C1 Hardtop fact check needed

[Paul P.]

I am interested in updating my web site, so am looking into how C1 hardtops were sold.

1) For 1953 thru 1955, there were no factory sourced Corvette hardtops. There were aftermarket hardtops and that is what we see today on those years.

2) For 1956 thru 1962 there was a hardtop option (code 419), this is according to the "Black Book".

3) I read somewhere that 1956 thru 1962 Corvettes were sold with the soft top OR a hardtop. If you wanted both, you could get the 419 option ($215.20 for 1956 thru 1958; $236.75 for 1959 thru 1962). This means that some 1958 thru 1962 Corvettes were sold with a hardtop only, no soft top. True?

Thanks!!

~paul

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 Hardtop fact check needed

Paul,

From 1956 to 1962, you could get either HT or ST as part of the base price, so yes you could get HT only. The car would not have the large brackets("pie-plates") for the ST mounted behind the seats, nor any of the brackets attached to those large brackets. The Top Cover(Decklid) would not have the special cutouts for the ST rear latches either. It would have only the threaded inserts for the HT hold down bolts, Three for the '56 to '60, and two for the '61/'62. The '61/'62 had 2 additional threaded inserts at the far outside forward corners(of the body side latch pillar next to the lid) for the 2 additional hold down bolts.

Also, on ST equipped cars, there was a Tee-nut bonded, or sometimes riveted(according to the AIM it was supposed to be riveted) to the upper outer corners to attach a 1/4x20 bolt to the outer brackets. It has been determined that HT only cars were missing this Tee-nut during the builds. My '59 was originally a HT only car and is missing those Tee-nuts. We had a discussion a few years ago about them. Here.....
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...564#post496564

Rich

[John H.]

Re: C1 Hardtop fact check needed

I am interested in updating my web site, so am looking into how C1 hardtops were sold.

1) For 1953 thru 1955, there were no factory sourced Corvette hardtops. There were aftermarket hardtops and that is what we see today on those years.

2) For 1956 thru 1962 there was a hardtop option (code 419), this is according to the "Black Book".

3) I read somewhere that 1956 thru 1962 Corvettes were sold with the soft top OR a hardtop. If you wanted both, you could get the 419 option ($215.20 for 1956 thru 1958; $236.75 for 1959 thru 1962). This means that some 1958 thru 1962 Corvettes were sold with a hardtop only, no soft top. True?

Thanks!!

~paul

Paul -

Corvettes were available with the "hardtop only" from 1956-1962, at no charge.

[Paul P.]

Re: C1 Hardtop fact check needed

Rich:

Thank you for the info. Somehow I had doubts that HT only C1 Corvettes were possible, not sure where it came from but thanks for setting the record straight.

John: You are correct, I meant to say "from 1956 thru 1962", next time I'll do more proof reading.

~paul

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 Hardtop fact check needed

Rich:

Thank you for the info. Somehow I had doubts that HT only C1 Corvettes were possible, not sure where it came from but thanks for setting the record straight.

John: You are correct, I meant to say "from 1956 thru 1962", next time I'll do more proof reading.

~paul

Paul-------


Not just from 1956-62; from 1956 thru 1975.

[Paul P.]

Re: C1 Hardtop fact check needed

Joe:

>> Not just from 1956-62; from 1956 thru 1975.
I understand that hardtops were available in the C2 and C3 (at least as long as a convertible was available) but could one buy a C2 or C3 Corvette as an HT only, similar to the C1?

~paul

[Kenneth B.]

Re: C1 Hardtop fact check needed

Joe:>> Not just from 1956-62; from 1956 thru 1975.I understand that hardtops were available in the C2 and C3 (at least as long as a convertible was available) but could one buy a C2 or C3 Corvette as an HT only, similar to the C1?~paul

Yes you could get either or for no extra cost.

[Tom B.]

Re: C1 Hardtop fact check needed

I have run across many hardtop only c1s over the years. A friend had a '57 black fuelie in the '60s. Another friend ordered his silver '69 as hardtop only and he still has it.

Tom