Mooser

So I've got two sets of tops for my car (72 but changed over to single lever T-tops). One painted and one glass. Personally I don't tend to run with the tops on but prefer the painted ones.

The Glass ones are the M1131 code and are not cracked and don't seem faded or scratched, everything fine except the weather strip has seen better days (actually it's functional but torn up pretty good where the door window goes in)
Anyways, I've decided to get rid of the glass ones but have been reading differing stories on what they are worth.
Are the M1131 roofs really that rare? Or are they not reproducing them because they are just not popular?
What's your take??
Mooser

Easy Mike

The M1131 tops were introduced on the 78 Pace Cars. After the PC run was completed, they became the standard glass tops for the 78-80 models.

They are not particularly rare and require a little extra care when handling than the 81-82 tempered tops. They break easier.

doctorgene

Easy Mike, I did not know that the earlier tops ( 78-80 ) were standard glass, & the later tops ( 81 & 82 ) were tempered! I have been under the false impression they were all the same. Thank-you for that new info. in my dense brain. Have a great weekend. Gene

Easy Mike

Nope. I usually get this backwards, but I think the M1131s were laminated, while the later tops are tempered. The tempered are supposed to be more resistant to breaking.

Mooser

If what I read is right (grain of salt)
M1131- Laminated, Blue tint, came on factory Corvette's from 1978-81. (81 assembled in St.Louis)
Standard on pace cars, optional on others

M92-A- Tempered, came on factory Corvettes in the year 1982 as standard glass. (81 assembled in Bowling Green)
Grey Color

M94-A- Tempered, came on Collector Edition Corvettes in the year 1982.
Bronze color

M95C- Tempered , current GM replacement mirrored glass.
M125C- Tempered, current GM replacement black glass.
M115- Tempered, blue privacy.

Seems like the rarity is based on how easily they break/crack
Mooser

qwank

they were always optional tops, at least for the St. Louis cars. My '81 came with painted tops. I would be interested in your glass tops if the price is right.

Easy Mike

I hear that.

srs244

i believe the difference is that the 78 pace car tops were mirrored and came with black trim (in addition to being laminated glass vs tempered). the OEM tops that came with my 78 pace car are anything but tinted blue, lol. perhaps those later after the pacecar run were available in different color options. the poster who mentioed their ease of breaking or cracking is absolutely correct. they need to be handled with care at all time and their installation "lock down" tension adjustment is critical as they can be cracked just putting them on and latching them down. the OEM tops (mirrored) would actually start to show a "bronzing" in areas over time through the mirroring. they definitely don't do anything to help keep the interior of the car cool or assist the a/c in efficiency. they will not "accept" the standard t-top headliners offered in later years. i have been using a shield of static cling perferated material on the inside of each top to cut the glare and reduce the heat for a long time. it's a necessity in so florida in the summer if you want to really enjoy the car year round, lol..

Easy Mike

I never really got the "blue" connecton if the term applies to the tint. They've never appeared blue to me.

1BADL82

on my 79 they both say blue on the top, top side is mirror underneath one is blue tint and the other is a tan or bronze color dont know what happened there

doctorgene

Yes Sir; On my 1982, M-1131 safety Flo-Lite Blue Dot 15 As 3 CA LOF The original owner said these are the tops that came on the car, from the dealer. Colonial Chevrolet Corp. 6252 Virginia Beach Blvd. Norfolk, Va. 23510 At an extra cost of 433.00. Is this a lie??? Gene

Tally Ho

I have a set on my 82. They appear silver-blue on the outside but from the inside they are bronze-smoke coloured. They are not original to the car. My guess is the originals were stolen and replaced with the M-1131's as they have a 79 VIN laser etched in them. If I keep the car I will replace them with the black tinted ones as in the picture.

gbvette62

Chevrolet advertised the glass tops as an option starting at the beginning of 1978, for all 78 Corvettes. They were having trouble with them and they were on what I believe GM called a "Production Hold". The tops were finally approved for production in early 1978. GM introduced them on the 78 Pace Car. Once Pace Car production was completed, they were released to regular production, with about 970 Corvettes being built with them before the end of 78 production.

