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Coupe or T-Top?

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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 09:48 AM
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Default Coupe or T-Top?

Sometimes I see corvettes listed as being coupes when they have t-tops and some listed as being a t-tops. What it the correct term for these cars? I am more refering to late 60's models.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 10:01 AM
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I would say it's actually both where as the term should be stated as a "T-Top Coupe".
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 10:07 AM
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The only choice for '68 and '69 was Coupe or Convertible. But as I remember, most like to refer to Coupes as T-Tops because it was 'the new hot style' on the market.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 01:30 PM
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If it isn't a convertible, it is a coupe. All C3 coupes have t-tops.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 01:37 PM
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In Corvette '68-'82 World, Coupe = T-Top. Doesn't matter which you say.

Don't think too hard.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 01:40 PM
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it's all the same thing
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 02:49 PM
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The proper terminology used by Chevrolet to designate their Corvette body styles are Coupe or Convertible. The general public has personified the vernacular to include T-Top or Vert.

I prefer to call the Corvette model by its proper name, although I've been known to shorten it sometimes and refer to it as 'vette.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Ak. Mal
If it isn't a convertible, it is a coupe. All C3 coupes have t-tops.
best said right there!
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 04:11 PM
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The proper terminology used by Chevrolet to designate their Corvette body styles are Coupe or Convertible.
Yep, technically Coupe or Convertible. But anything will do. An Corvette guy knows without thinking when you say 71 Coupe you also mean 71 t-top. It only gets confusing when you get to C5/C6 and you have the Convertible, Coupe and the Fixed Roof Coupe (FRC).
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 04:13 PM
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its like saying a 63 swc. all coupes were spit windows same with C3s
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 05:01 PM
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As I remember it the cars were called coupes and had lift-off roof panels. That's how the car is described in the 71 Brochure. Later when Buick Regals and Olds Cutlasses got lift off roof panels they were called T-tops. Soon they were ALL called T-tops.
I still call it a coupe with lift-off roof panels. When I think of a T-top, I think of a 76 Cutlass with a velour interior.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 05:25 PM
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All kinds of stories will surface.
One is that it originally was designed as a Targa like the Porsche and Magnum's Ferrari, but they added the bar for stiffness. All I know is that it is stiffer with it than without.

I still call the C2 midyear and the C1 axle cars.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by noonie
All kinds of stories will surface.
One is that it originally was designed as a Targa like the Porsche and Magnum's Ferrari, but they added the bar for stiffness. All I know is that it is stiffer with it than without.

I still call the C2 midyear and the C1 axle cars.

I thought I recalled they originally wanted a Targa top but did not go that route for stiffness that being said...Could not call it Targa because it was not...No one would want to call it an I-top, that is what it looks like but sounds horrible. No where is there a shape of T, and T-top sounds better...I bet they went with two tops, not only for stiffness, but the fact that you could fit the two tops in the luggage compartment...I doubt you could have gotten a single top stuffed back there....maybe the T is short for Two....who knows.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 05:37 PM
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Coupe

Originally Posted by Vettebuyer5869
In Corvette '68-'82 World, Coupe = T-Top. ...
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