Hardtop for a C4 Roadster...a yes, no or maybe?

[Roadster Guy]

I am curious about what you guys think about the hardtop for a C4 Roadster. I have to admit I know very little and I was just wondering.......what is the good and the bad concerning them. Do they make a Vert much quieter for example on a long distance tour? I guess they offer a bit more security. Are they a pain to take on and off? Are they hard to find out there new or used? Eepensive?

I think they look kind of cool on....but others may disagree. Anyway....what's the scoop on them?
RG

 

[89sleeper]

I am curious about what you guys think about the hardtop for a C4 Roadster. I have to admit I know very little and I was just wondering.......what is the good and the bad concerning them. Do they make a Vert much quieter for example on a long distance tour? I guess they offer a bit more security. Are they a pain to take on and off? Are they hard to find out there new or used? Eepensive?

I think they look kind of cool on....but others may disagree. Anyway....what's the scoop on them?
RG

I had never owned a roadster until I bought this one it was ordered back in 89 with the hardtop it was just under a $2,000.00 opition back then they are a PIA to put on and take off but the car sure rides quieter with the top on plus I think they look sharp also!
I have heard hardtops are going for around 2K on ebay!
Now that I have had one I would not have it any other way (a definate YES)

 

[vetteboy86]

If I could get my hands on one that fit my car, I would certainly buy one. I think it gives the car another look and feel. The hardtop would probably be on early spring and then late fall. Eventually maybe I will find one. If you have the oppurtunity go for it.

 

[thirdtimevetteowner]

Look on the Corvette Forum, I think there was one on there a short while ago.

Rich K

 

[AIRBUS]

I am curious about what you guys think about the hardtop for a C4 Roadster. I have to admit I know very little and I was just wondering.......what is the good and the bad concerning them. Do they make a Vert much quieter for example on a long distance tour? I guess they offer a bit more security. Are they a pain to take on and off? Are they hard to find out there new or used? Eepensive?

I think they look kind of cool on....but others may disagree. Anyway....what's the scoop on them?
RG

I love the way a hardtop accentuates the beautiful rear deck on the vert. Can't wait to get me one.

 

[aboatguy]

The factory hardtop is a great piece of equipment. I can install mine in about 15 minutes. It makes the car TIGHT,quiet, looks great, and keeps the cockpit warmer than the soft top on cold icy days. So its a win win.

 

[tyrel]

I had a hardtop on my 90 roadster and when the top was installed the car was very quiet and solid. It has a built-in roll bar that stabilizes the car, in addition it is attached to the car at six different points. That, together with the x-frame bracing under the convertible, makes the car a very solid drive, it's almost like driving another car. It significantly reduces cargo capacity however. It also has a built-in defroster. It looks beautiful when it's installed on the car, as the pictures above attest. No wonder it was a $2,000 dollar option.

 

[Roadster Guy]

I am really starting to like those hardtops.....

You know, I really am finding this informative. I've always been intrigued by these hardtops and I always thought they enhanced the appearance of the C4 and it seems I wasn't alone. I didn't appreciate how much they seemed to add in other ways. Quiet interior. Warmer interior in the winter. But, most of all I had no idea they actually made the whole vehicle tighter! With the X brace and the hardtop a convertible probably has less flex than the Coupe.

So, with a hardtop you really can have in effect a convertible and a Coupe in a way all in one car.

By the way aboatguy, I have been following your posts regarding your winter driving and some of the flack you took from certain members about it. I think it's great you drive your Vette when you want. As far as I am concerned, anything anybody buys is theirs to do with as they please. I don't like mine out in the salt they use here down in the city. But, I've had it out in some super cold temps and it runs great and the climate control keeps me snug as a bug in the cockpit.

Back to the hardtop, outside of a bit of time needed to take it on or off, it seems that this is one great option to have. I guess the limited cargo capacity is the same as when the top is down. However, I'm quite impressed. I am starting to think about getting one...... I didn't think there were even that many around out there. How many of you guys have one of these things anyways? Are you all that happy? Would all C4 Vert owners get one if the price was right?.....if you could find one....
RG



RG

 

[Grizzly]

I too have thought about it. Does anyone know how hard it would be to take the convertible top out before putting the hardtop on? And could you raise the rear deck with the top attached for access to the storage area behind the seats?

 

[c4cruiser]

You could remove the entire soft top and the frame by removing the bolts that hold the ragtop frame to the car. When the top is folded down, you do lose about 6" of height in the rear compartment.

Once the top is properly installed, there is no real way to raise the decklid with the top installed. You would have to unbolt the lower portion of the B-pillar brackets and loosen the retaining bolts at the windshield pillar. The only thing holding the top at that point is the locator pins and the encapsulated bolts inside them. The top weighs about 65 pounds and it would place a fair amount of stress on the decklid, not to mention having to raise that amount of weight and the bulk. The decklid does not have a holding stop so without a prop rod of some sort, the whole thing would come back down hard.

