On my 85, I have a "see through" acrylic targa top, and am thinking of swapping to a solid fiberglass, painted one.

Is one any heavier than the other??

 

The fiberglass top is definitely heavier. Not twice the weight, but it is heavier.

 

Tinted top is about 4 lbs lighter than the solid one.

 

I weighted both of my tops my tinted one weighed in at 23.6lbs and my fiberglass one weighed in at 28.6 lbs.... a difference of 5 lbs... not really a huge difference in weight.

 

Th solid top is more rigid and keeps the inside temps under 4 million degrees in the summer. Both is the answer here. In the winter it stays cozy warm when out in the world.

 

Panited top is 32 lbs on my 93.

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

Hello Everybody! I hope All are having a Happy and Healthy day, and so too, the same for your Corvette.

How many Targa Tops were available? I thought there was just the Solid Fibreglass and the Real Glass. So now I'm learning about the Acrylic. I thought maybe when people said Acrylic they really meant Glass, because I didn't see Acrylic in the list of options, at least not for my 1985 Corvette. And then correct me please if I'm wrong about anything else but is there a tinted and non-tinted Acrylic. I think the Glass comes in Bronze and Blue? I've even seen a Metal Top?!?! What's that all about?!


Short Story - My Corvette, Johnny's Corvette, Mine All Mine.

I still haven't driven my Corvette yet. It's been sitting, un-registered, since February 20th, 2016. I drove it once, from the previous owners home in Mansfield, PA to mine in Owego, NY, about an hour and a half away. I wasn't able to get the car registered because in PA the Title signatures on the back have to be notarized, and mine wasn't. So I had to get back with the previous owner and...

It was a beautiful warm Saturday when I purchased her. I smiled all day long. But then, I believe it was the following Friday or Saturday, some of the hardware holding my spine together broke and away I went in the ambulance, for the 5th time in 9 months, for more surgery. I call it my "Birthday Surgery" (Mar. 2nd), my prior surgery I call my "Christmas Surgery" (Dec. 22nd & 23rd, 2 parts). It helped me keep track of some things and it was easy associating them with those "special" days. I don't want to honor the previous surgeries, with labels or names.

Officially I still have driving restrictions, but as long as I continue to wear my Brace, and don't have any accidents, I'll be fine. I have to take "Med Holidays" too (days when I avoid mind numbing meds for a short time to allow me to drive). Can't be driving around with opiates and such, in a 31 year old what's still something of a Race Car, compared to anything living in this town.

For me, since I have so many fusions at the same time, 13, and a very convoluted hardware situation... they had to custom make a couple of Rods... it'll take a while, a good year, to see a good fusion and 2 years to see a solid fusion, but forever I'll have to treat my spine like I'm protecting a pile of rose petals. The Corvette seats are perfect for me by the way.

But they'll have to bury me before I wait more than another week to drive my pretty lil Red 85 Targa Top TPI Engine Semi-Race Car Corvette. I made the mistake of giving my wife the keys shortly after driving it home. I thought she wanted to get something out or put something in. But instead, she hid the keys. I can say that I would never drive the car if I felt I was dysfunctional via my spine or medication... but I'd just be saying it.

I'll tell you a secret: I'm Bipolar. My DNA is polluted with it. I was born with it. My poor spine can't hold a candle to the problems I've had with that disturbance. These times, if anyone has a moody day, they call them bipolar, and send them to the pharmacy. But it's not like that, it's "cyclical" like 'La Nino & La Nina". The High's or Low's can last for weeks, months, years, depending on many factors. I know me, she's right to have hidden the keys. I'm literally certified. After 54 years of it wrecking my life, time after time, I know... Even though on really great Meds for it, Anything Could Happen! I don't want nothing to even scratch my new bright red baby.

The Corvette is a gift to myself. For ALL the horrors not just for the horrors of 10 surgeries or more over the past 7 years, 2 of which I almost died, 2 of which almost left me paralyzed, one of which almost cost me a chunk of my diaphragm and a lung... plus all the chaos over my 54 ridiculous years... I finally had the opportunity to get the car I thought I'd never have. Never. As in, infinitely Impossible.

I was shocked to find out how little the early 80s cars cost. I had a car fund from selling a 64 Comet Sedan that I had. I'd never be able to work on it again, for many reasons, so the money was for replacing it with something more suitable for me. I had no vision that it would be a Corvette.

