C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Need a top

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 7, 2004 | 02:02 PM
  #1  
Pat71vette's Avatar
Pat71vette
Thread Starter
Racer
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 341
Likes: 1
From: Levittown Pa
Default Need a top

I need to replace the top on my vert 71, I am located in pa.
I found only one place and they want 925.00 for installation and top.
the top material is canvas. I don't want vinyl.
But 925 seeems high anybody know of a good shop at more resonable pricing.
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2004 | 03:23 PM
  #2  
LFZ's Avatar
LFZ
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Default

that actually sounds about right for canvas top... Those tops are over $500 and a pain to put on because they don't stretch like vinyl. You might want to invest in a Al Knoch instructional video and do it yourself. My dad put a Black canvas on his 74..same material as the C5 tops. The top was $600 after shipping and he installed it himself. Looks professional. He also did the top on my 69, and said it was 10x easier than the canvas.
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2004 | 08:41 PM
  #3  
crazcorkath's Avatar
crazcorkath
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: parsippany nj
Default

I agree. We did a canvas top on a '62 corvette and it came out real nice.
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2004 | 10:45 AM
  #4  
Pat71vette's Avatar
Pat71vette
Thread Starter
Racer
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 341
Likes: 1
From: Levittown Pa
Default 925

So 925 isn't way too much?
that does include installing my weatherstrip package I have and they will fix and loose rivets and so forth.
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2004 | 10:57 AM
  #5  
GrandSportC3's Avatar
GrandSportC3
Team Owner
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Default

The top shouldn't be more than $300 at most.. and install shouldn't be more than $250... I have installed several tops on C3 Verts and it's about a 4 hour job.. $250 would be over $60 per hour for labor... That's way too much...
Installing the weatherstrip package isn't any extra work because the weatherstip has to come off anyway..

Last edited by GrandSportC3; Aug 8, 2004 at 11:13 AM.
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2004 | 11:00 AM
  #6  
GrandSportC3's Avatar
GrandSportC3
Team Owner
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Default

I just checked..

A cloth top is

$269+shipping at

http://www.topsonline.com

Add about $250 for the install ... so the total would probably be around $550 installed (including the shipping)

$925
-$550
------
$375 savings

Forgot to mention... I already bought convertible tops from those guys and the quality was great!!

Last edited by GrandSportC3; Aug 8, 2004 at 11:05 AM.
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2004 | 02:46 PM
  #7  
Pat71vette's Avatar
Pat71vette
Thread Starter
Racer
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 341
Likes: 1
From: Levittown Pa
Default

Now that sounds more like I figured.
550.00 I guess I need to find just an installer around pa area.
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2004 | 03:14 PM
  #8  
HDIronman's Avatar
HDIronman
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 708
Likes: 0
From: somewhere south of normal
Default

Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
I just checked..

A cloth top is

$269+shipping at

http://www.topsonline.com

Add about $250 for the install ... so the total would probably be around $550 installed (including the shipping)

$925
-$550
------
$375 savings

Forgot to mention... I already bought convertible tops from those guys and the quality was great!!


Before I purchased my new vinyl top last month, I did extensive research on "Stayfast" top material. The only reason I did not but the "Stayfast" was because I could not get it in white from any vendor. But the price including rear straps, pads, and tension cable, was over $500.00. I didn't mind the price for a quality canvas top, but I wanted to stay with white. I think $3-400.00 is about the going rate for professional installation.

BTW, I'm installing my top this week, before the show at the GM Tech Center.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 8, 2004 | 09:34 PM
  #9  
Motor City Vette's Avatar
Motor City Vette
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,366
Likes: 7
From: Las Vegas NV
Default

Originally Posted by HDIronman

Before I purchased my new vinyl top last month, I did extensive research on "Stayfast" top material. The only reason I did not but the "Stayfast" was because I could not get it in white from any vendor. But the price including rear straps, pads, and tension cable, was over $500.00. I didn't mind the price for a quality canvas top, but I wanted to stay with white. I think $3-400.00 is about the going rate for professional installation.

BTW, I'm installing my top this week, before the show at the GM Tech Center.
HDIronman,
I'll be at the Tech Center show this Saturday, too. I can't wait to see how the top turns out...I need to replace my top, also. I'd be interested in hearing how it goes and how difficult it is.
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2004 | 10:14 PM
  #10  
HDIronman's Avatar
HDIronman
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 708
Likes: 0
From: somewhere south of normal
Default

Originally Posted by Motor City Vette
HDIronman,
I'll be at the Tech Center show this Saturday, too. I can't wait to see how the top turns out...I need to replace my top, also. I'd be interested in hearing how it goes and how difficult it is.


I can't wait either. I hope I have the time to get it done. You can find my car by it's plate


1HOT69
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Need a top





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:48 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE