1966 roadster hard top attachment

[Dan L.]

I recently purchased a 1966 roadster (three time top flight receipient) that came with a factory hardtop. There are no holes in the rear deck lid to secure the top, only connects to the side posts and windshield. Is that correct? A friend (former NCRS judge) mentioned not all mid-year hard tops connected into the rear deck lid. I've order the 1966 NCRS tech manual but thought I check with you guys. Thanks

Dan Lynch

[John H.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

I recently purchased a 1966 roadster (three time top flight receipient) that came with a factory hardtop. There are no holes in the rear deck lid to secure the top, only connects to the side posts and windshield. Is that correct? A friend (former NCRS judge) mentioned not all mid-year hard tops connected into the rear deck lid. I've order the 1966 NCRS tech manual but thought I check with you guys. Thanks

Dan Lynch

Dan -

Any '66 that left St. Louis with a hardtop had two holes with stainless ferrules aft of the soft top rear bow for the rear hold-down bolts, and two threaded barrel nuts at the inboard front corners of the lid for that pair of bolts.

[Harry S.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

I recently purchased a 1966 roadster (three time top flight receipient) that came with a factory hardtop. There are no holes in the rear deck lid to secure the top, only connects to the side posts and windshield. Is that correct? A friend (former NCRS judge) mentioned not all mid-year hard tops connected into the rear deck lid. I've order the 1966 NCRS tech manual but thought I check with you guys. Thanks

Dan Lynch

Dan, the cars job number is written on the hardtop under the trim along with the color the top is to be painted. There are pictures in the archives. If the job numbers match I would think the rear deck has been replaced. What documentation do you have that provides information that it was a factory supplied hardtop? It could be a dealer supplied hardtop where the deck holes were never drilled. Dealers did this all the time, order a car with a hardtop and sell it off the lot without the hardtop.

[Dan L.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

John & Harry, thanks for the reply. Maybe the deck lid was replaced when the car was restored. I have a dealer sheet (invoice) that lists a hard top. I will go ahead and have the rear deck holes drilled so I can wear the hard top this winter. I plan on taking the car through the top flight process this summer at the national meeting and did not want to make a costly mistake. I've been told by past owners this car was owned by Ray Moorison, well known and long time NCRS National Team Leader for model year 1966. I have the grading sheets for 2008,10 & 12 and there is no mention of a hard top. Still learning!

Dan

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Is your dealer sheet original to the car? Or reproduction? Have you used the document validation service?

Then if all that was original the golden question how was that omission judged?

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

I have the grading sheets for 2008,10 & 12 and there is no mention of a hard top. Still learning!

Dan

If he showed it with the soft top, there would be no mention of a hardtop.

THE Danny Lynch?

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

To the point, the had top holes are in the deck lid and an entry level judge should have noted the deficiency, as NCRS judges "as delivered" so the hard top should have been a demerit. Sort of like missing the left door.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

To the point, the had top holes are in the deck lid and an entry level judge should have noted the deficiency, as NCRS judges "as delivered" so the hard top should have been a demerit. Sort of like missing the left door.

So, you are saying that any car delivered with a hard top would necessarily have to be shown with the hard top. I have shown my car many times in the past, granted a LONG time ago, with and without the hard top. It was always judged with which ever top was up. Never a deduct for not having the hard top, even with the attaching provisions on the deck lid.

In this case the deck lid was not drilled and it was most likely shown with the soft top only. I would not expect a judge to deduct for not having the hard top presented. Things might have changed since I used to judge. The only funky thing that might get a deduct, would be the fact that it is presented with the side holes for attaching and not the rear holes. This might get a deduct, if caught. But, one presented with all attachments never got deducts when I judged.

[Dan L.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Given it's condition it appears original but I don't know for sure. According to my research a previous owner was pretty high up in the NCRS pecking order - my car is the car featured on the NCRS 1966 Judging Manual (red roadster white top). The rear deck lid could have been replaced with out the hardware for the hard top. I had the Petty (Richard) Garage outside of Greensboro, NC add the necessary hardware and enjoyed the top this past winter.

I do have a new question - according to my judging manual the ignition nut should be brushed stainless steel with three small indentations - mine has four indentations. All the online catalogs show four indentation for 1966 and three indentations for 1965. Anybody run into this before?

[Roy S.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Given it's condition it appears original but I don't know for sure. According to my research a previous owner was pretty high up in the NCRS pecking order - my car is the car featured on the NCRS 1966 Judging Manual (red roadster white top). The rear deck lid could have been replaced with out the hardware for the hard top. I had the Petty (Richard) Garage outside of Greensboro, NC add the necessary hardware and enjoyed the top this past winter.

[Dan L.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Thanks Roy - I did not have the opportunity to meet (or speak) with Ray but have talked with two of the previous owners. They all speak highly of Ray and his love of NCRS. This is my first vintage car and I learn something new every week about the car and restoration process. I am new to NCRS but it provides an outstanding forum for beginners. Thanks to all for your insight and suggestions.

Dan

[Paul J.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

To the point, the had top holes are in the deck lid and an entry level judge should have noted the deficiency, as NCRS judges "as delivered" so the hard top should have been a demerit. Sort of like missing the left door.

No. This was discussed about a month ago.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Paul, please send the link where this was discussed.

[John H.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Paul, please send the link where this was discussed.

Ron -

In the strictest interpretation of "as delivered", a 2-top car would have left the dealership with the soft top stowed and the hardtop installed, but that's not what determines how a 2-top car is presented for judging. That's covered in Section 2 of the "Corvette Judging Reference Manual", item #21, "Vehicle Display For Judging", which states essentially that 2-top cars can be presented with either top up, and only that one top will be fully judged.

2-Top cars only need to be presented with both tops for P.V. judging.

[Paul J.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Paul, please send the link where this was discussed.

Hi Ron, the thread that I was thinking about had a fairly long and hard discussion in the middle of it. It's several months old. I think it may have been one the side discussions that occur, and was not completely specific to the tag line. I recall that someone like Roy had made comments in it about the rules about judging two top cars, noting what Dick has said. I searched for the thread, including posts by Roy, and I have'nt been able to find it. I wish our search engine would accept phrases.

Paul