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After reading through a restoration thread today I saw a picture of the B pillar on a 1971 with the T-tops off. A good looking car, but I also noticed that right above the weatherstripping there was a chrome strip that went all the way up to the T bar in the center.
After looking some things up online I found a thread with a picture of Alan71’s car, another beautiful one, that had the same thing.
Looking at it, it looks like it makes sense that a trim piece would go there, giving the T-top an entire chrome strip to sit on.
My 1976, and other later C3s that I’ve seen don’t appear to have this piece, and the only information I was able to find on the internet just led me back to the original thread.
Is this another chrome piece that’s unique to earlier cars that was removed around 73’-74’? And why? It seems like such a small (pot metal) piece that would make that area look much nicer at a very low cost. I’m thinking it was GM looking at ways to save money, but I’d like to know more since there’s very little information on these.
I didn’t find any vendors selling them, but in theory, if I were to acquire some, would it be possible to fit them on my late 76’?
Last edited by Piersonpie; Mar 17, 2026 at 11:34 AM.
You missed having the chrome upper rear roof moldings by a year, the chrome moldings were used from 68-75. Could they be added to a 76? Maybe, but it probably wouldn't be easy as the shape of the roof on 76 and later cars was changed to add a drip gutter when the moldings were eliminated. The moldings aren't being repro'd and because they're pot metal most used ones you find are usually pretty beat up and pitted. Besides the two moldings, you'd also need the earlier T-bar center molding because the shape of the molding is different where it meets the chrome moldings on 68-75's.
As far as making the "area much nicer at a very low cost", there is no such thing as a very low cost for GM, or any automaker. By eliminating those two moldings, GM also was able to eliminate the hardware associated with them, the sealant that was applied under them, the labor needed to apply the sealant and install the two moldings and a few minutes were saved building each car. For an automaker a few pennies saved amounts thousands of dollars when spread across a year and thousands of cars. If the cost of the moldings, hardware, sealant and labor was just $10, that's $4650 save in 1976, or about the same for them as getting one 76 Corvette built for free! When you calculate in that the part is only seen when the tops are removed, that's a big saving on something that most people will never see or even know existed.
I’ve found a few other threads on the subject. It seems there’s no agreed on name for these things, but “halo trim” seems to come up with some good results.
On my car that area seems to be the one that collects paint chips the most. Whether that’s previous owners being careless with the T-tops or something else I don’t know. But I will be repainting that area as well as the door jams sometime in the future.
I do like the way they look though, and it seems like it would protect the paint in the area a little more. Perhaps a custom piece could be made to fit in the area, preferably out of stainless like the pieces around it.
It was something I noticed years ago. At first I wondered if my car was missing pieces. I remember checking into it. And this was years ago mind you.
And what I learnt was basically what you read above. The Factory just stopped putting them in. Reproduction parts are nit available and fitting them would be extremely difficult even if they were available. I just let it go. Chipped paint? Seems I have more issues with the corners of the T tops themselves.
That looks really nice. I wish they continued installing those pieces.
That’s what I’m thinking. It sure makes the area look more complete and cohesive.
I’m thinking as long as it doesn’t interfere with the T-tops, a polished piece could be installed there, and possibly sold as a kit. Something I’m looking in to.
I did not realize that they quit putting the chrome trim on, on the later years. Like someone above said the tops have to be off to see them missing. Lou.
T-Top rear trim?
