midyear hardtop differences

[mcditalia]

Searching past threads I was trying to find if there are any differences between hardtops for midyears. Since I am trying to buy a used hardtop, I believe that there are differences between 63-64 and 65-67, but all would work? What are these differences?

Also, what kind of hardware is needed to mount a hardtop on a c2 that never had one? The one I'm thinking of buying doesn't have a headliner. Can someone run down all the components that a hardtop should have to be correct.

Thanks

[JohnZ]

'63-'64 hardtops had a "notch" clearance relief at the front lower corners, above the rear of the door; '65-up tops were straight, with no notch. LICS and others have both "kits" and the individual parts for attachment of the top to the top compartment lid; the front uses the existing convertible hardware.

[Ol Blue]

John
I've seen the description for 63-64 hardtops that you note in one of the NCRS magazines, but I don't think it is accurate. I am the original owner of a May 63 Corvette with hardtop and it does not have the notches you mention. Mine also has something like a rivet through the rear plexiglas window, which seems like is something else that is supposed to be only on cars later than 63.
Ol Blue
http://www.knology.net/~corvettes/63vett.jpg

[I_R_DA_ONE]

My 1967 which I bought new, has just two bolts holding the back down and two on the sides and the front is held in place by the convertible top holes....and mine has no notches that you are talking about .....you will have to drill two holes in the deck lid for the rear of the hard top.. Look on page 249 of Corvette america 2003 master parts cataloge and you will find a good idea of what you will need ...
I hope this helps

Mike

[ChuckG]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue

John
I've seen the description for 63-64 hardtops that you note in one of the NCRS magazines, but I don't think it is accurate. I am the original owner of a May 63 Corvette with hardtop and it does not have the notches you mention. Mine also has something like a rivet through the rear plexiglas window, which seems like is something else that is supposed to be only on cars later than 63.
Ol Blue
http://www.knology.net/~corvettes/63vett.jpg

Every original 63 and early 64 hardtop I've seen had the "notches" or cutouts John mentions. These hardtops were used with cars that had the "pads" under the outside door handles. In early/mid 64, Corvette quit using the padded doors and went to the smooth area under the door handles. They changed the door handles too.

Regarding the rear window rivets, very early 63's had none. Then they added the upper....then the lower. That being said, you'll see 63 hardtops with none...upper/no lower...lower/no upper...window rivets. Also, "supposedly" , all 63 hardtops used on cars after VIN 14000 should have the rivets.

I have a 63 hardtop with the original dated Feb. 63 rear plexiglass window. Has the notches...has NO rivets, upper or lower.

I'm curious about the date on the plexiglass rear window of your hardtop. You should see "Plexiglass", AS 4, and a date code like 2-63, which would be Feb. 63. What is your date? Chuck

[Ol Blue]

Chuck
The date on the plexiglas rear window is 5 63. I ordered this car in January 63 and it was delivered in mid-May. Trust me, this is the original hardtop, heck it still has the original carpet and seats. Of course the drivers side is torn from me sliding in. Oh, my car also has the raised pads for the outside door handles. Take a closer look at this picture and you can see the hardtop doesn't have the notches.
http://www.knology.net/~corvettes/63vett.jpg
Ol Blue

[ChuckG]

You can clearly see that there are no notches on your hardtop. VERY interesting. I'm no "hardtop guru"...

"Conventional wisdom" has always been that the notches were used with the padded doors.. no notches with the "flat" doors.

Neat looking car you have. Love that color. You should take some pictures and send them off to the 63 NCRS Team Leader, so that the JG can be revised. Chuck

[Ol Blue]

Thanks for the complement Chuck

I had a silver blue customized 55 Chevy hardtop that I drove for 7 years while saving up for my first new car, a Corvette. That's the primary reason that I ordered the silver blue. Actually, on the written sales order (I still have it) it states that I ordered Daytona blue, which was correct at the time. After looking at a Car and Driver cover that had a silver blue convertible on it, I went back the next day and changed my order. The typed order (I still have it) states Silver blue. Oh, I also ordered the standard signal seeking am radio, but it came with the AM/FM. I think they were phasing out the signal seeking radio and may not have had any in the bin when my car came down the line.

I talked with some NCRS "official" (I think it was the guy that is the original owner of a split window that is in the NCM) several years ago about the non-notches on my car and there seemed to be little interest in even talking to me about it. I'm not terribly interested in originality in my car, but don't mind sharing what I do know to be absolutely correct on my car for those that are interested in originality. I've communicated to Noland Adams about my car when he was writing his books and met with him once at Bloomington Gold when in was in Bloomington IL.

What serial number is your 54? I have #689. The passenger door is hand laid glass. When I took out the headlight buckets, there were pieces of masking tape on each them that had the number 689 handwritten on them. As best I can remember, it has the "flippers" for the convert top arms. Also has the short exhaust tips and painted valve cover, and bullet carb breathers.
Ol Blue

[ChuckG]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue

Thanks for the complement Chuck

I talked with some NCRS "official" (I think it was the guy that is the original owner of a split window that is in the NCM) several years ago about the non-notches on my car and there seemed to be little interest in even talking to me about it. I'm not terribly interested in originality in my car, but don't mind sharing what I do know to be absolutely correct on my car for those that are interested in originality. I've communicated to Noland Adams about my car when he was writing his books and met with him once at Bloomington Gold when in was in Bloomington IL.

What serial number is your 54? I have #689. The passenger door is hand laid glass. When I took out the headlight buckets, there were pieces of masking tape on each them that had the number 689 handwritten on them. As best I can remember, it has the "flippers" for the convert top arms. Also has the short exhaust tips and painted valve cover, and bullet carb breathers.
Ol Blue

I think that if you sent a note to the National Team Leader for 63-4, Carlton Colclough, that he would express interest.

My 54 is close to yours...30 before... #659. Both doors are hand laid. I've got flippers, short exhausts, painted valve cover and 3 bullets for air cleaners. I figure my car was built in late March of 54. Chuck

[Ol Blue]

ChuckG

I sent a note about my hardtop to Carlton Colclough on Jan. 5th, but never heard back from him. Guess no one likes change.
Ol Blue
PS My 54 has the month February handwritten in pencil under the dash on the fiberglass.

[wombvette]

I dont know what the 63 judging manual says, but I always thought that later 63s came without the notches. I dont see any relationship between the notches and the raised pads on the doors.