67 Convertible top

[Don M.]

Guys, I just read the article written by Jerry Fucillo about convertible tops in the Corvette Restorer. (Great article, thanks Jerry) At my last Flite JUdgung the team that was on my car thought I had an original top on my 67. Now, I'm not sure. First of all , my vinylite date is 766(July 66) , could the previous owner of my car bought a new top and had it trademark dated.(Like you can date so many other parts). My trim flanges were incorrect when I bought the car, and I replaced them with the correct flange. My wire ons are made of the smooth bison grain. Here's my guess on my top. My car was a magazine resto article owned by Corvette Mike. In the article Mike says he went to his local Chevy Dealer and bought all his needed parts. This was in 1980, I think he bought a NOS top that was then only 13 years old???? What's up?

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 Convertible top

Don,

I would seriously doubt that anyone could have bought a July 66 production top in 1980. July 66 was pre-production for the 67's and I'll bet they made a bunch with that 766 date code to stockpile for production. As there are 67 tops with date codes later than July, it means to me that they would have used all of the pre-production batch.

If someone bought a top from a GM dealer in 1980, it probably would be dated after 67 and more probably closer to 1980. It might have been a Regalite or other brand by then, and it might have even been undated. I had an undated one put on my 67 in the early to mid 70's. It wasn't a Vinylite.

In 1980, I don't think there as much concern over having the correct date code as there is now with NCRS. I don't think that even the reproduction vendors were geared up to copy the Vinylite trademark, and repro the date code until much later.

So either you have your original top, or a much later correct repro.

As far as date codes go, George's car in the article had a date code of 106 which I took to be October, 1966, even though the format doesn't meet the format in the Judging Guide. George's car is an April 67 car, which is pushing the 6 month envelope between the top and the car. I'll bet there are, or were some cars out there which exceeded the 6 month envelope.

If you are ever at an event which John Kennedy is at, ask him to take a look at your top. I'll bet he can tell whether it is original or not.

Glad you liked the article,

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Don M.]

Re: 67 Convertible top

Jerry, Thanks for the response. I can't imagine that my top is original, it looks awful good. But I don't see anything to feel other wise. Again, I really enjoyed the article Don

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 Convertible top

Don,

Why don't you post a few pictures of your top, particularly the back window and the logo. What's the production date on your 67?

The reason I ask is that I found someone else who has an original 67 top which has been stored off the car for 32 years. He is thinking about cleaning it up and putting it back on, instead of replacing it.

Interestingly, his date code on the back window is 106 for a January car, the same 106 as George's April car in the article. Seems like the date code format in the Judging Guide, may be off, or may have been varied.

Regards,

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179