I once thought about getting a second decklid and cutting out an area just to around the inside of the hardtop. This would open up the storage area (assuming you remove the convertible top) and allow for putting large objects in the car. The decklid itself does not contribute to the overall stiffness of the car with or without the hardtop on so cutting away some of the area might work. The decklid is only held to the hinge arms by 4 bolts so it could just add another 10 minutes to the overall hardtop install.

When I had my 92 'vert, the hardtop would go on in the fall and come off in the spring. I never did multiple installs and removals during the winter.

Once the hardtop is properly installed on the car, the 'vert actually becomes stiffer than the coupe. The hardtop bracing is stiffer between the windshield frame and the rear halo bar compard to the coupe's taga panels.

Noises and squeaks go away, and the hardtop provides enough sound insulation that my B&B TriFlo system quitetd down to the point where the resonance went away and you could even carry on a conversation without shouting!!

 

[*89x2*]

Pros:

Quiter
Tighter feel of the car
sharp look
clear back glass vs. plastic window


Cons:

It isn't a convertible much with it on
Tough to remove by myself
where do you store it?


...mine has been "stored" on the car for the past year +++

It is heavy and in the way if off the car - with it on, it is possibly the most attractive shape for a Corvette

 

[Roadster Guy]

Quote:
"Once the hardtop is properly installed on the car, the 'vert actually becomes stiffer than the coupe. The hardtop bracing is stiffer between the windshield frame and the rear halo bar compard to the coupe's taga panels.

Noises and squeaks go away, and the hardtop provides enough sound insulation that my B&B TriFlo system quitetd down to the point where the resonance went away and you could even carry on a conversation without shouting!!"
Wow......

Quote:
with it on, it is possibly the most attractive shape for a Corvette

I tend to agree...
RG

 

[aboatguy]

I agree that the biggest downside to the hardtop is that it is a PITA to store.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

I love the hard-top on the rag-top body. We built something that looked a lot like this for the ´60 Vette and it worked just fine. http://www.eztop.com/corvette.htm. You should be able to build a hoist for less than a C note.
We also had a 500 SL that came with a dolly-thing that stored the top vertical and did not take up too much space but you had to seriously want to take the top off or put it on and have a Line Backer size friend to help to get it to and from the dolly without scratching either the top or the car.

 

[aboatguy]

I love the hard-top on the rag-top body. We built something that looked a lot like this for the ´60 Vette and it worked just fine. http://www.eztop.com/corvette.htm. You should be able to build a hoist for less than a C note.
We also had a 500 SL that came with a dolly-thing that stored the top vertical and did not take up too much space but you had to seriously want to take the top off or put it on and have a Line Backer size friend to help to get it to and from the dolly without scratching either the top or the car.

My garage roof is too low to hang anything from it. I have no problem handling the top by myself: however, I am Line Backer sized.

 

[c4cruiser]

I love the hard-top on the rag-top body. We built something that looked a lot like this for the ´60 Vette and it worked just fine. http://www.eztop.com/corvette.htm. You should be able to build a hoist for less than a C note.
We also had a 500 SL that came with a dolly-thing that stored the top vertical and did not take up too much space but you had to seriously want to take the top off or put it on and have a Line Backer size friend to help to get it to and from the dolly without scratching either the top or the car.

I found a 3-sheave pulley for $6 and bought a 10-foot piece of Schedule 40 PVC and built a storage dolly with casters to roll it around the garage. Total cost for everything was under $25.

 

[thirdtimevetteowner]

There is one for sale here, on page 2 in the parts for sale/wanted by jcs44. It is black, and really nice, even comes with a cover. I was going to buy it, but having to get it painted to match my car put it out of my current price range. I don't know if he sold it yet or not, but an email will tell ya.

Rich K

 

[Roadster Guy]

a black hardtop on silver.....good, bad or ugly?

There is one for sale here, on page 2 in the parts for sale/wanted by jcs44. It is black, and really nice, even comes with a cover. I was going to buy it, but having to get it painted to match my car put it out of my current price range. I don't know if he sold it yet or not, but an email will tell ya.

Rich K

This black hardtop caught my eye. I always assumed naturally I would get a matching Sebring Silver hardtop, because I have a Collector Edition. But then I thought, aaahhh, well, my soft top is black and it looks good, so maybe a black hardtop would look good as well. Hard to picture it though......a hardtop shines, it might look like it is stuck on or does not belong or would it look great?......this has to be a dumb idea....
A silver top would be the safe, logical way to go...ok forget it. :ugh
RG

 

[AIRBUS]

This black hardtop caught my eye. I always assumed naturally I would get a matching Sebring Silver hardtop, because I have a Collector Edition. But then I thought, aaahhh, well, my soft top is black and it looks good, so maybe a black hardtop would look good as well. Hard to picture it though......a hardtop shines, it might look like it is stuck on or does not belong or would it look great?......this has to be a dumb idea....
A silver top would be the safe, logical way to go...ok forget it. :ugh
RG

Have a "vinyl top" put on the hardtop...they'd have to get real close to catch on.

 

[Roadster Guy]

:L
RG