78 - 82 Coupe soft top
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
78 - 82 Coupe soft top
I am in the process of building a folding soft top to replace my '82 T-Tops. The frame will be sealed hardwood painted black hinged to fold in four sections. It will have the same six pins and a simplified latch to secure it to the car and use the repro OEM weatherstripping. I will cover the frame with a padded stayfast convertable top material. I am trying to judge level of interest in this from other C3 owners to decide on setting up to manufacture these. There are almost no other accesories like this.
This top would be a secure at speed, attractive, weatherproof and more affordable and easier to stow than the t-tops. If I decide to produce this Top, the frame(s) will most likely be a polymer casting and I will use repro replacement latches. My target would be to sell this for less than $500.00.
Please respond to my thread and let me know your interest level.
I will post some pictures of my prototype once it is in a decent state of completion.
This top would be a secure at speed, attractive, weatherproof and more affordable and easier to stow than the t-tops. If I decide to produce this Top, the frame(s) will most likely be a polymer casting and I will use repro replacement latches. My target would be to sell this for less than $500.00.
Please respond to my thread and let me know your interest level.
I will post some pictures of my prototype once it is in a decent state of completion.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I wish you well. It has been done before but I am afraid the company went bankrupt around 1984. I had a set for my 1979 and the quality was A++. The top was patented in the USA but I would imagine that has expired.
Last edited by Paul L; Nov 29, 2011 at 05:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
I have a friend locally that has a set of the old AMTops. They were made back in the 80's and are hard to find, and yes they are out of business and my research indicates they never filed a patent. They are well made, with a hinged metal frame but really don't fit well or look very great on his '79 and the windows don't seal very well on the top. I am making mine to fit like the factory T-Tops but look like a one piece targa top when installed. I have been bandsawing and fitting the frame pattern so it fits tight and lays good and I'm almost there.
The RainCoat that is currently for sale is flimsy and held on with velcro. I'm not putting anything on my car unless it looks as good or better than factory.
The RainCoat that is currently for sale is flimsy and held on with velcro. I'm not putting anything on my car unless it looks as good or better than factory.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I have a friend locally that has a set of the old AMTops. They were made back in the 80's and are hard to find, and yes they are out of business and my research indicates they never filed a patent. They are well made, with a hinged metal frame but really don't fit well or look very great on his '79 and the windows don't seal very well on the top. I am making mine to fit like the factory T-Tops but look like a one piece targa top when installed. I have been bandsawing and fitting the frame pattern so it fits tight and lays good and I'm almost there.
The RainCoat that is currently for sale is flimsy and held on with velcro. I'm not putting anything on my car unless it looks as good or better than factory.
The RainCoat that is currently for sale is flimsy and held on with velcro. I'm not putting anything on my car unless it looks as good or better than factory.
They were nicely made but as you say they are a bit loosey-goosey in terms of fit. But nevertheless they were just fine and very convenient when you went to a car show without t-tops and the rain clouds rolled in. I believe that was their limited purpose and they performed well to keep water off the interior. But I can't imagine trying them on the highway at 70mph. But again I do not believe they were designed for that.
The Velcro offerings of the last 10 years or so have never impressed me but others may disagree. I must admit I have driven a 1967 coupe and a 1974 convertible in that time period so my comment is not based on experience, just a feeling (-) for the design.
Sounds like you are innovative and on to something. People here on the Forum have repeatedly craved for those AMT tops. Carrying around bulky fiberglass and fragile smoked glass original t-tops ($$s) is a pain. If you come up with a solid design I have no doubt you will find a market.
Good luck! Keep us up-to-date.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 4
From: LI NY
I was given the Fox raincoat as a gift and I only use it when I park because I will not put the velcro on my car. I would love an alternative because the weather does change fast sometimes in the summer and I hate having the tops on and carrying them can be a pain, even more so for the 77's and older. Being able to drive with something that folds up without velcro would be awesome.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 176
Likes: 9
From: Uttendorf - Austria
Law and Sheriff here in Europe tell us to take with us some parts as 1.aid kit, breakdown triangle and so on, extinguisher is also inside, radio and speakers also are in a small box behind the seats because orig. radio doesnt work but I dont want to take it out.
