I bought a 1960 basket case that came with a hardtop. The top is in good solid condition with the old paint intact however the windows and weatherstrips need to be change and most of the stainless trim has surface rust and needs to be polished some pieces may need to be replaced. I have heard of a guy in New Jersey that does total restoration jobs, but I had a neighbor who sent him his 58 top and got a different top other than his back and has nothing good to say about the fit of the replacement top or the company who did the resto job. Does anyone know where I can get my top restored other than this company in New Jersey? I don't need another headache! Thanks Don In NY.
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Re: C1 hardtop needs resto.
Don -
Glassworks in Pennsylvania ( www.thehardtopshop.com ); hardtops are all they do - they advertise in the Driveline. Top quality work, priced accordingly; most other shops won't TOUCH a C1 hardtop restoration. -
Re: C1 hardtop needs resto.
don=--- agree with john completly. ted and his son(?name)do excellent work. price is salty but you gets what you pay forComment
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Re: C1 hardtop needs resto.
I just got my C2 top back from Glassworks two weeks ago. I dealt with Matthew (the son) who was super. I had seen their tops at shows and didn't want anyone else to do mine. They might seem pricey at first but add up what all they do and it's well worth it when you see the final product. I opted for the tinted glass. It's almost an identical shade to the factory tinted side windows. My original black vinyl top can be seen hanging on the wall in the attached photo. Jim Weeks, Member #2978Comment
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Re: C1 hardtop needs resto.
I called my neighbor after posting my original question and was informed that the company he used was not in New Jersey but Glassworks in Pa. He told me that after discovering the problem with the fit on his new top, he was told that his original top was not returned. The front bow on the substitute top didn't fit the top bow of the windshield properly. He contacted the company who after inspecting the top at his repair shop would not make any adjustment to the top or return his original top! He has since sold the car with the top. I'm a little leary of this company and wonder if there is anyone else out there who does restoration on C1 tops. Maybe I should just look to purchase another top that has already been restored?Comment
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Re: C1 hardtop needs resto.
P.S. It is not my intention here to trash "Glassworks" as I have had no direct contact with this company. I did view my neighbors top upon it's return and it looked to be an excellent quality restoration. The only problem was with the fitment of the front bow. Which he states was not a problem with his original top sent in for resto. I only hoped to hear from people who know of a quality resto shop for my hardtop, and I do appreciate hearing positive comments from customers of "Glassworks". Perhaps my heighbor had other problems with his car/top he neglected to tell me about.
DonComment
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Re: C1 hardtop needs resto.
Don, Finding a restored top will be difficult and if one is found, it will be expensive and will probably require a color change. Glassworks restored the same top that I sent them, did a great job and I would use them again. They have done the tops for some historically significant cars including Chip Miller's 1960 LeMans Corvette. There may be other quality top shops out there but I'm not aware of them. Good luck. Jim Weeks, Member #2978Comment
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Re: C1 hardtop needs resto.
perhaps the windshield frame on your neighbors vet was damaged along with the hardtop he sent for restoration.I used glass works and they returned my original 61 hardtop in excellent fitting condition. I have restored other hardtops in the past 30 years and its a bear of a job, almost requiring a 1/2 dozens hands. the most recent hardtop i re did myself took a full weekend to do. I used glassworks plexiglass and stainless trim retainers as they sell the pieces if you care to do it yourself.good luck mikeComment
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