?HardTop Questions?

[Jack]

I'm looking at a hardtop for the 71 roadster I recently acquired. I know virtually zip about C3 hardtops. I have the hardtop in my shop but I have not bought it yet. I want a hardtop to use on my 71 & not for resale. The hardtop I'm looking at is said to be from a 68 ... I dunno how to date a hardtop? The glass is fully intact & is not fogged ... but I cannot find any manufacturer's markings or date coding on glass? All my other glass has such markings ... should hardtops' glass be marked? There is a chromed "bracket" on each side at bottom ... about 10" - 11" forward of the rear striker bolts & about 2" behind rear edge of doors' glass. Each "bracket" is attached with a single self-tapping screw. Each "bracket" is roughly 1 1/2" square, has a about a half-inch hole in middle and has a small plastic-like cover attached. I laid the hardtop onto my 71 but do not see anything that might connect to "brackets" ... what are these "brackets" for & what are they supposed to do?

This hardtop requires complete weatherstripping (~$350), it's latches are operable but chrome is toast. One black headliner side panel is missing. Hardtop's painted red & must be painted to match warbonnet yellow ... but it also needs some fiberglass work just below the rear glass channel. Chrome tail tips are in place & look OK. All chrome/stainless trim around perimeter and around rear glass is in place & looks OK. Opinions on what this top is worth$ ????
JACK:gap

 

[Chuck-75]

Hi Jack ,I bought a Hard top for my 75 last year. for $650.00, everything in great condition except for minor wear on the vinal covering around the back edges.Look at Ecklers or Mid America Catalogs to see just how much to replace the parts ya need.the square brackets you mentioned are for mounting on the rear decklid.on the sides. (I had to drill holes and buy new bolts from Ecklers), there is also a center rear bolt that goes in the rear, I also used this bolt. some say that you dont need to use these but it will hold the top more snug if you do.my car didnt come with a hardtop so there wasent any holes for mounting it, yours might be the same way?, so you will need to drill into the rear decklid if you want to use these mounting points. if you drill and use these mounting points you can open the rear decklid with the top on. otherwise I wouldent try it.
I havent looked in quite awhile but I think youll find that the WX striping and intierior padding goes for about $350.00 each.
also I had a date code hand (factory) written under the center section of the interior panel.mine is a 71. and fits my 75 vert.
I dont know about the 68? you will have to ask someone about the difference from 68 to 69?, i know that 69 and up will fit.. as far as price?, Hmmmm if yr needing fiberglass work try to find anoughter or maybe $300.00 for this one.Im sure youll find one that ay need just WX striping,or Interior pieces? but not both for around $600.00 , but then the question about shipping??? thats the big question,if ya find one?how are you going to get it?, these arent easy to ship.
anyway good luck , save the wave. Chuck-75

 

[SR'71]

Jack.. have a '71 vert that was WBY. The glass on the hard top has a mark on the drivers side low,readable from the outside. The marking says Safty -"LOF"in a square- Flo-Lite
AS-2 UT
Solid Tempered
DOT15 M 72?{can't tell if there is another Let/Num}
I can give you some dimentions etal. I don't have a dig cam

 

[early shark]

The top should have a raised year date under the headliner panel, just like the t-tops have.

 

[70 LS1]

What the others said. The hard top will be marked with a date under the headliner in some way. Mine looks like it is black marker. Pretty big numbers. I don't use the center bolt. Also, I use bolts instead of the threaded rod with nuts for the two main mounting bolts on the back. One more thing, spend the #20 or so and get one of those clear static cling pieces that fits between the hardtop and the paint. Trust me on this one without it, you will damage your paint on the decklid.

 

[Jack]

Chuck & early shark & 70 LS1: Thanks for the info folks ... I'll look under headliner for date ... and I doubt I'll use the center brackets unless I begin to face security issues. I've seen the ads for the static cling for the rear deck ... it seemed like a good idea ... so thanks for your confirmation ... I'll get one before I go much further!

SR'71: ? Have you also looked under headliner for date ... to correlate with glass ? I figured there should be a date ON glass as yours is ... I'll look again more closely ... don't worry about a pic or dimensions. Thanks!!

Others: Any more info/insights on C3 hardtops? ... JohnZ etc?
JACK:gap

 

[Jack]

Jack.. have a '71 vert that was WBY. The glass on the hard top has a mark on the drivers side low,readable from the outside. The marking says Safty -"LOF"in a square- Flo-Lite
AS-2 UT
Solid Tempered
DOT15 M 72?{can't tell if there is another Let/Num}
I can give you some dimentions etal. I don't have a dig cam

SR'71:
Upon closer inspection (and after scraping away some paint overspray) ... with date code exception, I found identical glass marking. Where your glass is dated coded "UT" (? July 1970 ?) ... this glass coded "TN" (? August 1971 ?).

Have you looked for-found date code info under your headliner?
JACK:gap

 

[SR'71]

Jack ..... Have not checked my hardtop for a date code. I only check this site on the weekends. The hardtop on mine was vynal[sic] coated. Had to be origional. I had the top painted the same color as the body [was war b yellow]. Now both are the same shade of red , without the vynal. Its spring.... the hard top is stowed till fall.

 

[Space Cowboy]

Where are you guys finding these great buys on hard tops? I would love to have one for mine. Sorry... Not trying to hyjack your thread Jack.

Space Cowboy

 

[Jack]

SC:
This hardtop became known to me when a local racing acquaintance overhead me whining about wanting one ... his vette left years ago but he'd retained top. Top needs alotta work & parts ... I've made him an offer but he's yet to accept. HT's show up on ebay from time to time and I'd seen a company (?) that makes new ones having only plexiglas/lexan glass. Some of the t-top refurbishers/vendors like Harkema occasionally have hardtops.
JACK:gap

 

[Chuck-75]

Space cowboy, I found mine on this site in the parts section and it happened to be a 6 hour drive to pick it up but well worth it . I got lucky and found one that didnt need any work for $650.00, but gave a friend of mine that was going in that direction anoughter $100.00, and spent anoughter ?$40 ducks for the mounting hardware. just keep looking and yr sure to find one close by. remember there not very easy to ship. so besides trying to get a good deal thats far away?, do the math if you find one close by.
good luck in yr search.