My Winter Project - Hardtop
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I've got a black vinyl hardtop for mine......have never used it. It's a two man job to put on & off, difficult to store and if your not careful it can chew up the paint on the rear deck.....having said all that a black vinyl top would nice on yours matching the soft top. 
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 243
Likes: 2
From: North Georgia
Paul,
doing the same thing too.....got a hardtop for my 74 and am getting it painted to match and have to dye the inside...
as far as earlier post said about top marking body Corvette Central sells a clear strip that goes on car when hard top in use to keep that from happening.....
doing the same thing too.....got a hardtop for my 74 and am getting it painted to match and have to dye the inside...
as far as earlier post said about top marking body Corvette Central sells a clear strip that goes on car when hard top in use to keep that from happening.....
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Paul,
doing the same thing too.....got a hardtop for my 74 and am getting it painted to match and have to dye the inside...
as far as earlier post said about top marking body Corvette Central sells a clear strip that goes on car when hard top in use to keep that from happening.....
doing the same thing too.....got a hardtop for my 74 and am getting it painted to match and have to dye the inside...
as far as earlier post said about top marking body Corvette Central sells a clear strip that goes on car when hard top in use to keep that from happening.....
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Hey! That's my car!! So looking at my rear deck, it shows I have a hole where the center pin on the hard-top would go. And my hard-top does not have the pin. If you have removed yours, would you be willing to sell me it? Did they only put them in 68-73 hardtops??
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Yup. Plus, no 1968 hardtop ever had the rear center mounting bracket. That was added in very late 1969.
This from a thread when I was considering buying the top and wondered what year it was.
But I believe that center hole was only on cars delivered with the hardtop. I am not about to drill a hole in my rear deck.
Last edited by Paul L; Nov 14, 2012 at 07:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I'm am probably going with black vinyl. This should be fun and $$$s. I'll take the headliner out tomorrow. I think I have figured it out. Beyond the Velcro, those nuts on the side panels confused me but I will sort that out.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,719
Likes: 95
From: Saskatchewan, Canada
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
I have a white ht for my blue car. I would like to match it to my blue car, but I think it would have to be a perfect match or it would look funny. How do you get a perfect match? not only color, but finish also.
Last edited by PRNDL; Nov 14, 2012 at 10:02 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,719
Likes: 95
From: Saskatchewan, Canada
Personally, I would repaint the top to match the body color of your car although it doesn't look half bad as white. A different look.
Although the numbers and pale blue stripes gotta go (JMO). BK3 
Last edited by bkvette3; Nov 14, 2012 at 10:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I like these old Corvette projects. Even if I don't eventually use them. Sometimes I do and sometimes not. But I would certainly like a black vinyl hardtop on my 1974 for a couple of months each year. The Wife says why; it's a convertible. I don't have a good answer for that. Keeps your hair in place?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I agree that vinyl covered hard tops look great on the C3. But if it were me I think I'd paint it the body color of your car.
The reason I say that is because it gives you the option to change your cars appearance since your soft top is already black.
It's kind of like having 2 cars in one.
The reason I say that is because it gives you the option to change your cars appearance since your soft top is already black.
It's kind of like having 2 cars in one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
That kind of looks like a vert top.