Plasticon top for 1953-55 -- questions about latches and weatherstripping

[Peter R.]

At Corvettes at Carlisle last Friday I was fortunate to pick up two Plasticon hardtops (I didn't expect to find any) -- one is in nice shape, with good back window and surrounding gasket; the other has no rear window or gasket, has fiberglass damage below the rear window opening, but does have the gutters. The tops also came with a pair of NOS Plasticon side badges. So I have much of what I need to build one nice top, except there are no latches and no weatherstripping. My '54 had one of these tops on it in old pictures from the early '80s, so I'm excited to be able to put one on it again. My main questions are:

1. Will the same front (J-hook) and rear (saw tooth) latches found on the stock soft top also work on the Plasticon hardtop?

2. Will the same front and rear weatherstripping from the stock soft top also work on the Plasticon hardtop, or are there other weatherstrips that will work?

Thanks for any help.

Pete

[Joe L.]

Re: Plasticon top for 1953-55 -- questions about latches and weatherstripping

At Corvettes at Carlisle last Friday I was fortunate to pick up two Plasticon hardtops (I didn't expect to find any) -- one is in nice shape, with good back window and surrounding gasket; the other has no rear window or gasket, has fiberglass damage below the rear window opening, but does have the gutters. The tops also came with a pair of NOS Plasticon side badges. So I have much of what I need to build one nice top, except there are no latches and no weatherstripping. My '54 had one of these tops on it in old pictures from the early '80s, so I'm excited to be able to put one on it again. My main questions are:

1. Will the same front (J-hook) and rear (saw tooth) latches found on the stock soft top also work on the Plasticon hardtop?

2. Will the same front and rear weatherstripping from the stock soft top also work on the Plasticon hardtop, or are there other weatherstrips that will work?

Thanks for any help.

Pete

Peter------


First of all, I cannot answer any of your questions.

Unfortunately, the guy that surely could, Roy Braatz, is no longer with us and hasn't been for quite some time.

[Leif A.]

Re: Plasticon top for 1953-55 -- questions about latches and weatherstripping

Contact Chris Sherman, owner of TIN Restorations in Plano, Illinois. Chris specializes in C1 restorations and knows the '53-'55 inside out.

https://twobuckis.wixsite.com/tin-restorations

[Peter R.]

Re: Plasticon top for 1953-55 -- questions about latches and weatherstripping

Thanks Leif. I just sent Chris a message.

Pete