When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Anyone have a recommendation for a T-top suitcase. (I have a 1970.)
These three are the first listed on EBay (Search: C3 Corvette T-top suitcase) and they look similar in the pics, but there's a big price difference. The most expensive of the three, and maybe the other two, are also available through Amazon.
I don’t mind paying a bit more if one is really better, but if they’re all the same might as well go for the least expensive.
Thanks!
Last edited by bigdaddy33; Jun 16, 2020 at 01:32 PM.
Reason: Added pic
My wife bought me one very similar 20 years ago. More of PITA to use packing them in and getting into the car. I think I used it twice.
The original bags and straps in cargo area are easier and just a good.
Putting ONE of those T-tops in the storage compartment is enough of a hassle. I wouldn't want to handle anything TWICE that heavy and fit it back there.
If you just want it for storing them in the garage on a nice day, go for it! For the storage compartment, the bags are just right.
Thanks for the replies. It seemed to me that the suitcase would provide more padding to protect the T-tops. Also seemed it might take up less space and leave a little more room for storage.
Last year I took the T-tops off in May and they didn't go back on till October. I stored them in the individual bags and left them in the garage along with the pop out rear window which I stored in a rifle bag (perfect fit.) Although I only take the car out in good weather, I realize I got lucky last year and didn't get caught in any pop up storms. Since luck only lasts so long, this year I want keep the window and T-tops in the car for emergencies.
Earlier this year I tracked down and refurbished and installed the missing storage tray for the rear window so it's now in the car.
Based on the Amazon reviews and some forum posts, I think the suitcase for the T-tops makes sense for my needs, especially since I hope to put them in the bag once and not need to remove them. I'm just looking for the one which would work best.
I think those are all the same. Most of the Corvette vendors also sell them for ~$80- each.
I have a pair of them. I added extra foam, and the black tops for the 79 still got a few scratches when using them. I have the proper T-Top strap in the back, and the tops live in the car in case my wife is caught in the rain. I use the other bag to store my glass tops (too nice for my 80 right now). They are easy to get in and out of the car if you have the bubble window (78-82).
I have the suitcase and actually like it for both in-car and in-garage storage.
The full case fits snugly in the rear compartment behind the seat. Still a little room on the sides for knick-knacks, etc.
I also like to bring it to car shows. If I drive to the show in cooler morning weather, I'll leave the tops on. Once I arrive, I can remove the tops and put into the case, and then it goes on the ground under the rear of the car for the show.
Most of the summer, the tops stay in the case hanging on a hook on the garage wall.
The stock sleeves and straps were cumbersome to use, and then seemed to take up almost all of the rear compartment, since they are strapped down at opposing angles to their hooks.
I bought one for $35.00 from the original owner who never used it and sold his car. They are heavy with two panels inside.
I use it and leave it in the rear of my coupe. I don't try to remove it as one. If it starts to look dark outside, I just pull over and unzip it
and remove one at a time. I like the fact I can reach both panels w/o having to ask my passenger to get out. The original configuration
was practical from the designers point of view but in real world a PIA to remove and insert.
Marshal
I bought mine from Zip for about $100. My car didn't have bags when I bought it and the PO put a large sub in the back. The tops sit in the bag ok, but I would have preferred them to be felt lined rather than the nylon material. My sub still interferes a little when I put the bag in, but I and the passenger can fit in. Any remaining storage is to the side of the bag, it fills the compartment top to bottom pretty well. Since I have never had the originals I can't compare though.
I have the suitcase and actually like it for both in-car and in-garage storage.
The full case fits snugly in the rear compartment behind the seat. Still a little room on the sides for knick-knacks, etc.
I also like to bring it to car shows. If I drive to the show in cooler morning weather, I'll leave the tops on. Once I arrive, I can remove the tops and put into the case, and then it goes on the ground under the rear of the car for the show.
Most of the summer, the tops stay in the case hanging on a hook on the garage wall.
The stock sleeves and straps were cumbersome to use, and then seemed to take up almost all of the rear compartment, since they are strapped down at opposing angles to their hooks.
I do exactly the same thing with mine for car shows. Drive to the show early morning when it's cool with the tops on. Take them off at the show and store them in bags under the spare tire carrier. At the end of the show they either go back on if still cool or rain is forecast or inside the car if it's nice out. I do prefer the bags over the suitcase however, and I've never put so much as even a scratch on either of the tops. Owned the car since new.
Thanks for the input. I decided to buy a T-Top Suitcase from ZIP. If I find it too unwieldy to use in the rear deck of the car as some have suggested, I figure it should work well to store the T-tops in in the garage.
I have two heavy vinyl storage bags with Velcro closures. Very easy to get in and out of the storage compartment and my rear speakers don't get blocked. I think having a bigger box would more trouble to get in and out.
The T-Top Storage Case (Suitcase) I bought from Zip just arrived and here's a quick first assessment.
It's well made and meets the description on their web site. I chose to leave the T-tops in their individual storage bags and it's a snug, perfect fit. (I left them in their bags to provide one additional level of protection, especially since they would otherwise only be separated by a thin piece of foam.) I think the fit would likely be fine if the T-tops were placed directly in the suitcase.
Sliding the bag into the rear deck was really no big deal, and it fits perfectly under the recently installed rear window storage tray, with a few inches to spare. Being able to store them flat just seems better to me than angling them and using the straps, but to each their own.
Would I want to take them in and out on a daily basis? Maybe not, but that's not my intent. I just like having them on board in the event of a pop up storm,and for that it seems perfect. Hopefully I will be able to leave them packed up until late autumn.
T-top Suitcase suggestions
