Glass t-tops
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
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Glass t-tops
I have a set of glass T-Tops that I considering selling. Does the numbers on the glass tell anything?
What are these T-Tops worth? I saw used ones in Minneapolis for $800. Any ideas? They are in great shage.
PPG SAFETY SOLARCOOL
SOLID TEMERED
COATED
AS3 26127
DOT 18 M89.6
What are these T-Tops worth? I saw used ones in Minneapolis for $800. Any ideas? They are in great shage.
PPG SAFETY SOLARCOOL
SOLID TEMERED
COATED
AS3 26127
DOT 18 M89.6
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 2
From: Castle Hills Texas
M89.6 tells me it is the copper tinted top. I had one, a passenger side, that I sold for about $300-$350 as I recall, about 5 years ago. If they are in great shape, I would think you could gets $600-$800 for them. It all depends on how bad someone out there wants to scratch that itch and if you find them.
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Pro
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I have dug into a Corvette Restoration Guide. The solid tempered bronze tint were assemble in Bowling Green for the Collector Edition Corvette. Non "Collector Edition" cars had a solid tempered gray tint.
So the value of these T-Tops would be worth more to a person that wants a period correct Collector Edition T-TOP's.
What would a person pay for a set of T-Tops for a Collector Edition Corvette?
I would guess that these tops would fit a 78 to 82 Corvettes? Latches the same?
So the value of these T-Tops would be worth more to a person that wants a period correct Collector Edition T-TOP's.
What would a person pay for a set of T-Tops for a Collector Edition Corvette?
I would guess that these tops would fit a 78 to 82 Corvettes? Latches the same?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 2
From: Castle Hills Texas
Yes, these are for 78-82 and the latching and seals are the same.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 2
From: Castle Hills Texas
I think that list covers all of the glass laminated tops. I guess they are rare in the sense that no one makes any of 'em anymore. I have no idea why anyone (I don't mean you) would say that an 1131 is rare. They were on loads of 78-81 Vettes. Plenty of sites do say they are rare but I have not seen that to be the case...maybe it is just me. Anyway, good luck to you.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
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I think that list covers all of the glass laminated tops. I guess they are rare in the sense that no one makes any of 'em anymore. I have no idea why anyone (I don't mean you) would say that an 1131 is rare. They were on loads of 78-81 Vettes. Plenty of sites do say they are rare but I have not seen that to be the case...maybe it is just me. Anyway, good luck to you.
I think it comes down to this. If you have special low mileage 78-81 Corvette that the date code matters, and the car needs to 100% like factory issue, it might be worth spending the extra cost on the proper glass T-TOPs.
If you have a fun car or DD, the person might not care if the T-TOPs that are on his 78 Corvette are from a different Corvette model or year. Condition and cost might be the only factor.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,679
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From: Shamong, NJ
Those are not original GM tops. PPG tops are either replacement or re-glassed original tops. ALL 78-82 factory installed OEM glass tops used LOF glass, just like the rest of the glass in the car.
78-80 (and maybe some early 81 cars) used laminated glass tops. Do to excessive breakage during production, Chevrolet switched to the stronger tempered glass for glass tops starting in 1981. LOF laminated 78-80 tops are the blue tops and say "blue" on them. The 81-82 tempered tops are more silver, but don't have a color on them, except for 82 Collector Edition tops, which say "bronze" on them.
Whether marked blue, bronze or unmarked and either tempered or laminated, original glass tops all used Libby-Owens-Ford glass "LOF".
PPG tops sell for a little less than LOF's, usually about $600.00 to 700.00 for a very nice set with no major marks, good weatherstrip and no missing inside trim pieces. Maybe a little more to someone not hung up on the markings.
78-80 (and maybe some early 81 cars) used laminated glass tops. Do to excessive breakage during production, Chevrolet switched to the stronger tempered glass for glass tops starting in 1981. LOF laminated 78-80 tops are the blue tops and say "blue" on them. The 81-82 tempered tops are more silver, but don't have a color on them, except for 82 Collector Edition tops, which say "bronze" on them.
Whether marked blue, bronze or unmarked and either tempered or laminated, original glass tops all used Libby-Owens-Ford glass "LOF".
PPG tops sell for a little less than LOF's, usually about $600.00 to 700.00 for a very nice set with no major marks, good weatherstrip and no missing inside trim pieces. Maybe a little more to someone not hung up on the markings.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 3,130
From: Shamong, NJ
Glass tops are still available. Melrose T-Tops offers new glass tops made with OEM LOF glass in mirrored and black (like found in vans and pickups) glass. These tops are made using a mix of original top frames and new, GM licensed parts. The current list is about $1,100 to 1,200, depending on the vendor, and less if you have old damaged glass tops to turn in as cores.
