How many types of C3 T Top latching are there?

[kiwi vet]

Hi All
I was looking at a set of fibreglass T Tops for my 81, as the glass ones are sometimes still to hot, even with the extra heat reduction film I put inside.
I found some on a local auction site, and they were a relatively good price.

I was suprised to find they had the lever latching system at both ends of each top, as opposed to the lever latch front and pin location at the rear.
Are early C3 tops latched differently from the later ones?

I have never read anything about the latching on tops being different between the years. Have I just missed the info or have I just stumbled onto some replica tops?
The learning sponge (brain) eagerly awaits your input. ;worship
Grant

 

[82ColEd]

Grant,
never seen anything different in a C3 top, but what do i know.. Here is a bump up for the day shift..


-Stefan

 

[Wegone]

Two… early tops (68-77) have two latches. One front & one at the rear. There were several different stops on them thru the years…the second version (I believe started in 78 may be latter) had a single latch in the front and a pin at the rear

 

[kiwi vet]

Two… early tops (68-77) have two latches. One front & one at the rear. There were several different stops on them thru the years…the second version (I believe started in 78 may be latter) had a single latch in the front and a pin at the rear

Hey Wegone
Thanks for your information, :BOW Id never read or heard of this before and I'd thought I'd read a lot about the C3's. Obviously this is not seen as a major point by the history writers.
I wonder, do you know if they can be changed over to the later style? Is this possible? or is it in the to hard basket?
Grant

 

[srs244]

Two… early tops (68-77) have two latches. One front & one at the rear. There were several different stops on them thru the years…the second version (I believe started in 78 may be latter) had a single latch in the front and a pin at the rear

this is correct. my 78 pace car has only the front latch and an extending pin in the rear. 1977 was the last year for the double latch mechanism type. if i remember correctly, there is a kit to convert later (1978 and newer) tops to the earlier years available from some of the parts houses, but not the other way around.

 

[kiwi vet]

Dammm

this is correct. my 78 pace car has only the front latch and an extending pin in the rear. 1977 was the last year for the double latch mechanism type. if i remember correctly, there is a kit to convert later (1978 and newer) tops to the earlier years available from some of the parts houses, but not the other way around.

Thanks srs244

 

[Wegone]

Hey Wegone
Thanks for your information, :BOW Id never read or heard of this before and I'd thought I'd read a lot about the C3's. Obviously this is not seen as a major point by the history writers.
I wonder, do you know if they can be changed over to the later style? Is this possible? or is it in the to hard basket?
Grant

Any time..after 30 years of fooling with these cars you can't help but learn something.. Must be kool to have a Vette in Kiwi country...

 

[kiwi vet]

Any time..after 30 years of fooling with these cars you can't help but learn something.. Must be kool to have a Vette in Kiwi country...

Hey Wegone

Yes, I certainly think it is, not to many C3's here - relatively speaking, so it always becomes a point of discussion, when people see it.

Thanks Grant