1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

[William H.]

Are there any updates or determinations as to whether 1970's with the optional hard top came with a wrench? Thanks.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Are there any updates or determinations as to whether 1970's with the optional hard top came with a wrench? Thanks.

William------


I can tell you with absolute certainty that 1969 convertibles with optional hardtop were supplied with the wrench. I do not see any reason why 1970's would have been any different.

[William H.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Thanks, Joe. I have a 1968 that has the original wrench as well. The current Judging Manual for 1970-1972 says they have not determined at this time whether auxiliary hard topped cars came with a wrench or not. But, the 1970 owners manual references the wrench. Just curious if there was an NCRS update on findings.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Since the 5th Edition 70-72 TIM&JG was published, I have not had a single person come to me and say I am an original owner and I have a hardtop wrench.

I have had opportunities over the years to see and work some very original low mileage cars, in most cases they did not have wrenches. Ed Foss's 4-mile car was wrench delete. Most people that have wrenches will volunteer they bought one to comply with the Judging manual. I have also had lots of 68-69 owners tell me the same thing.

As of today, my opinion has not changed for 70-72 cars. But as other say, I have not seen all the cars with hardtops and talked with all the original owners. Probably won't either, at my age.

Gary Bosselman

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Since the 5th Edition 70-72 TIM&JG was published, I have not had a single person come to me and say I am an original owner and I have a hardtop wrench.

I have had opportunities over the years to see and work some very original low mileage cars, in most cases they did not have wrenches. Ed Foss's 4-mile car was wrench delete. Most people that have wrenches will volunteer they bought one to comply with the Judging manual. I have also had lots of 68-69 owners tell me the same thing.

As of today, my opinion has not changed for 70-72 cars. But as other say, I have not seen all the cars with hardtops and talked with all the original owners. Probably won't either, at my age.

Gary Bosselman

Gary------


The 1970 AIM says that the wrench was to be supplied in the rear compartment of cars equipped with C07. Of course, this does not necessarily mean that they were actually supplied. But, at the least, it means that Chevrolet instructed that they be supplied. The same instruction is in the 1971 AIM. However, the wrench is not found in 1972-75 AIM's. I suppose it's possible the wrench was deleted before 1972 but it was never incorporated into the AIM's.

As I mentioned above, I can say with absolute certainty that the wrench was supplied to at least late 1969. My original owner late 1969 was definitely supplied with the wrench. I've pictured it in previous posts.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Joe,

I agree 100% with everything you said. But looking at original, unrestored cars, in many instances do not agree with the assembly manual. If I see during judging a hardtop wrench, I usually ask if that came with the car. Almost always, the owners will say no, I bought it. At least they are honest.

If anybody is out there that bought a hardtop equipped 70-72 that is still the original owner, tells me their car came with a hardtop wrench, I'll consider changing the manual. Otherwise I'll continue to write and document the way I see the cars built and not the way we think they were or wish they were.

And I know of a late 69, black vinyl hardtop, 6800 mile one owner car, now with the second owner. Bought from the attorney handling the estate. No hardtop wrench with the car. Did they stop late 69? Did this one end up in a tool box? If these cars could only talk !!

Gary Bosselman

And, I'll be the first to agree that a lot of those wrenches ended up in peoples tool boxes and did not stay with the cars.

[William H.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Gary,

For what it's worth, I am the second owner of a very original '70. The car came with all of the original paperwork and 'glove box' items. But, no wrench. If it came with one originally, I think my car would have had it when I took ownership. Thanks for the great work with the judging manual.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Thank you Bill. Another honest answer. I think.. they stopped later 69, but just don't know, they stopped putting them in. If these cars could talk !

Hate to hi-jack the thread but....
Build date of the car?
Seat belts, or should I say the lower lap belt, I see two different lengths. Could you measure yours and tell me the info on the sewn on label? Or a couple of pictures?
Seat shims that came in the bag, the small round shims, plain un-plated steel or black phosphate? I think either late 70 or 71 they started plating them.
Still have the original spare?
Private email would fine.
gbozz08@gmail.com

Thanks for the help.
Gary Bosselman

[Dave S.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Thank you Bill. Another honest answer. I think.. they stopped later 69, but just don't know, they stopped putting them in. If these cars could talk !

Hate to hi-jack the thread but....
Build date of the car?
Seat belts, or should I say the lower lap belt, I see two different lengths. Could you measure yours and tell me the info on the sewn on label? Or a couple of pictures?
Seat shims that came in the bag, the small round shims, plain un-plated steel or black phosphate? I think either late 70 or 71 they started plating them.
Still have the original spare?
Private email would fine.
gbozz08@gmail.com

Thanks for the help.
Gary Bosselman

Gary,
ill chime in on the possible phosphate round shim Washers. I have never seen or heard of them on any 70-72 car.

[James G.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Unless a wrench were clearly marked that it belonged in the car in most cases they were liberated by accident, or if removed intentionally by a mechanic because they were not used to leaving wrenches or tools in a customer vehicle.

Another tool supplied in quite low quantity and which would appear to be "out of place" in the Corvette storage tray was the N89 screwdriver.
The wooden handled one was supposed to be provided to remove the star burst center.
How many have been found with the 700 and some odd 67 N89 BOLT ON CARS?

It would not surprise me in the least to find that a similar percentage of these tools remained with the vehicles..


The same screw driver was supposed to be supplied with the 69 Chevelle SS wheel for removing the center cap, HOWEVER VERY few have ever been found with cars, even LOW mile 1 owner cars.

Think about the fact that in the minds of 99% of the paid mechanics or other people working on a Corvette, a wooden handled flat blade screwdriver, much like a 1/2 9/16 combination wrench does not belong in the storage area of the car and leaving it there would be irresponsible.

[Reba W.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Gary,
ill chime in on the possible phosphate round shim Washers. I have never seen or heard of them on any 70-72 car.

Neither have I, Dave.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Gary,
ill chime in on the possible phosphate round shim Washers. I have never seen or heard of them on any 70-72 car.

Dave------


The 1968-69 seat back bumper shims were different than the 70-72.

[Dave S.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Dave------


The 1968-69 seat back bumper shims were different than the 70-72.

Joe,
I'm aware of that. My only comment was I have never seen any round seat shim washers on C3 cars in grey phosphate. They are all natural.
I guess this thread went a bit sideways.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Joe,
I'm aware of that. My only comment was I have never seen any round seat shim washers on C3 cars in grey phosphate. They are all natural.
I guess this thread went a bit sideways.

Dave------


"Natural" and "gray phosphate" are often confused or mis-identified.

[James G.]

Re: 1970 Hard Top Wrench (Update?)

Here is the one in a fellow member's 71 Ls5 2 top Roadster - 19k miles - one owner car -
He said... what is this doing in the pouch with the shims?
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