great post, now I have to get a cloth to clean the coffee off my laptop!!!
Why not more convertibles?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Originally Posted by rajsid
If verts were unsafe, I am wondering why most of the road race vettes from the 60's are all verts? Would adding a hard top make a vert as save as the coupe?
If verts were unsafe, I am wondering why most of the road race vettes from the 60's are all verts? Would adding a hard top make a vert as save as the coupe?
that John Greenwood who did do all kinds of testing on the subject learned that the convertible with hard top in place was more aerodynamic than the coupes...with the addition of roll bars being a must for most all racers the coupe and vert are even on safety....
I also would bet that a vert with hardtop all bolted in would be "AS" safe as a coupe...both without rollbars....the "T" bar in a coupe is no roll bar as some like to call it.
Before you argue or flame me on this one...go to Greenwood
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,714
Likes: 32
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
One more thing...1975 was the LAST year the convertible was priced CHEAPER than a coupe. When they came back in 1985, the convertible was priced HIGHER than than the coupe and it hasn't changed since.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Spokane Washington
Sports cars are convertibles
Sports car were always considered convertables. Especially in europe. Sports cars (convertible two seaters) were not driven every day, hence not always in the weather. Especially in England. Convertibles take more care, so if you wanted a sports car that you could comfortably use every day you got a convertible with a hard top. Eventually that was too hard so they offered a coupe. But a true sports car was a convertible. Touring cars were not always convertibles.
Then off course the US feds got involved, and we forgot a sports car is a convertible. Buy a sports car or compromise. Many Americans are too lazy to own a real sports car. Not corvette people of course. So lets not argue beauty. Real or unreal is the question. But buy what you like, that is more important. For me, a two seater should be a convertible and a 4 seater a hard top.
thanks
Cal
Then off course the US feds got involved, and we forgot a sports car is a convertible. Buy a sports car or compromise. Many Americans are too lazy to own a real sports car. Not corvette people of course. So lets not argue beauty. Real or unreal is the question. But buy what you like, that is more important. For me, a two seater should be a convertible and a 4 seater a hard top.
thanks
Cal
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Suffered a reality check in my vert last weekend.
I was stopped in heavy holiday traffic .... crap gas/carb had loaded up a bit ... so motor began to run just a bit rough ... its minor lope was a bit more pronounced. But then, Horrors ... I look down a bit further & I see ... IT! Praise be to God the light changed & I was on my way again.
When I got home, I shared this with my wife & we both had a laugh ... as we both have ... IT.
What is IT ?
Too much belly & mine was jiggling in resonance with my vert motor's lope.
I can only imagine some occupants of surrounding SUVs got a chuckle.
I was stopped in heavy holiday traffic .... crap gas/carb had loaded up a bit ... so motor began to run just a bit rough ... its minor lope was a bit more pronounced. But then, Horrors ... I look down a bit further & I see ... IT! Praise be to God the light changed & I was on my way again.
When I got home, I shared this with my wife & we both had a laugh ... as we both have ... IT.
What is IT ?
Too much belly & mine was jiggling in resonance with my vert motor's lope.
I can only imagine some occupants of surrounding SUVs got a chuckle.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,435
Likes: 793
From: Redondo Beach, California
I'd always thought that as long as you don't hit a curb sideways, a Corvette is impossible to roll over. But last summer I say a video of a AC Cobra get sideways and then roll over. So I guess it's not impossible after all.
I find my 68 Convertible to be a "heads up" car on the freeway. You have to be actively involved in steering it and the suspension is very firm - a lot of body flexing. It has stock PS but the suspension is VBP #550 springs in the front and a 360 (?) lb/inch monospring. I refer to it as a four wheel motorcycle. Now that I'm not so sure about what it's roll over characteristics are, I'm pretty conservative driving it - at least until I get more used to it.
The 68 Convertible hardtop that came with the car was terrible. It didn't fit well and flopped and twisted around when driving on a rough road. The top tore up the windshield attach holes (at the extreme ends of the top of the windshield). To replace them, I had to remove the windshield. After that I never used the hardtop.
I find my 68 Convertible to be a "heads up" car on the freeway. You have to be actively involved in steering it and the suspension is very firm - a lot of body flexing. It has stock PS but the suspension is VBP #550 springs in the front and a 360 (?) lb/inch monospring. I refer to it as a four wheel motorcycle. Now that I'm not so sure about what it's roll over characteristics are, I'm pretty conservative driving it - at least until I get more used to it.
The 68 Convertible hardtop that came with the car was terrible. It didn't fit well and flopped and twisted around when driving on a rough road. The top tore up the windshield attach holes (at the extreme ends of the top of the windshield). To replace them, I had to remove the windshield. After that I never used the hardtop.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
........Now that I'm not so sure about what it's roll over characteristics are, I'm pretty conservative driving it - at least until I get more used to it.
The 68 Convertible hardtop that came with the car was terrible. It didn't fit well and flopped and twisted around when driving on a rough road. The top tore up the windshield attach holes (at the extreme ends of the top of the windshield). To replace them, I had to remove the windshield. After that I never used the hardtop.
The 68 Convertible hardtop that came with the car was terrible. It didn't fit well and flopped and twisted around when driving on a rough road. The top tore up the windshield attach holes (at the extreme ends of the top of the windshield). To replace them, I had to remove the windshield. After that I never used the hardtop.
C3 Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 3
Haha. I did that with the '06 Mustang a few weeks ago. I drove it to work with the top down and got all kinds of "WTF?" stares along the way. 
The wife-unit has put her foot down and told me that I can't get another car without getting rid of one first. If that happens, you can be sure that it will be a convertible C3 that will be the next car in my stable. A sweet looking car, top up or down.
The wife-unit has put her foot down and told me that I can't get another car without getting rid of one first. If that happens, you can be sure that it will be a convertible C3 that will be the next car in my stable. A sweet looking car, top up or down.
C3 Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 3
Granted that times have changed and convertibles are the rage, but after dealing with restoring a '67 Mustang convertible, I know a lot more bracing has to be utilized to keep convertible bodies from flexing. With my restoration, I added at least another 100 pounds of metal to brace the car even more. It worked because I reduced the cowl shake a lot (of course rep[lacing the rusted out floorpans may have helped a lot.)
My '01 Mustang GT had some cowl shake to it, the '06 doesn't have any. I'm willing to bet that todays Corvette Convertibles are the same way - designed to be sturdier than their 60-70's counterparts.
I love all Vettes and definitely wouldn't turn down a C4,5,6 if they were given to me or offered for a great price, I still think the C3 convertible is the best looking Convertible Corvette built.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 646
Likes: 17
From: Hendersonville NC
I owned a 71 roadster back in the day when it was almost new, when it rained i got wet my 71 today leakes just the same. To the rollover issue i spun my car out on a airport autocross course running 90 plus mph the car slid for a ways going round and round the car stayed flat to the pavement and neither side of the car ever lifted.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 171
Likes: 21
From: Las Vegas, NV
It should be "Corvette because life's TOO short"
Generally new car buyers favor hartops (and 4-doors) because they are more practical, but once a car becomes "collectible" (if it does) convertibles are always worth much more.
Manufacturers are now on to the game and often charge huge premiums for convertible models. But I'm sure it doesnt cost that much more (if any) to build one.
Finally, I think a C3 convertible with the top down looks fantastic! A coupe looks better than a conv with the top up (to me), except for the fact that when you see a conv with the top up, you know the top comes down, so it still wins.
Generally new car buyers favor hartops (and 4-doors) because they are more practical, but once a car becomes "collectible" (if it does) convertibles are always worth much more.
Manufacturers are now on to the game and often charge huge premiums for convertible models. But I'm sure it doesnt cost that much more (if any) to build one.
Finally, I think a C3 convertible with the top down looks fantastic! A coupe looks better than a conv with the top up (to me), except for the fact that when you see a conv with the top up, you know the top comes down, so it still wins.
Last edited by smallblock350; Jun 3, 2010 at 02:06 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,435
Likes: 793
From: Redondo Beach, California
Thanks, but I think the real reason was that GM just didn't have their act together with the hard top in 1968. The top came from the factory and when it was on the car it also sat a little sideway. On latter year hard tops, I think they increased the two through the deck lid supports to three. Also, latter year convertibles had a door pin and door jamb retainer to physically connect the door to the body. My issues with the hard top ended when it was stolen out of a Public Storage unit. And...no rust of damaged body mounts,..good idea.., but I did a frame off and there was no rust or mount damages.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 570
Likes: 150
From: Northern Germany
If I look at the lines of my car I'm still amazed how sleek and elegant it looks from all angles. The convertible C3 is the all time best looking car out there in my eyes. Maybe competing with a convertible C2 if I think about it. But no other. Yeah. 69 forever.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 0
Maybe some people liked that the coupe was lighter. These were also the years in which a/c was starting to take over putting an end to hardtops.
I've got an 82 Vette, and just recently got a 76 Eldo vert. Had the opportunity to get a 73 Stang CJ vert, but price was a little high. I'd love to have a Corvette vert and am looking for a C4 vert for a daily driver. Most C3s are nice weather drivers anyway, but like the couple people here I'll probably even have the top down on my future C4 vert even if there is snow and just wear some ski gear haha.
Hmmm interesting, so what would make of my 6 seater convertibles? 76 Eldorado and 62 Lincoln with suicide doors
I've got an 82 Vette, and just recently got a 76 Eldo vert. Had the opportunity to get a 73 Stang CJ vert, but price was a little high. I'd love to have a Corvette vert and am looking for a C4 vert for a daily driver. Most C3s are nice weather drivers anyway, but like the couple people here I'll probably even have the top down on my future C4 vert even if there is snow and just wear some ski gear haha.
Hmmm interesting, so what would make of my 6 seater convertibles? 76 Eldorado and 62 Lincoln with suicide doors
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Maybe, and then again maybe some people just don't like convertibles. Did you ever think of that? I've never owned one, never wanted to own one and most likely will never own one. Back in the 60's nobody that I can remember ever had a convertible muscle car. Then again, nobody I knew back then could afford a vette. BTW, I grew up in Minnesota and 30 below zero winters were not very good for either canvas topped cars or fiberglass sports cars. Air conditioning was a poor seller as well.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
1976, the last convertible
I had 3 of them all fuel injected and loaded with every option in the book. And this was the last to go, actually to Long Island........the total mileage of all three combined was less than 600, the black had only 49.
Last edited by Ironcross; Jun 5, 2010 at 09:30 AM.