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Okay, so far as i've read, NO 73 (or most years) actually came from the factory with a luggage rack. They were dealer-installed. Mine has one. I dont like it. If i delete it, am i hurting the originality and value ov the car? Normally i wouldn't care, but i still might sell this car down the road.
Some like them, Some don't. I for one fall into the latter category. I'm not certain but I would guess more don't like them than do. Perhaps you could run a poll.
Filling in the holes so they don't show and so they don't show in 5 years time is the real trick.
As per value. I don't think it would affect the value either way. As long as the old holes don't show.
Of course your correct River. No one with a rubber bumper car would want bling.
And where to store the tops, under the luggage or at home in the spare room.
I didn't buy a C3 for T-tops, i bought it for speed. I might not even take them off. T-tops to me is a late 70's F-body thing... disco. I never got the draw. And i dont like 'bling'... at all. Everyone that knows my car loves the rack. To me, it makes it look like some Triumph or other English roadster. Its coming off. I'll probably just plug the holes for now, but if i get it painted i'll address that. But again, if it makes it less original, i'll just keep the plugs.
So they did NOT come stock like this? If they were dealer installed, is that an option? Or just added later, like mags or Hooker sidepipes?
I found out from the original owner of my '72 that the dealer added the GM luggage rack to make the sale on the car.
I don't care for luggage racks so the first thing I did was remove it. I was able to find flat top threaded plastic plugs and installed them to plug the holes. Eventually I was going to have them filled in when I got the car repainted but that ain't gonna happen, lol. They've been on the car some 45 years.
My '72 had one previously installed, because I can still see the holes they "tried" to fill.
I've often wondered about value as well. And now I know.... and knowing is half the battle!
I don't think it would change the actual value so much as it might make selling the car easier or harder depend on if it's there or not.
Personally, my car had one when I bought it and I don't mind it at all, more or less like it so it's still there after the body and repaint was done.
If my car didn't already have it, I probably wouldn't have added it but it's hard to say since I don't have to make that decision..
I do know that filling the holes is problematic and having sunken/puffed up spots later on will definitely hurt the value.
M
I found out from the original owner of my '72 that the dealer added the GM luggage rack to make the sale on the car.
I don't care for luggage racks so the first thing I did was remove it. I was able to find flat top threaded plastic plugs and installed them to plug the holes. Eventually I was going to have them filled in when I got the car repainted but that ain't gonna happen, lol. They've been on the car some 45 years.
Yeah, the plugs are a bit distracting, especially on a nice paint job, but i think it still looks way better than a rack.
Okay, so far as i've read, NO 73 (or most years) actually came from the factory with a luggage rack. They were dealer-installed. Mine has one. I dont like it. If i delete it, am i hurting the originality and value ov the car? Normally i wouldn't care, but i still might sell this car down the road.
It’s your Vette so if you don’t like the rack remove it. I think the only thing that will hurt the value is if the hole repair is done poorly. If done well, nobody but you needs to know a rack was ever there.
Last edited by JiminSTLouis; Sep 27, 2022 at 08:21 AM.
I elected to have mine removed upon the stripping and re-paint of my '70. Been a couple years now and still no trace of the holes. My guy did a tremendous job.
Luggage rack and value...
