8valve

My 74 has the optional luggage rack on the rear deck. I have never had the need to use it and find it a ugly eye sore.

I am in the process of a total repaint. I have to make a decision does the luggage rack stay or get lost. Now is the time if it gets lost to fill the mount holes.

I am curious, how many of you that have the luggage rack have ever used it. SO what to all you happy luggage rack owners have to say

8Valve

71 Green 454

I used mine once in 1976 to carry a cooler full of beer. Get rid of it!

Iceaxe

Luggage racks belong on station wagons and mini vans.

Easy Mike

I inherited one with my 74. I used it.

kdf1986

I have luggage racks on my 72 and 73. I think they look better with the chrome bumpers because the chrome blends together. On my 75 I do not have one, and would have taken it off if it was there. Because of the plastic/fiberglass bumper I dont like the luggage racks on the 74-77 cars.

kdf

vettebuyer6369

I couldn't take mine off my '69 fast enough.

Other people like them.

It's all personal preference. However, if you choose to remove it, get a shop that knows what they are doing, because many hole fill ins come back.

Alan 71

Hi 8v,
I put a rack on my 71 in 71.
I pretty quickly wished I hand't but really couldn't do anything about it because of the 6 holes in the deck that are left when the rack is removed.
When the car was repainted in 2004-2005 the person who painted the car filled the holes.
There is a precise procedure to follow in filling the holes to insure they won't become visible in a couple of years.
Regards,
Alan

Holes are ground out on both upper and lower sides into a round tapered 'v'. The repair is done with fiberglass and resin and no filler of any kind. The repair is about the size of a silver dollar.

DUB

I agree with the prep of the area prior to laminating. That method of prepping both sides is often times considered a 'sure fire way' of making sure your lamination does not 'pop out'. But..in reality...if the panel is correctly prepped the lamination can not pop out.

Because if this mentality of prep is required to keep a lamination stuck to the panel....then what about the countless laminations I have done that are applied directly on the top surface with NO underside prep. I am just saying that is is NOT a requirement....BUT...IF you choose to not prep the underside and laminate it...you better get the top side prepped and tapered RIGHT!

I can say for a fact that you CAN use a filler. You just have to know which one to use....and depending on other variables..it is wise to use heat lamps AFTER the resin had initially cured and cure it more with heat lamps.

And YES...the diameter of the repair SHOULD NOT be any smaller than a silver dollar...I prefer it to be more than that.

DUB

rcread

Luggage racks are a classic sports car look. You probably wouldn't need one if you don't go on long road trips. My wife and I take our '71 convertible from Seattle to Sonoma for two weeks. There is minimal room for luggage, so we play up the fact that the car has a luggage rack with a vintage Louis Vuitton suitcase that I bought on eBay, held on by some leather belts.

resdoggie

I'll keep my rack, thanks. I need it for my t-top storage.

ENCSDOUG

My 74 has the optional luggage rack on the rear deck. I have never had the need to use it and find it a ugly eye sore.

Sounds like you already have your answer. Remove it. The rack would cover my Le Mans gas filler.

LS4 PILOT

My 74 has the dealer installed GM . I'm sure they added it before they sat the car on the lot .
It was popular on sports cars in the 60-70's ....you'd see em sports cars ...as they were drivers back then and maybe practical if it is your only car.
I don't like it .....but not much can be done at this point . I'm not repainting the car to get rid of it. I was told how hard it was 25 years ago by my body shop friends to hide the holes.

If I didn 't have one I d never add it.

It is what it is at this point ......a giant wart on the fear.

rcread

It's funny because when I was a kid, all the old people loved luggage racks and I thought they were tacky. Now that I'm 50, all the guys in their 20s love to see luggage racks on sports cars and us old guys aren't really fond of them.

7T1vette

I have one on my '71 and I like it. I also use it. For car shows, I have a big framed signboard and case that I bungee on to the rack. No problems. Sure wouldn't fit inside!!!

I think the racks look fine on coupes that are a dark color and still have Rally rims and chrome trim rings. I don't think they look that good on light colored cars or on convertibles. Just my .02....

If you won't be using it, remove it before painting. BUT...you will also have to fill the holes PROPERLY so that the fill process won't shrink and leave dimples AND you need to prime those holes with a GOOD primer that will allow final paint to stay the same color between deck and patched holes. Do it wrong and you will forever see those hole marks!!!

The Hot Rod Grille

Always been a big fan of a nice rack ...... just not on a car (especially a Corvette!).

riverracer au

where else do you put your tops?

rmgny44

My car came with a rack! I've never used it but it doesn't bother me being there! In fact I agree with ADF, I think they look good on chrome bumper cars.

Richard Daugird

I took mine off. Not only did I not like the look, it was in bad shape and rubbed on the gas filler. The more I look at them the less I dislike them. Maybe I'll put one back on?

AdamMeh

I don't mind them on the chrome bumper cars, but we removed the rack on our '77.

Alan 71

Hi r au,
Maybe behind the seats?
Regards,
Alan