davepl

What generations of Corvette had a bolt-on hardtop for convertibles?

Has the aftermarket ever done it when the factory didn't?

I'm curious as to whether we're ever likely to see one for the C7.

Thanks!
Dave

Zymurgy

I'll answer your last question. NO!

davepl

To difficult to engineer, no demand, or you don't like them?

It'd be nice for the track, or for winter. They've had them in previous generations, so why not now?

Zymurgy

All of the above. They are very difficult to remove, replace and store.

OK, I looked it up. Removable hardtops were offered 1956-1975 and 1989-1996. So, part of C1, C2 and part of C3 and part of C4. There was no removable hardtop for the C5 or the C6.

Penetration:
1989 - 16.1%
1990 - 31.0%
1991 - 21.7%
1992 - 15.6%
1993 - 17.1%
1994 - 12.8%
1995 - 9.2%
1996 - 9.8%

rcooper

I had one for my '66, loved it. Lived in Colorado at the time and it was great in the winter. Kind of a hassle to put on and take off but from November to early April it was great.

C7 BOB

There was a Santa Clara Corvettes member who had an aftermarket hardtop for his C5. Since the C6 was similar, there probably was one for the C6 also.

2K14C7

There was an aftermarket company that offered a removable hardtop for the C5 but nothing since then.

#003

Bell Helicopter manufacturing produced a limited edition clear hardtop for 1953-1954,don't remember exact #of units maybe less than 6,I say one at CARLISLE back in the seventies,it had a small emblem on left side behind drivers door,car was on a trailer talked with owner that morning,talked to him later that day and some dirt ball of a human had stolen the emblem while he was driving to his sale space.owner was beside himself.previous owner had stored the car in as sea container covered in black plastic .car was complete ,ruined by moisture from sweating from 20 years plus of being in the container.if anybody else remember please post. Thanks Nelson

RicK T

Smoothline is the aftermarket company. They have a top for C1 - C6 but they don't have one for the C7 yet.

A dissatisfied C6 customer from a few years ago if interested:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-hardtop.html

gbjerke

But it was back in '66.
Had a 427/425 triple black Vert with the hardtop. Factory side exhaust, knock off wheels, teak steering wheel, FM radio (don't laugh guys) but it was an option.
Incredible sled back then but someone in this household got pregnant with son #2, was 3 years out of college, still living in an apartment living from paycheck to paycheck with a black and white 21" TV.
Dammit, I just had to grow up and act like an adult so it went down the road.
There was no storage "in car" for the hardtop so it served as a coffee table in our living room.
To see these sleds now going for 6 figures at the Barrett/Mecum auctions now hurts big time...think I sold for about $4K...then again, wouldn't trade anything for that #2 son.
I just tell him his inheritance crumbled...his fault...LOL!

Boiler_81

There are aftermarket tops for all generations except C7. Do a search for Smooth Line Hardtops