Hard Top C3?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
If what you are looking for is a fixed roof like the 1963-1967 cars have, then I think one way would be to glass-in one of those "AstroTops". The AstroTop has the window gaskets in place.
Seems to me like this would be pretty straight forward to do. People have differing opinions as to the desireability of this mod. Like fender flares, flames, custom paint, a fixed roof would reduce the potential number of people interested in you car if you would ever sell it.
That said, it is your car, please yourself!
If you do the mod, post a picture.
Seems to me like this would be pretty straight forward to do. People have differing opinions as to the desireability of this mod. Like fender flares, flames, custom paint, a fixed roof would reduce the potential number of people interested in you car if you would ever sell it.
That said, it is your car, please yourself!
If you do the mod, post a picture.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
Sure! I'm in the process of doing it. I wanted a convertible so I chopped it and am doing it. The soft top is too expensive and I decided to go with a hardtop. This way I can still drive in wet weather but when I go out on nice days and want the breeze, I leave the top at home.
Here's a link that someone started and has alot of pictures.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...e-bye-top.html
Here's a link that someone started and has alot of pictures.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...e-bye-top.html
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Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
Likes: 6,209
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Seems to me like this would be pretty straight forward to do. People have differing opinions as to the desireability of this mod. Like fender flares, flames, custom paint, a fixed roof would reduce the potential number of people interested in you car if you would ever sell it.
I suppose it's possible to make it into a tricycle too, but that's probably not a great idea either.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Tampa by way of MIAMI! FL
I think it is kind of a cool idea. Sort of like a Retro C5 ZO6. It could be a what if they got the idea 25 years earlier. See if you can get your hands on a C3 hard top off of a vert and bond it it could be cool it would be less to leak too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Going this route may have potential, but I wouldn't chop up a vert to accomplish it. IMHO, for structural integrity, leave the original coupe birdcage in tact in as much as it's possible.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Tampa by way of MIAMI! FL
Yeah and Coupes are a little more readily available and cheaper too. The end result would look the same. The best bet would be to get a base coupe and make it what ya want. It could be fun.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 675
From: FL
Coupes and convertibles have totally different rooflines. In fact, GM used convertibles as the base for racers in the late 60's and glassed on the hardtop for structural integrity. It was also more aerodynamic.
Owens Corning race car with hardtop glassed on:
1975 Coupe roofline:
1975 Convertible with hardtop:
Owens Corning race car with hardtop glassed on:
1975 Coupe roofline:
1975 Convertible with hardtop:
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Tampa by way of MIAMI! FL
I understand the roof line's are different but glass isn't that hard to work with. If an abomonation is being made one should not be scared to use a SAWZALL. lol I mean if I was gonna do something like this I would want a trunk too. lol
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
For all practical purposes when a hard top is bolted in place you have a hardtop. When I have my hardtop on, the car is a LOT more rigid, or perhaps I should say the frame is less flexible. The gap around the back of the hardtop is wider than it would be if the top were really part of the body, but it is not that objectionable to most people. Glassing it in would really screw up the car and like others have said, pretty much kill the value of the car.
Rumor has it that you could buy an early C3 "convertible" without the soft top but with the hardtop for the same price as the soft top only. I don't know if it is true, but in any case, an early C3 with only the hardtop is great looking, and with the top off a nice open air car. With the top glassed on, it wouldn't be nearly as nice. And I'm saying this as the owner of 2 ZO6s (serially that is) with non-removable tops.
Rumor has it that you could buy an early C3 "convertible" without the soft top but with the hardtop for the same price as the soft top only. I don't know if it is true, but in any case, an early C3 with only the hardtop is great looking, and with the top off a nice open air car. With the top glassed on, it wouldn't be nearly as nice. And I'm saying this as the owner of 2 ZO6s (serially that is) with non-removable tops.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 761
Likes: 0
From: san jose California
i was thinking of doing this also.. my way would have been with an astro top, then glassing that on. my concern was that with some body flex that the seem between the top and the actual roof arch would crack. im still debating... but i think it would be awsome.. maybe even make the doors simular to the 67 hard tops
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
PeteZ06 makes a good argument, and I think he is right about having been able to buy a C3/vert with either top (or both). Also, there's been a bit of adverse feedback about the AstroTops; enough so that I wouldn't risk going that route.
