The removable rear window on the coupe is much nicer than the fixed window on the hardtop. I know the hardtops have better aerodynamics for a race car, but my point is are you really going to use it on a cruiser? If you have a 'vert, don't you want to put the top down? I would take it if it came with a car of course, but I would not again pay to find one and paint it just to sit around. My .02

 

My buddy has a 66 and his hardtop has sat on a stand for the entire 5 years he's owned it. Basically if you need a top, the car isn't coming out of the garage. I think that's how I would approach it too if it were my car.

 

I bought a hardtop to use at the track. A soft top means I am done if I go faster than 13.49. with the hardtop I am good to (I think) 11.49. any faster and I need to add roll bar/cage. I try to get there 2 or 3 times a year, the last one usually in October. Then I leave it on until the nest year. It really only takes a few minutes to put on/ take off.

 

That's good advice, thanks.

 

My cousin Hector took a sawsall to my Little Leezard coupe. Opened her up like a can of chili peppers man. It takes about 45 min. to unscrew the top on nice weekends. I don't mind I like working on her. People ask me all the time, "What is it"?

That's my Little Leezard man.


What is a PO2?