I could tell you why the C4 Vettes, especially the early ones are perfect for me and others with spines like chunks of 4x4's, but that'll have to be another essay. I found my Perfect Corvette, for Me, on Craigslist and I bought it. While asking the guy questions over the phone, he repeatedly said to me "John, you're gonna Love It!"

My new sweetheart was previously owned by Seniors and meticulously cared for. Perfect CarFax. A very BASE, base, base, All STOCK GM since the day it was born vehicle. I don't think there's even a dozen RPO Codes. All maintained by GM. Nothing broken or worn. Professionally repainted 2 years ago. Not a mark on it. New this and new that all over it. Even a spare Brand New GM drivers side muffler. The one on the car had a small hole in it. Care for this car via OCD. 120K Miles. But she was so Pretty, so peaceful, so saintly, and so needing a new Loving home. $5K Cash. Short & Simple. I felt like the rest of my life was gravy.

I told my wife, whatever's left over from my Car/Corvette Fund, she can do whatever she wants with it. I told her every penny I might get for the rest of my life is hers. Might not amount to much but it's the giving that matters.

Before I bought my Perfect Corvette, she wanted to use part of my fund for a down payment on a mini-van. We really needed one for all of my...hmmm, uhhh... helpful equipment... and two dogs. I knew if I did that, gave her that money, I'd never see on the lawn, in front of the white porch, off my tiny little trailer home, my dream car, nor hear it, purring with that sweet Vette only sound that only a Vette can make and one you can recognize even if you were blind.

So First things First, I got the Vette! Driving it right now or not, I got it! I'm smiling inside and out. I got My Corvette. My wife said we should register it in both our names like our other cars. I said No. I want a Title that says it's Johnny's Corvette. Period.

I still would have been happy without it, I'm just a happy guy. I could go to surgery every week and still be happy and kind to everybody, and especially all the people helping me. I guess, I'm more Happy with it. It really makes me Smile, and laugh, just to think about it, to think that I Actually Have a Corvette.

I don't care about money or anything, as long as I have money when I need it for my Corvette. Gas Money, Money to maintain it, Money to buy it toys. When I die, Money to Bury Me in it.

I deserve it. No matter what, I've always been a Nice, Friendly, Peaceable, Funny, Strong, Non-Confrontational, Happy, Loving...etc... Guy, Built in Brooklyn, NY, the Garden Spot of the Good Ol'
God Bless-ed USA. And I Deeeservvve... a really Awesome, Wicked Cool, America's Gift-to-the-World, Shiny Bright Red Corvette... to drive all that F'ng Good Crap around in. Forgeddaboutit! DatzAll I'mSayin.

Drive it man, just drive it.

Johnny V. "DancesWithVettes" Brennan
United States Coast Guard Vet, Made in America, just like My Vette.

PS. Eventually, I'm going to make a more suitable separate post with my instant mind jaunt up there. I feel like it got really long, out of control and off topic here, but it got started here and that's the way it goes with me. One of my obsessive BP things. Triggered by the fact, if I'm lucky, I'll be getting my baby registered tomorrow, finally, and taking a spin... first to the non-touching, car wash, and then to the ice cream parlor up our busy road where everybody can see it.

I'll Post some pics after I get her cleaned up a bit, hang my fuzzy dice and whatever.

Oh Yeah! How 'bout dem Tops?

 

prayers sent for you

 

Good for you , enjoy , i have owned my 87 for 16 years and i refer to her as the other women and my wonderful wife of 35 years understands . Good luck

 

Thanks for that info. 4 lbs doesn't seem like a lot until your spine is shot. I wasn't allowed to lift more than 2 lbs for a while, normally a spine patient is limited to 8 lbs. One can really feel it. You'd be shocked at how much your spine, especially your lower lumbars, I believe, has to do with just about every move you make.

4 lbs is like carrying around a 1/2 gallon of milk. Taking off one of them Targa Tops I'm going to have to find a way and practive so I don't wreck something. I might just get a lighter Top.

You said "Tinted Top" is that Glass or Acrylic?

John

 

I like the Engine of your "other woman". It has the aluminum heads, I think aluminum cylinders, or that might be the 88's, 89's. I read that you can get less restrictive mufflers from GM or equivalent and get a nice 5 extra horsepower out of "her". 240 to 245. Your car also has those nice aluminum heads and roller valve lifters. Nice!

