Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

[Scott V.]

I am looking for an original hardtop wrench for my 1971 and recall seeing an article in the restorer about them. Does anyone remember the article and when it appeared. I have checked all my old copies and found I am missing 3 of them (my luck it's in one of those!) There is a wrench for sale on ebay and just want to check before I buy. Thanks!

[Dave S.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

I am looking for an original hardtop wrench for my 1971 and recall seeing an article in the restorer about them. Does anyone remember the article and when it appeared. I have checked all my old copies and found I am missing 3 of them (my luck it's in one of those!) There is a wrench for sale on ebay and just want to check before I buy. Thanks!

Scott,
i have done lots of research on hardtop wrenches with little success. I do not recall seeing a Restorer article on C3 hardtop wrenches but if you can find the exact issue I can look it up. My 2 owner 1971 car had a Williams Superwrench in it for the hardtop. Obviously I cannot verify that it came with the car but the car was extremely original including lots of paperwork and had 20K miles. Ultimately it became a Bowtie/Duntov car. The first owner was very particular but who knows for sure. Others may chime in so maybe I can learn something myself.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

Scott...to add to what Dave has said, I searched the complete CD of Restorer articles and came up empty...and I haven't published an article you speak of since I took over as editor in 2008...I did find mention of the hardtop wrench for a C2 written by John Amgwert in Volume 13 #2, Fall 1986 on page 2. (it was from a letter submitted by a member) Other than that I came up empty.

[Alan S.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

Hi Scott,
In looking through previous threads about the wrench it appears it's important that the wrench for a 68+ car be sized for 1/2" and 9/16" as Joe L. pointed out.
There are similar wrenches for mid-year cars that are sized 1/2" and 7/16".
So check the sizes on the wrench you're considering too.
Regards,
Alan

This an example of a MID-YEAR wrench. (Thanks to M.F.Dobbins!)

[Lawrence M.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

Scott,
Have you searched the Tech Board archives ? I recall a thread or 2 on the subject of C3 hardtop wrenches in the last few years. A picture of a know original 69 wrench was in one of the threads.

[Don H.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

Followup to Alan's and Larry's posts; if you go to the search box, the small white box above right under the word Society, enter three words: hardtop and wrench, then click enter you will be taken to all previous posts regarding the subject. There are several pages and most concern C2 HT wrenches but many discuss C3. Anytime you want to search all threads for a two word subject, enter both words and the word and. You may be surprised at what all comes up.

[Scott V.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

All

Thanks very much for sharing this information. I must have have been mistaken wrt the Restorer article (although it will drive me crazy trying to figure out where I saw the info.). I will check the archives again as noted and take a look at the pictures there. Dave, it is interesting you have a Superwrench with your car as I was seeing VLCHEK mainly showing up as the supplier for the wrenches. I realize GM sourced parts from a multiple suppliers and it looks like this is another case of that. The wrench on ebay is a 1/2 & 7/16, so it won't work for me but I have a lot more to go on now. Appreciate all your responses.

Scott

[Gary C.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

Scott,

Vlchek may or may not have supplied the hardtop wrenches after 1967. Vlchek did not provide any took kits sold as accessories after 1966.

Suggest to try and find an original owner C3 with a hardtop and wrench. May be Terry Mc would know of someone.

Good luck,

Gary
....

[Jim T.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

I found some posts from 5/5/2014 under "hardtop removal tool". Pictures of the 1/2 and 7/16 and one of Joe L.'s 1/2 and 9/16
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...dtop+wrench%29

[Terry M.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

Scott,

Vlchek may or may not have supplied the hardtop wrenches after 1967. Vlchek did not provide any took kits sold as accessories after 1966.

Suggest to try and find an original owner C3 with a hardtop and wrench. May be Terry Mc would know of someone.

Good luck,

Gary
....

I don't know of any early C3 hardtop wrench original owner. What is more the evidence is beginning to pile up that C3s were without a wrench for the hardtop. I would welcome any original owner who can validate otherwise.

[Mike E.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

The wrench I have in my 70 that I bought from the original owner is identical to Joe L's. I paid $7.23 plus shipping on ebay for it after seeing pictures of his. My car has the original bag with seat shims, the original brackets for the bottom of the rear hardtop bolts, and even has the correct nuts for that application. But no original wrench.

[James G.]

Re: Restorer Hardtop Wrench Article

Local friend who owns a 19k mile nearly mint original 71 LS5 2 top Roadster (June 71 Built) purchased from the original owner sends me the photo about a month ago and asks me what this is for...