53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

[Terry M.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

I really doubt that many of the judges do serious research on every part of the car. Don't they just go "by the book"? Isn't that why we have this Technical Discussion?
Dave

I suppose one would have to define "serious research." The early C3 judges spend a lot of time looking at original cars, and have looked at enough of them to have a good idea of what changed when -- at least for the area they judge. Evert little part or nut and bolt -- maybe not all parts, but among us we have a good idea. Is "serious research" traveling thousands of miles a year -- or studying books?

BTW: 1968 to 1972 Corvette convertibles have the cap with the flanges. And we didn't study the parts book to make that determination.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

Original 65.

[Joe L.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

BTW: 1968 to 1972 Corvette convertibles have the cap with the flanges. And we didn't study the parts book to make that determination.

Terry------

Yes, but I would come to the exact same determination from the parts catalogs alone.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

Interesting no one seems to ever mention the screw. It was drilled trough the bow and is screwed into the bow. The screws offered with the reproduction kits are pointed and do not extend through.

[David L.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

I suppose one would have to define "serious research." The early C3 judges spend a lot of time looking at original cars, and have looked at enough of them to have a good idea of what changed when -- at least for the area they judge. Evert little part or nut and bolt -- maybe not all parts, but among us we have a good idea. Is "serious research" traveling thousands of miles a year -- or studying books?

BTW: 1968 to 1972 Corvette convertibles have the cap with the flanges. And we didn't study the parts book to make that determination.

Terry,
"Serious research" is a combination of viewing physical evidence, studying many vintage parts catalogs, parts history manuals, Chevrolet Service News, articles in the "Corvette Restorer", any other appropriate vintage documentation and doing it for at least a few decades. Finding cars that have most of its original parts is very difficult. Physical evidence can and usually does change over the decades. What we need is a time machine.

Edward,
I find it extremely difficult to believe that the flanged edge caps (GM # 7614749) were original equipment on your 1963 since GM # 7614749 did not exit in 1963 or 1964. The 4661686 caps (aka "clips" in the vintage Chevrolet parts catalogs) appear in Gr. 13.342 and Gr. 15.534 in my 1963 (Oct. 1962), 1964 (Oct. 1963), 1965 (Oct. 1964, Jan. 1965, and May 1965) Chevrolet Parts Catalogs. The 7614749 cap finally makes its debut in my 1966 (Oct. 1965) Chevrolet Parts Catalog. I guess that it is very possible that the 7614749 cap might have been installed on "late" 1965 models but I seriously doubt the the 7614749 cap was originally installed on 1963 and 1964 models. This is just my opinion which is based on vintage parts catalogs and very little physical evidence. I would like to know what the person who judged your car based his or her opinion on about the caps on your car.

Wayne,
The cap on you 1965 looks original enough to me.
Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

Terry,
"Serious research" is a combination of viewing physical evidence, studying many vintage parts catalogs, parts history manuals, Chevrolet Service News, articles in the "Corvette Restorer", any other appropriate vintage documentation and doing it for at least a few decades. Finding cars that have most of its original parts is very difficult. Physical evidence can change over the decades.

Edward,
I find it extremely difficult to believe that the flared edge caps (GM # 7614749) were original equipment on your 1963 since GM # 7614749 did not exit in 1963 or 1964. The 4661686 caps (aka "clips" in the vintage Chevrolet parts catalogs) appear in Gr. 13.342 and Gr. 15.534 in my 1963 (Oct. 1962), 1964 (Oct. 1963), 1965 (Oct. 1964, Jan. 1965, and May 1965) Chevrolet Parts Catalogs. The 7614749 cap finally makes its debut in my 1966 (Oct. 1965) Chevrolet Parts Catalog. I guess that it is very possible that the 7614749 cap might have been installed on "late" 1965 models but I seriously doubt the the 7614749 cap was originally installed on 1963 and 1964 models. This is just my opinion which is based on vintage parts catalogs and very little physical evidence. I would like to know what the person who judged your car based his or her opinion on about the caps on your car.

Wayne,
The cap on you 1965 looks original enough to me.
Dave

Dave-----


It's always possible that a particular part might not have been available in SERVICE at a particular time but was available for PRODUCTION purposes. Then, later, it could have been released for SERVICE. However, that did not happen in this case. As far as I can tell, the entire 761xxxx series of part numbers did not exist in either SERVICE or PRODUCTION as early as 1963.

[David L.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

Interesting no one seems to ever mention the screw. It was drilled trough the bow and is screwed into the bow. The screws offered with the reproduction kits are pointed and do not extend through.

Wayne,

The screw shown in my 1966 Chevrolet Illustration Catalog (Oct. 1965) on page 1416 in the 1959-62 Corvette folding top drawing is shown as "N.L. SCREW #4-40 X 7/8" (OV. CR. REC. TAP. TYPE C)". The screw was not serviced. I assume the same screw was used on the 1963 and later models. I also assume this would translate as follows: Not Listed #4-40 screw with an oval cross recess Head with type "C" point.

Dave

[Terry M.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

Terry------

Yes, but I would come to the exact same determination from the parts catalogs alone.

And it is certainly a bonus when the cars, AIM, and parts books all align. One might reasonably conclude at that point that one has "the real deal."

[David L.]

Re: 53-75 Convertible Top Trim End Caps (aka Clips) GM 4561686 & 7614749

Original 65.

The caps pictured below are from a 63-67 Corvette convertible top assembly that I bought at Spring Carlisle in 1980 for $100. The vinyl top was no good but the frame assembly was in very good condition. I needed it because most of the tabs on the header on my original frame assembly were rusted and broken. I am not sure if these caps are original as each one was attached with small dome head nail. The caps measure 1.0" long, 0.66" in width at the widest part, and 0.25" in depth.

Dave