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Long story short, my roof flew off while I was driving and now the front and rear clear is chipped. The carbon fiber is fine underneath. I took it to a body shop and they said they couldn’t do it because sanding down the clear to the carbon would cause sanding marks on the car. Could you not just strip the entire paint/clear with a paint stripper and then repaint the roof properly? I’ve taken the car to a few shops and still have no one confident enough to take it to.
From: Mt. Pleasant(across the bridge from Charleston) SC
Not familiar with Michigan but I'd head to a large Chevy dealer - Or - inquire at some nearby Corvette clubs and see where those people send their vettes for body work/restoration. I would say that most dealerships don't do that kind of work but they may have some insights. Better know what you're doing or the top could end up looking more like a garbage can lid.
Reminds me of the good ol days, 1970's. I had an Austin-Healey 100-6 with the very rare oem removable hard top. I was just going a mile away. I still remember when it flew off and rolled into the field.
How much would a new top cost compared to fixing it? You could try sanding the leading edge, then a real good clear coat. It's going to be very hard to blend the clear coat.
I had a scratch on the rear of my C7 and fixed it myself. It took a while but can be done.
Keep an eye out for used ones for sale. You could just change the body color areas of a mint one (see link of one off a black car below). I don't blame the body shops. That visible carbon weave on the leading edge looks damaged.
Several years ago I bought this "Flying Roof Club" tag, it attaches to the driver side roof latch. When roof is installed & latched, I tuck it up behind the handle and it's not visible.
When the roof is not latched, the tag hangs down in front of my nose as a reminder to latch.
It was overpriced and it may be unavailable now, but you can make something similar at home.
Zip Corvette has new C7 roof panels. I have bought wheels, tire pressure monitors and Corvette shocks from them face to face. Very nice and professional.
I guess it can happen, but I have yet figured out how it happens that people forget to latch their tops. First off, you cannot put the top on if the latches are closed. If they are open, you cannot put the visors up all the way and they will be sticking out and finally the rear latch will be hanging down.
I guess it can happen, but I have yet figured out how it happens that people forget to latch their tops. First off, you cannot put the top on if the latches are closed. If they are open, you cannot put the visors up all the way and they will be sticking out and finally the rear latch will be hanging down.
That's all true, but a lifetime in aviation showed me graphically all the things that intelligent, experienced, well trained people; can forget.
Usually, the key ingredient is some kind of distraction or interruption in our normal way of doing things.
We said that "check lists are written in blood", perhaps we could say that "flying roofs are written in dollars".
Fortunately, no fatalities. So far...
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Yesterday at 07:38 PM.
Roof flew off my car, need paint advice please!!
