Convertible Hardtop Headroom

[Russ III]

Can anyone tell me if any headroom is lost when installing the hardtop? I'm thinking of buying one for my 95, but I'm 6'5" and don't want to spend the money if I won't fit.

Thanks!

 

[Schrade]

Welcome onto the boards there!

No, can't tell ya nope!

 

[Red Vette]

This probably won't help much because I am 5' 9". I had the OEM hard tops on my 1991 and 1994 and did not have any trouble with the height inside, but there was just a little less head room with the hard top, maybe 1/2 inch at most. If you can, put the hard top on the car without tightening the rear deck bolts, just install the pillar brackets and attach at least one bracket bolt to the hard top and secure the windshield bolts, then sit in it. Also, how much seat room do you have? The foam in the older seats tends to squash down some due to wear and tear, so take that into consideration. Also, is your height mostly in your torso or your legs? These factor into the head spacing. If the convertible top is tight, then the hard top will be tight. If you fit, you will love the hard top, but you will have to dip your head when entering and exiting the 1995. I did on the 94 and 91.
Barrett

 

[Russ III]

Your reply has been very helpful! I have a few inches with the convertible top, so 1/2 inch should be fine.

Thanks much!

 

[aboatguy]

I'm only 6' 3"I have to slouch when the Hardtop is installed on my 95. But the amount the hardtop tightens up the car makes slouching worthwhile.

Mike

 

[Red Vette]

Interesting comment about slouching at only 6'3". I hope that at 6'5", a 95 convertible won't cause a slouch. How much room do you have between the top of your head and the convertible top? Also, do you have approximately 1/2 inch difference between the hard top and the convertible top, and which one has the most room? I suspect the convertible top. Your comment along with mine should confuse everyone who is taller than me. Hopefully your response will clear up the head room issue, but it might help if you also included whether your height is in your torso or your legs, and if your seat is somewhat depressed due to age. I think slouching for a long trip (or a short trip for that matter) would be tiresome and annoying. Thanks for your response, it always helps to have more information on subjects like this one. BTW, very nice looking C4, wish I had mine still.
Barrett

 

[Russ III]

Both posts have been extremely helpful. When I sit in my 95 I can put two fingers between my head and the top, so I may be okay with the hardtop. Also, I noticed that the hardtops have a thick foam headliner in them. Is this removable?

It's great to be tall unless you're a tall-car-guy. If you're tall, you already know that tall guys don't fit in the cool cars. If you're not tall, you'll notice that tall-car-guys either shave their heads or have a buzz cut. No headroom - it's the curse of the tall guys - ouch!

 

[Red Vette]

Both posts have been extremely helpful. When I sit in my 95 I can put two fingers between my head and the top, so I may be okay with the hardtop. Also, I noticed that the hardtops have a thick foam headliner in them. Is this removable?

It's great to be tall unless you're a tall-car-guy. If you're tall, you already know that tall guys don't fit in the cool cars. If you're not tall, you'll notice that tall-car-guys either shave their heads or have a buzz cut. No headroom - it's the curse of the tall guys - ouch!

I believe that you can remove the foam, once. It is not meant to be removed as far as I know, but I could be wrong. If you remove it, you may not be able to restore it to original OEM condition as the headliner most probably is not available.
Barrett

 

[Russ III]

I guess the answer is to find one I can sit in to see if I fit. I'll be at Carlisle next weekend, maybe I can find one there.

Thanks for all of your help with this. I'll post the answer as soon as I find out.

 

[Ugolino]

When I had my c4 convertible, there was a little less head room when the hard top was installed. I just barely fit in that car, I think I had one inch of clearance above my head.

 

[89blackvette]

They are correct about 1/2 inch less headroom with hardtop. Headliner is removable but it is glued in on later cars so you would then have to use some sort of solvent to remove glue residue, it is weather strip glue (Yellow stuff). If you get a used one be certain that all hardware is with it as this stuff is very hard to find.

 

[aboatguy]

Interesting comment about slouching at only 6'3". I hope that at 6'5", a 95 convertible won't cause a slouch. How much room do you have between the top of your head and the convertible top? Also, do you have approximately 1/2 inch difference between the hard top and the convertible top, and which one has the most room? I suspect the convertible top. Your comment along with mine should confuse everyone who is taller than me. Hopefully your response will clear up the head room issue, but it might help if you also included whether your height is in your torso or your legs, and if your seat is somewhat depressed due to age. I think slouching for a long trip (or a short trip for that matter) would be tiresome and annoying. Thanks for your response, it always helps to have more information on subjects like this one. BTW, very nice looking C4, wish I had mine still.
Barrett

I believe that the hardtop removes more than an inch of headroom.
I may be closer to 6 3 and 1/2 however, my head will touch the roof with the hard top. I have a little headroom with the softtop. My hardtop is removed now (had to remove it IOT install a new antenna and I decided to leave it off for the summer. The hard top makes a huge difference in the car, and the last time top was installed I left it on for about 2 1/2 years. I'll probably end up reinstalling it in a month or so.

 

[Russ III]

Update

As promised, I went to Carlisle and found a C4 with the hardtop installed. After explaining my to the owner he had no problem letting me try it out for fit. I knew immediately that I didn't fit. There must be more then a few inches difference between the soft and hard tops.

It's the curse of the "tall car guys".

 

[Red Vette]

As promised, I went to Carlisle and found a C4 with the hardtop installed. After explaining my to the owner he had no problem letting me try it out for fit. I knew immediately that I didn't fit. There must be more then a few inches difference between the soft and hard tops.

It's the curse of the "tall car guys".

Being 5 ft 9 inches, I have not had the problem, but it is a shame that you do not fit in the corvette with the hardtop on. Wise move on your part to take our suggestions and try one before purchasing the hardtop. I wonder if you measured the difference between the seat the the hardtop when you tried it out. The guy that let you try his out may have had the seats redone, thus decreasing the distance between the headliner and the seat.
Barrett

 

[dannimo]

As promised, I went to Carlisle and found a C4 with the hardtop installed. After explaining my to the owner he had no problem letting me try it out for fit. I knew immediately that I didn't fit. There must be more then a few inches difference between the soft and hard tops.

It's the curse of the "tall car guys".

Dannimo says: "better to be too tall than too wide"

 

[Red Vette]

Dannimo says: "better to be too tall than too wide"

I agree. One can always add or lose weight, but one cannot remove height. Therefore it is better to be too tall.
Barrett

 

[aboatguy]

As promised, I went to Carlisle and found a C4 with the hardtop installed. After explaining my to the owner he had no problem letting me try it out for fit. I knew immediately that I didn't fit. There must be more then a few inches difference between the soft and hard tops.

It's the curse of the "tall car guys".

Sorry to hear that you don't fit however, I figured if I was in the roof with the hard top you would be worse off.