Hardtop for the C6 Convertible?

[Rob]

During one of Dave Hill's tech seminars at Corvettes at Carlisle, someone asked him if a hardtop for the C6 convertible was being planned.

He explained that although they were looking into the possibility, because of the stiffness of the chassis structure of the C5/C6, they did not feel that a hardtop was a necessity and the manufacturing process of a hardtop can be pretty intense.

Would you want to see a hardtop as an option for the C6 convertible? Why or why not?

 

[Erik S. Klein]

There are two reasons that I like hard tops for convertibles.

First, they weather and seal better then the canvas does. This means that you can put the top up for the winter without worrying about fade, wear and wind noise.

Second, they look better (at least to me) so that when you don't need/want to drop the top, you can maintain desired aesthetics.

 

[Tom Bryant]

If they keep the folding cloth top I would like to see a removable hardtop to make the car more friendly when the weather turns cold like in the late fall and early spring. If they implement a folding hardtop ala SSR then they have the best of both worlds from the start.

Tom

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

I live in Michigan and drive my Corvette on nice COLD days in the winter. The top on the C5 fits nice and tight and is not cold or breezy like the older convertibles. It goes up and down easy and is light. I also like the trunk space I get with my convertible and wouldn't like to compromise it with all the folding gizmos. Don't need the added cost or weight. Let's not get any further away from a sports than we already have the the Corvette!

 

[Fuelie]

I agree 100% with Rocketblock!

The C5 top is quite and convenient and I like the look too:cool

 

[AmosF16]

Hardtops look good and are generally more weather resistant, but it's that "what do you do with it when it's not on the car?" question that leads me to say no. Suspending it in the garage is an option, but even that is a PITA. On the C-5s verts I've seen the ragtop fit really well, so no need for a hardtop for me--besides, isn't that what having a convertible is all about? Andy

 

[CFour]

During one of Dave Hill's tech seminars at Corvettes at Carlisle, someone asked him if a hardtop for the C6 convertible was being planned.

He explained that although they were looking into the possibility, because of the stiffness of the chassis structure of the C5/C6, they did not feel that a hardtop was a necessity and the manufacturing process of a hardtop can be pretty intense.

Would you want to see a hardtop as an option for the C6 convertible? Why or why not?

Indeed difficult for GM but other makers like Ford / Mazda have no problem with them at all. More Hill spin Dr. ing... I remember him saying before C5 came out that C5 would have the highest quality interior of any prior model, Funny I don't ever remember any one saying anything negative of the general quality of C4s interior parts. I take what comes out of his mouth with a grain of salt.

 

[*89x2*]

a removeable hardtop would be good - I have one on my 93 and LOVE the lines of it when it is on but like tha ability to remove it during top down months

 

[danl72]

If it was a removeable hard top it would be ok, but not the power folding kind found on the XLR. Too much weight and not enough truck space.

 

[Patrick]

I'm going to have to agree with Erik on this one: I think hardtops add a very distinctive styling note. And they are certainly a better, more weather-tight top than the cloth or canvas variety soft-top.

As for the issue of what to do with them when you aren't using them, I believe for not much, Mid-America has a wench and pulley system that you can use to lift the hard top off your Vette, and just keep it there in the garage.

-Patrick

 

[bluecoupe]

The ragtop is fine. Forget the XLR type folding top. They are repair nightmares waiting to happen. How about a Z06 convertible? Use carbon composites for the frame and a plastic rear glass to lighten things up.

 

[CFour]

The ragtop is fine. Forget the XLR type folding top. They are repair nightmares waiting to happen. How about a Z06 convertible? Use carbon composites for the frame and a plastic rear glass to lighten things up.

Oh indeed, I can see it now....the poor 80K Cadillac owner with the top jammed up down or part way trying to get it fixed at a local dealer prying screw drivers in there to get it free. Lexus or M/B I would trust to know whats going on. Still better can you imagine taking a electric folding HT to a CHEVY DEALER :eek for repair? I had a HT on my 1994 Vert and really liked it.

