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Have 1972 convertible. This question is in reference to the fiberglass panel behind the cockpit that opens to access the top. Not sure what it is called. There are two large chrome plates where the pins that secure the top go. BUT there is also a third hole centered. No third pin on the convertible top. In looking at other 1972 convertibles online I do not see a third hole on any of them. I also have the removable hardtop for the car and there is no third pin in that either. If someone out there can explain this for me I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
At some point Chevrolet stopped using/drilling the center hole for hard top attachment. My 73 does not have the middle hole, only the holes with special screws/receivers on the vertices side of each rear deck side ears. If you look at a restoration vendor catalog you will see an illustration.
Correct, the center hole is for the hardtop mount. There would be a bracket in the center, along with a carriage bolt, nut, and washer. Some use them, some don't, I have one on my '71 and use it.
If the removable hardtop is original to your '72, you should have a chrome triangular bracket at the center of the rear bow, just as you see in 71 Green 454's picture. The bracket may have been damaged, or removed. They are attached to the bottom bow with rivets. If you see holes for rivets there, the top originally should have had a bracket. Or, the hardtop may not be original to your car, although your car apparently came with a hardtop, because you have a ferrule in the middle of your hatch.. Checking the date code at the bottom-left of the window of the hardtop could also give you a clue. The date code is a 2-character alpha code. Your '72 would probably have a code with the second character being an "N", or "Y", such as, AN, or JY. Another code could indicate that the hardtop is from another year car.
Probably mor info than you wanted lol.
All 70-75 hardtops (and later 69’s) came with the center bolt. So, if your car came from the factory with a hardtop, the center hole was drilled in the deck lid. If not so-equipped, it wasn’t. And some enterprising owner along the way could have drilled it, too.
72 convertible top question
