'86 Convertible...need Hardtop
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
The convertable hardtops are out there to be had. The C4 parts/wanted section has one or two occasionaly. I've also seen them on Ebay. They are not cheap by any means. The cheapest one I have see is one my dad bought about 5 years ago. He drove from Mississippi to Iowa to purchase. I think he found it in a Thrify Nickle sale paper and called about it 2 months later. He drove to get it but it only cost $400 and he also got a GM car cover free with it. The top was never used and brand new shape (deal of the year). It was red and the vette is competition yellow. If you get one, it will most likely have to be painted...so add that to the price. I've seen them anywhere between $500 and $1200 used.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
They're pretty tough to find and pretty damn pricey. Decent ones usually go for $1k and up and be careful when you buy to get one that includes the hardware as they aren't made anymore. You can buy an aftermarket top by a company called Smoothline but they run $2k and aren't as desirable as the original GM top. I would love to have one but they're too rich for my budget.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Just sold mine. You can find them between $700 to $1,000. They will not fit an 86-88 without some modifications though. Here is what you will need:
1. The upper windshield mounts and the upper windshield plastic trim from an 89 to 96 Corvette.
2. The rear deck lid latches from the above year Vette convertible. Then you will have to modify the latch release mechanism in order to get them to release properly.
3. Make a cardboard template in an L shape to mount the built-in roll bar to the upper shoulder belt mounting point.
Here is a pic of a set that I had welded up (and just shipped today to a fellow Forum member). I goofed when I measured the holes and had to redrill them in the proper place when I put them on the 87 I used to own.
Feel free to contact me if you do get the top as I have your answers.
Here is a pic of them installed on the hardtop. Note: You lose all your storage space when traveling with the hardtop on as the lowered top takes up all the room and you are unable to raise the deck lid to access that space at all.
Another tip: You can just attach the top at the front and rear but that is not what GM intended and it will squeak and rattle more without those side mounts. Good luck and give up pics when you get r done!
1. The upper windshield mounts and the upper windshield plastic trim from an 89 to 96 Corvette.
2. The rear deck lid latches from the above year Vette convertible. Then you will have to modify the latch release mechanism in order to get them to release properly.
3. Make a cardboard template in an L shape to mount the built-in roll bar to the upper shoulder belt mounting point.
Here is a pic of a set that I had welded up (and just shipped today to a fellow Forum member). I goofed when I measured the holes and had to redrill them in the proper place when I put them on the 87 I used to own.
Feel free to contact me if you do get the top as I have your answers.
Here is a pic of them installed on the hardtop. Note: You lose all your storage space when traveling with the hardtop on as the lowered top takes up all the room and you are unable to raise the deck lid to access that space at all.
Another tip: You can just attach the top at the front and rear but that is not what GM intended and it will squeak and rattle more without those side mounts. Good luck and give up pics when you get r done!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,719
Likes: 18
C4 hardtop
CorvetteRon has it right. I bought two of them off ebay last year, and made the brackets to allow mounting.I sold one of them to annother C4 owner. They appear on ebay ever so often. The main thing is the rubber seal's condition, since they are about $600.00 a set. I have one on my '88 vert as we speak, and it works very well with the exception of no luggage space. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
