Replacement T-Tops
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Replacement T-Tops
Gents, have been looking at replacement t-tops for my 82. I currently have just the body colored set original to the car. I do have some cores for the glass type that I could exchange. I looked at most of the vette vendors and they sell them for basically $1000 plus shipping, give or take $50 bux. They all seem to get them from Melrose tops. Harkema auto sells them for $865 plus shipping if you have the cores but they also have an acrylic version for about $50 bux less that are apparently lighter and less fragile than glass. They are mirrored outside with a bluish look from the inside like most of the originals. I was curious if anyone tried the acrylic ones and what they thought of them? I was worried about scratches but they are advertised as scratch resisitant. Any thoughts appreciated. I know some here arent happy with Harkema from a search of posts.
ESU
ESU
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
I visited Melrose and I liked, the reflective glass best, no exactly original but close. I am going to visit Astro in AL when I take my daughter back to college in August. I like the blue on the inside of the top from Astro but worried about build quality.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Hmmm, wasnt aware of astro. Just looked at their site, the blue tops would go well with my dark blue '82 and the price is inexpensive to say the least. Going to give them a call. Have you seen any Astro products? Why the quality concern? I would like the mirrored outside though, these look like same color out and in. Probably acrylic also, not glass. Love your cinnabar interior by the way,,,,,,
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
I had some t tops that were a plastic of some sort....they were not glass and unfortunatley one seperated from the frame and went airborne on the highway. other then that mishap i liked them very much......the mirroring kept the heat out and it wound up giving me lots more head room. i dont think mine were a high quality unit and there was no real issue with scratches in them. I also dont think the guy who had the car before me really gave them much love either. i would not be scared of the plastic ones if they came from a reputable source...
i looked at the websit and my tint was closer to the smoked gray color then the blue.
i looked at the websit and my tint was closer to the smoked gray color then the blue.
Last edited by bobs77vet; May 11, 2011 at 02:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
I may have to put this project on hold. I sold a spare M1131 original glass top that I had sitting around the garage in order to help fund the purchase of the new tops. I packed it in 3 rolls of bubble wrap and shipped it off to the buyer in michigan. Unfortunately it arrived there broken and even though it was insured UPS is blaming it on my packaging not the fact that one of their employees probably dropped it from a height of 6 feet and they are refusing my claim. They also said the box was not a double wall corregated box whatever that means. They really should have said up front when I purchased the insurance that because my box was inferior that I wouldnt be paid if it was broken even though i took out insurance. Now I have to appeal and so far out the $350 I sold the top for plus now out the top also.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: Pace Florida
Hmmm, wasnt aware of astro. Just looked at their site, the blue tops would go well with my dark blue '82 and the price is inexpensive to say the least. Going to give them a call. Have you seen any Astro products? Why the quality concern? I would like the mirrored outside though, these look like same color out and in. Probably acrylic also, not glass. Love your cinnabar interior by the way,,,,,,
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Cory
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 262
Likes: 3
From: Philly Suburbs (Pa.)
I may have to put this project on hold. I sold a spare M1131 original glass top that I had sitting around the garage in order to help fund the purchase of the new tops. I packed it in 3 rolls of bubble wrap and shipped it off to the buyer in michigan. Unfortunately it arrived there broken and even though it was insured UPS is blaming it on my packaging not the fact that one of their employees probably dropped it from a height of 6 feet and they are refusing my claim. They also said the box was not a double wall corregated box whatever that means. They really should have said up front when I purchased the insurance that because my box was inferior that I wouldnt be paid if it was broken even though i took out insurance. Now I have to appeal and so far out the $350 I sold the top for plus now out the top also.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