 

[bluecoupe]

Mabye GM should just make one model with a clear bubble top and add a "Super High" speed setting to the HVAC fan. They can call it a ConVirtual.

 

[chuckhinva]

What's a WOC?

 

[Dirtfarmer]

Here's what it would look like LINK Aftermarket hardtops for a bunch of cars.

 

[Scottsredvette]

Mid-America has a wench and pulley system that you can use to lift the hard top off your Vette, and just keep it there in the garage.

-Patrick

How much do you pay your Wench and where do you keep her???

I keep looking for a hard top for my C4, someday I might even find one at a price I can afford. There's something about the way they look when that hard top is put on.

Scott

 

[Red Vette]

I have had a removable hard top for every vette roadster I've owned, C1, C2 and C4s. Love them, but I have always lived in cold climates and find them to be warmer and quieter than the soft top. And since they were options, if you didn't want one, you didn't have to purchase it. I haven't taken mine off the C4 yet, but will probably do it within the next 2-3 weeks. I say NO to a foldable hard top. Removable YES. I never have had a problem storing the hard top when it was off. While in college, my room mate and I would carry our hard tops up two flights of stairs and store them in the apartment, even tho the corvettes (both C1s) were in our garage. Never a problem. I think Corvette could design a great hard top for the C6, I just wish it would be easier to install/remove than the C4s. The C1 and C2 hard tops were very easy to install and remove, a one person operation. Don't know about C3.

That's my 2 cents worth.

 

[korvettekarl]

My first Vette was a 87 convertible. I bought on Thanksgiving day 1993. By Christmas I had a hardtop for it and never regretted it. I actually liked it better than the soft top and never used the soft top again. I would love to see one for the C6 that matches the lines of the C5 ZO6. I would buy another convertible just to have a C6 that looked like I thought they should have designed the new ZO6. My favorite Vette to this day was my 2000 FRC Nassau Blue. The lines were great.

 

[o2bnkc]

Hey Red Vette, you gotta tell me how you make installing a c1 top easy and a one person operation. Man, I must be getting old. There is no way I can get it off the hanger I made and wrestle it on the car by myself. You are da man!!

 

[Red Vette]

Hey Red Vette, you gotta tell me how you make installing a c1 top easy and a one person operation. Man, I must be getting old. There is no way I can get it off the hanger I made and wrestle it on the car by myself. You are da man!!

First you must remember that I was in my 20s when I had my C1 and C2 vettes with the removable hard tops, and at that age I could do things I can't do now that I am in my late 60s. The hard tops were lighter than the C4s and did not have the bracket set up at the door pillars as the C4s have. It was always easier to remove the tops than put them on. I just removed the bolts, unlatched the connection at the windshield frame, and got in the car, on passenger side. I raised my hands over my head, lifted the top straight up, swung my legs out of the car and stepped out of the car, all the while balancing the top with my hands. I reversed the procedure for installing. The difference with the C1 and C2 tops is that the C1s had a pin on the top that fit into the slot into the deck at the door jam. The C2s had a bracket that slid inside the deck lid, so I had to be very carefull as to align the top before I let it rest on the C2 deck. Also used a towel on the deck for protection while I lowered it. If my brother was around, I would ask for help.

For my C4, I have to use the pulley system to get it off, or the wife system which is better. I use the wife system for installing the hard top. The C4s are definitely a two person operation. Not only do you have to align the top to the windshield, but you have to guide the top into the brackets behind the door pillars all the while keeping the rear two bolts from protruding downward and scratching the deck when installing. After the top is in place there are many bolts to tighten. Tried to do this once single handed from the pulley - too precarious. Stopped before the top was on, asked the wife for help, and have used the wife system ever since.

If I had a C1 or C2 now, I could never do what I did in my 20s. Also, I have a wife now, and she is a great supporter of my corvettes.

Barrett