Last weekend I had to go more than 300 mls to 1st Classic Corvette Rallye, wife with me
Then next day 200 mls "Rallye" , 3rd day nearly 400 mls back to home ....
weather was sunny, sometimes rain or just cloudy - so we had to take the tops with us for that 3 days.
But I love it to drive without the tops so the luggage room was very small and no, my wife didnt take too much with her
That is why I am looking for a smaller top, the big tops really need too much space
Last edited by stocki26; Jul 16, 2012 at 02:38 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,500
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Ohio
I'm presently in the process of building a prototype of a pseudo-soft top for the 78-82 Corvette. It will be a one piece top built on a metal braced lightweight pine frame and be covered with black marine vinyl to simulate a highly polished canvas top. The designing and hand building has taken quite a bit of time but I'm almost finished with it. After I install it and run it through tests on my 1980 I will be making any necessary adjustments and changes to insure high quality. When and if I make it available it will come in a high variety of colors. It will mount utilizing the same mounts that come stock on the vehicle and will have a tight secure fit and be highly water tight. When it's finished I may post photo's on this site but being a forum site it will not be advertised or sold here.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
I'm presently in the process of building a prototype of a pseudo-soft top for the 78-82 Corvette. It will be a one piece top built on a metal braced lightweight pine frame and be covered with black marine vinyl to simulate a highly polished canvas top. The designing and hand building has taken quite a bit of time but I'm almost finished with it. After I install it and run it through tests on my 1980 I will be making any necessary adjustments and changes to insure high quality. When and if I make it available it will come in a high variety of colors. It will mount utilizing the same mounts that come stock on the vehicle and will have a tight secure fit and be highly water tight. When it's finished I may post photo's on this site but being a forum site it will not be advertised or sold here.
Show us what you come up with. I'll pick up on mine again after I finish a few other projects.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 176
Likes: 9
From: Uttendorf - Austria
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Ohio
I have had to put this project on hold since late August. I guess it will be a winter project to finish. I have seen a 'raincoat' offered by a seller on ebay I thought it was a bit expensive and I'm not sure it would fit a "69 but I do believe it is for all C3's. I can look for it and send you the link later if you wish.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
I picked up my AM (not AMT) top about 7 years ago. They were in pristine condition. Did not look to be ever used. Had both sets of front mounting pins, early and late, and storage bags. $200 on Ebay. They show up occasionally. Keep looking.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 386
Likes: 13
Hi, would love to see the prototype tops - great idear, i just picked up a set the amt tops from the 1980's company witch does not exist anymore- and the reponce from my friends is amazement - most of them have never seen a product like that, and most of them have been to thousands of car shows , had offers to sell them already- but will not, picked them up on craigs list and bought them sight unseen ( description only ) for $100 - if you are designing a product like this i think you will do well- good luck
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 6,212
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
You are responding to a thread thats been dead for 2 years.
Both the OP and others suggesting product development were also breaking forum rules by gauging interest in a product while being a Non Supporting Vendor.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/foru...l-posting.html
Supporting vendors pay for the considerable bandwidth charges on the Forum, making it free for the rest of us. In exchange, they get the privilege of using the Forum to market and promote their goods and services.
Forum members are welcome to sell a Corvette or Corvette parts they purchased for their own personal use. They also are welcome to use the Forum to purchase items for their personal use. Anything else is considered to be a commercial sale or a commercial purchase for the purpose of re-selling.
Only supporting vendors can post Group Purchase threads. Only supporting vendors are permitted to post threads to gauge interest in a product.
Both the OP and others suggesting product development were also breaking forum rules by gauging interest in a product while being a Non Supporting Vendor.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/foru...l-posting.html
Supporting vendors pay for the considerable bandwidth charges on the Forum, making it free for the rest of us. In exchange, they get the privilege of using the Forum to market and promote their goods and services.
Forum members are welcome to sell a Corvette or Corvette parts they purchased for their own personal use. They also are welcome to use the Forum to purchase items for their personal use. Anything else is considered to be a commercial sale or a commercial purchase for the purpose of re-selling.
Only supporting vendors can post Group Purchase threads. Only supporting vendors are permitted to post threads to gauge interest in a product.