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1977 Cross-country trip
Could not have done this cross-country trip without a rack. They are a utilitarian device, and I can well understand why some have no use for them. I'm sure mine gets used at least once a year, if only for carrying a couple folding chairs
I thought they were cool, and looked for a car with one installed. Until I actually sat in a 79, and realized that I much preferred bubble window and glove box lifestyle.
I still think they're cool, but if I had a sugar-scoop car, I'd leave it configured however I found it. They aren't big enough for a roof tent...
I don't hate them but I prefer the cleaner look without them.
Now that you've made me think of station wagons, if I get another C3 with a rack, I'm going to move it up on to the roof.
if you get one with a rack, live with it. especially if it doesn't need paint. even if it is getting painted, very difficult to make the well nut holes disappear completely.
When i worked at Luby Chevrolet i remember helping the guy in the new car dept. that set up the new cars install luggage racks trying to get them centered and marking the holes to drill so the gas door would not hit it.
My ‘69 coupe doesn’t have one, but I looked at many C3s with one. It’s not a dealbreaker for me, and I wouldn’t remove one that’s already there. Many classic coupes of that era had them.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Believe it or not ....I made one once out of 1/2" conduit that I painted black & I used 4 big suction cups to hold it on.
I made it for our 2-week long honeymoon back in '81, and man did it help us. Otherwise it was laundromat city!
I ran an 2 "emergency" cords up through the T-tops incase the cups got lose, but they never did.
I finally tossed it a few years ago....but I wish I would of took a pic of it now...
I don’t hate them, I wouldn’t chose it personally. I like them more without. That being said, if for some reason I was daily driving one I’d want one for utilitarian purposes.
Luggage racks
