mhwalt
New member
I have read several posts over the past couple years about Coffman Corvette in Mansfield, Ohio (www.coffmancorvette.com). Some of the posts were positive, some were not. I'd like to share my experience with Coffman.
As part of building my 61 Corvette resto-rod, I purchased a stay-fast material convertible top and new remanufactured frame from Coffman. The top came already mounted on the frame. I did this on the recommendation of a local Corvette restorer who had used Coffman frames and tops on C-2's he had restored.
The installation of the top wasn't too bad, since it mounts with just four bolts, but trying to adjust the top was one of my more frustrating experiences of the build (third behind installing the windshield frame, and then installing a custom wiring harness). I had trouble getting rid of the sag in the frame joint above both side windows at the same time, and also closing the gap between the top and the rear deck lid.
After several phone conversations with Clint Coffman, along with emailing him pictures of the problem, I was able to eliminate most of the sag problem, but not close the rear gap. I learned from Clint during these conversations that because of the four bolt mounting configuration, C-1 tops are often more difficult to adjust than C-2's, and that in order to properly align the body of my C-1, I should have aligned the body to a hard top after setting the body back on the frame and adjusting the shims to set the gaps. Since this was my first Corvette build, and my car showed no evidence of ever having a hard top, I was unaware of this step until I talked with Clint.
Clint was very patient and courteous with me during several months of phone conversations and emails. He offered to recheck the fabrication of the top if I shipped it back to him, and also to come adjust the top if that didn't help.
Last week Clint and his father Ernie came to my house in South Carolina and in less than 30 minutes, Clint had the top properly adjusted. Clint told me during the visit that it was very seldom that they couldn't solve the problems over the phone, but in the very few occasions they couldn't, they were willing to make the trips to their customer. I have not had this type of positive experience with all the suppliers I dealt with during the build. In my case, at least, Coffman stood behind their product and literally went the extra mile to demonstrate outstanding customer service.
I hope you'll take this experience into consideration if you're in need of a convertible top.
Marc
As part of building my 61 Corvette resto-rod, I purchased a stay-fast material convertible top and new remanufactured frame from Coffman. The top came already mounted on the frame. I did this on the recommendation of a local Corvette restorer who had used Coffman frames and tops on C-2's he had restored.
The installation of the top wasn't too bad, since it mounts with just four bolts, but trying to adjust the top was one of my more frustrating experiences of the build (third behind installing the windshield frame, and then installing a custom wiring harness). I had trouble getting rid of the sag in the frame joint above both side windows at the same time, and also closing the gap between the top and the rear deck lid.
After several phone conversations with Clint Coffman, along with emailing him pictures of the problem, I was able to eliminate most of the sag problem, but not close the rear gap. I learned from Clint during these conversations that because of the four bolt mounting configuration, C-1 tops are often more difficult to adjust than C-2's, and that in order to properly align the body of my C-1, I should have aligned the body to a hard top after setting the body back on the frame and adjusting the shims to set the gaps. Since this was my first Corvette build, and my car showed no evidence of ever having a hard top, I was unaware of this step until I talked with Clint.
Clint was very patient and courteous with me during several months of phone conversations and emails. He offered to recheck the fabrication of the top if I shipped it back to him, and also to come adjust the top if that didn't help.
Last week Clint and his father Ernie came to my house in South Carolina and in less than 30 minutes, Clint had the top properly adjusted. Clint told me during the visit that it was very seldom that they couldn't solve the problems over the phone, but in the very few occasions they couldn't, they were willing to make the trips to their customer. I have not had this type of positive experience with all the suppliers I dealt with during the build. In my case, at least, Coffman stood behind their product and literally went the extra mile to demonstrate outstanding customer service.
I hope you'll take this experience into consideration if you're in need of a convertible top.
Marc