Does Your Honey have any other... uhhh... special characteristics under her dress (RPO's)? What color is her dress?

What kind of Targa Top do you have? Do you consider it light or heavy? Is it Acrylic or Glass? Or Solid?

I read in an advertisement or listing that the guy said he had a "metal" top. I think maybe it was just a nicely cleaned and waxed painted fibreglass top. Unless there really is a "Metal" Top.

I haven't taken mine off yet because I still have serious weight restrictions. I have a solid painted fibreglass Top, but it's looking like I might have to get a different Top. I'm going to do a lot of research before I go throwing around the money necessary to do that.

John

 

Thank You So Much!

They really do work! I totally believe I'd be in a whole lot bigger mess, if not paralyzed or just a pile of ashes if it weren't for all the loving people praying for me.

John

 

UPDATE!

I Found the Keys! I was able to open the Door on the Driver side. My car is in one of those "Shelters" which is 10 x 20, with a thick fibreglass like covering and it's roof is the rounded type so snow and whatever just slides right off of it. But because of the space, I can only open the door on the drivers side.

My Keys were... you're gonna laugh... on her key ring/chain whatever. I thought to myself "Hide in Plain Sight". And sure enough...

I was able to open the "clam" and really "look" at everything. Visualize how I was going to make it look and what upgrades I was going to make, etc...

Now I just have to get it registered.

Speaking of Clams/Hoods/Whatever: Is that front end kinda heavy or do I need a new set of them hood opening assistors. My "Hood" (what do You call it? It's not quite a "Hood", per se.).

John

 

Thanks for that info. 32 lbs is approximately 4 gallons of milk.

John

 

You'd be ShOckEd how 5 lbs is a HUGE difference in weight when your spine is like a 2 x 4. You also have to take into account the movements and your body's "form & function" when removing the Top.

I specifically got a C4 Vette. Is practically the Perfect car for someone like me. I've always wanted one. When I saw what they were going for, $dollarwise, I was very surprised and happy! I had enough money from the sale of my '64 Comet to get my Corvette. It's a very Base/Stock model. All Gm/AC Delco. Owned by 3 Seniors. Very Well Cared For 120K Miles. Perfect CarFax that said it was worth $350 over book value.

There's Nothing wrong with her. Everything works. She got a fresh coat of professionally applied paint with a UV resistant clear coat that supposed to keep the paint from ever fading. There's a Video on YouTube that will show you the proper way to get in and out of a Vette. Getting in is a breeze. Getting out is too if you know the method. I'll have to modify it a bit but it's still easier than getting in/out of a Honda Civic or Mini Van for me.

The seats in the Vette hold me snugly too with Torso, Thigh, and Lumbar support. 6 way adjustable, Tilt/Telescopic steering, for perfect painless driving, and a ride that doesn't sway not one single bit, I could go on... My Corvette is Perfect for me, and I for It.

John

 

That's Half a Gallon of Milk. Your Back does a lot of work. If you injured it you would be very surprised how "Heavy" half a gallon of milk is. My spine is such that right now I'm restricted to lifting more than 2 lbs... that's right! 2 lbs! If that tells you anything.

I still don't know, is that "Tinted Top" that you talk about, glass or acrylic. And is there Tinted Acrylic, Clear Acrylic, Tinted Glass, I'm pretty sure there's NO clear Glass. I read a lot of posts and listings on ebay where the glass tops are broken or have cracks, some serious. The glass ones seem kind of delicate. Looks like by far most Corvettes have the Glass Tops. They do look very cool. I had a couple of Trans Ams in my twenties, both with T-Tops... they looked very cool.

So in Short, I still need to know what all the options are for my 1985 Corvette. Also, which other years will work with it, if any. I want to get the lightest Top Possible. Period.

John

 

Good Question! I'm thinking the same way, in a way. I have the worst spine on the planet. I'm at the moment healing/fusing, 13 fusions. My spine looks like a satellite view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

I want to know what the lightest Top is, regardless of what it's made of, but it would be nice to know what's ALL available... and maybe, if so, even from different year cars... cars that have Tops that are interchangeable. Like do '84 or '86, '87, Tops fit on the '85 etc...

These Tops are not cheap, and somewhat hard to come by in good condition. I want to get the right one the first time.

John