58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

[Dan B.]

The 58-60 hard top interior side rails as I am told are supposed to have the end cap pictured attached to them. I was on a mission to look at as many cars as possible when at Carlisle and except for the hardtop guys that do professional restoration I could not find any 58-60 cars that had them. 61-62 apparently had a return incorporated into the stamped part and not a separate piece.

Does your car have these?? If so, how were they attached? Is this something the judges look for?

I am told the reproductions should be brazed on. I see no evidence on the parts I have of this having been done previously.

Any insight or information would be greatly appreciated.

[Jim D.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

The interior side rails for my 1960 top don't have caps or any evidence of there ever being any. They are open like the one on the right in your picture. I've had the car almost 50 years.

[Mike M.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

57 and 58 definitely had the end caps. mike

[Dan B.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

Here is the link to the part which is listed for 56-60

https://www.thehardtopshop.com/products/1956-60-corvette-hardtop-side-rail-end-caps-pair

[Chuck B.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

My 60 has the end caps.
Chuck

[Dan B.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

Thanks for all the replies. It puzzles me that so many cars appear without them, even folks like me that have owned their cars for the majority of years since built.

This gets to the next question since I am getting that these were originally part of the OEM configuration, how were they originally attached by GM?
Must have been weak since so many fell off. The recommended procedure for attaching the replacements now is that they be silver soldered. When done correctly, and polished, they look like one piece from the ones I've seen.

Chuck, has your top been restored or is it original as supplied?

[Chuck B.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

Dan, I purchased my hardtop only car from the original owner in 1989. I painted the top, replaced the rear plexiglass and headliner, but the trim is as delivered from St Louis. The car had been in storage from 1973 until I bought it with it’s hardtop in place. Can’t really tell how the trim piece is secured with the top on the car.
Chuck
64610B6E-29C0-401F-AF2F-97B313706327.jpg

[Dan B.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

Chuck, Thanks for that information. That's a great picture and very helpful to know that's how it's supposed to look. The restored tops with that piece look like this one and have that seam filled in and polished flush which I doubted could be as GM delivered them, too much work to finish like that:

[Steven B.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

I bought my '57 in Nov '64 and it has them-but one just fell out years ago so it stays safely locked up.

[Bert L.]

Re: 58-60 Hard top molding end caps - Does your car have them?

My early '60, "hardtop only", I've owned since 1974 doesn't have them....