The M1131 came on all Pace Cars and were optional on late 78's and all 79 and 80 Corvettes. The 78-80, M1131 tops are laminated glass with a mirrored slightly blue tint to the glass. All 78-80 Glass tops were marked "Blue" on them, in the lower rear corner, below the LOF logo.

GM was experiencing lots of breakage while assembling the glass tops. In an effort to reduce the amount of breakage, for 1981 they switched from laminated to tempered glass.

M92A tops were installed on all 81's and 82's ordered with CC1 glass tops. These are the tempered glass tops and have a mirrored gray appearance to them. Unlike the earlier laminated tops, that said Blue on them, there is no color marked on these tops. These tops were installed on 81's built at both St, Louis and Bowling Green, as well as 82 Corvettes.

The 82 Collector Editions came standard with glass tops. These were tempered glass, just like the CC1 RPO glass tops offered on regular 82 Corvettes. The CE's glass tops were marked M94A and had a bronze tint to them, as opposed to the gray tint of the regular tempered tops. The CE tops are marked with the word "Bronze" below the LOF logo in the lower rear corners, in the same manner as the earlier laminated "blue" tops.

All factory installed glass tops were made by LOF (Libby, Owens, Ford). Tops with glass from any other manufacturer (PPG, Surelite, etc.), along with ones that are acrylic, are all either replacement glass or aftermarket tops.

As far as value, a matched pair of used glass tops usually sell in the $600-800 range. Non LOF tops bring less than LOF one's. The total number of laminated and tempered glass tops, factory installed, is about the same, roughly 42,000 of each. The laminated M1131's are more likely to crack, so there are probably fewer of them today. All of the tops are dated with 2 letters for the month and year, just like LOF body glass. Blue tops with a May 78 or earlier date, do command a premium, because they are the only ones correct for a Pace Car.

Yes, or more likely just a lapse of memory. Blue laminated tops were never factory installed on any 82 Corvettes.

The "CA" on your tops is the date of manufacture. "C" is November and the "A" is 1979. The tops you have were originally installed on a 1980 Corvette, or sold over the counter by a Chevy dealer in 1980.

Depending on when your 82 was built, the tops should have dates that end in either a "X" (for 1981) or "V" (for 82). Take a look at your body glass. If it is original LOF glass, it will also have 2 letter date codes, all ending in either an X or a V.

hunt4cleanair

In addition, look for the AS1 code (American Standard) for glass tops. Laminated tops are 1/4" thick glass laminated between two layers of 0.015 inch plastic laminate. Windshields also carry the AS1 code (late C3).


The tempered glass tops will carry the AS2 code where the glass is heated and cooled to get the "tempered" effect to strengthen it.


As GB states, the two letter date code, CA, as stated is a November 79 assembly date. The first letter is the month code while the second is the year code. So 1978 assembly dates appear as "J" and those typically installed in Pace Cars will carry something like an XJ, LJ or GJ date code.

80stroker383

Here are a set of M1131 of my 80' and yes one of them crack corner to corner, the PO had purchased new aftermarket one from Ecklers so I sold these for $300 with the crack.

Easy Mike

Bingo. Those look blue. The white background helps to see the tint.

lonzoo

They are worth $500 to me..interested in letting them go ?

pippo350

This topic is interesting !!!

On my '81 both have the following stamp on it:

PPG safety solarcool
solid tempered
AS3 2680 (right) 2616(left)
dot 18 M89.6

If I'm not wrong The T-Top are a replacement,tempered,
AS3=American Standard (3?)
Dot18= department of transortation (18?)

2680 & 2616 ??
M 89.6?

Sorry if hyjack the tread !

gbvette62

Tops with PPG glass are either replacement tops, or re-glassed originals. PPG glass was never used in OEM applications.

I'm not real familiar with PPG products, but that the 2680 and 2616 may be some form of date coding?

Cobratei

I have not seen the 11:31 but I do have a 79 Corvette with bronze tinted glass and the t-tops are m94a tempered, not laminated.