Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

[David P.]

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Assuming it is not a GM original accessory, I'd like to find out who made it. I don't have any history on when this rack was installed or who did it. Note the offset base attachment lugs. It is attached to the deck at four points, which is more typical of earlier 1970s luggage racks I believe, vs later in the decade when 6 or 8 attachment points were more common.

It has a faded black vinyl coating on the bars that is a bit hard to see in the pic. Bar plug ends are black plastic. Previous owner said he replaced some of the plugs in 1994, but can't remember where he got the replacement plugs. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[John M.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Some of the construction on this luggage carrier looks very similar to, if not the same as, the construction of the GM luggage carrier for the midyear Corvettes, which was a dealership installed accessory or over the counter do-it-yourself only. Currently there is an extensive article on the midyear luggage carrier awaiting publication in the NCRS Restorer. As for the one you have pictured, I have never seen this exact construction before and will be very curious to see if someone can positively identify it.


Save the Wave ....... JGM

[John M.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Can you trace ownership of this Corvette back to when this luggage carrier was installed, and who installed it? If so, your question should be answered, and if you are lucky the installer/owner? might even have the installation instructions squirreled away somewhere, and maybe even a part number if it's GM. Good luck.

Save the Wave ......... JGM

[David P.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

John, I am working on making contact with the original owner. We'll see what I can dig up, but I'm not holding my breath. You know how these info-seeking adventures often end... dead ends, unfortunately.

[Alan S.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Hi David,
The majority of the center portion of the 6 central bars appear to have a coating on them or are a different material than the rest of the carrier. Is that so?
Regards,
Alan

[Steven B.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Dave, back in the day I saw a rack like this with the angled legs on a Camaro and a Nova at a dealership I went to weekly. I don't know if they were GM parts or after market as the dealer used both sources. Some GM racks on Chevys had wood grained (vinyl??) bars. Also, have a friend who had a Nova with the vinyl sun roof that had a rack like this on the back. Steve

[David P.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Alan,

Yes, that is a faded black vinyl coating on the interior bars, presumably to protect them from marring, or from marring whatever is strapped onto them. I should have mentioned the rack is chrome, not stainless steel.

[David P.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Dave, back in the day I saw a rack like this with the angled legs on a Camaro and a Nova at a dealership I went to weekly. I don't know if they were GM parts or after market as the dealer used both sources. Some GM racks on Chevys had wood grained (vinyl??) bars. Also, have a friend who had a Nova with the vinyl sun roof that had a rack like this on the back. Steve

That's really cool, Steve. The black vinyl coating on the central bars is faded, but it does appear to have a wood grain type pattern to it. I assumed it was just the way the sun faded the vinyl.

[Alan S.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Hi David,
I believe I found it.
It's a Mopar 70-71 Challenger/Cuda accessory luggage rack.
MP-77R06128
It's considerably wider than the Corvette rack the dealers offered.
Regards,
Alan

[David P.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Mopar?! Egad!! Say it isn't so! Well, it sure does look nice to my eye nonetheless. Still, I'll remove it when I repaint someday...

[Terry M.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

I think the added width would allow easier access to the underside of the rack than the Chevrolet part. Not that one needs access to the underside if the usual well nuts are used. This rack would also prevent drilling into the fuel tank as the holes were made. I have to wonder how often that happened with the standard Chevrolet Accessory racks.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

Mopar?! Egad!! Say it isn't so! Well, it sure does look nice to my eye nonetheless. Still, I'll remove it when I repaint someday...

DAVID Look at the bright side. You only lose 4 points instead of the 6 I lost for the GM dealer installed one on my 70.

[David P.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

I think the added width would allow easier access to the underside of the rack than the Chevrolet part. Not that one needs access to the underside if the usual well nuts are used. This rack would also prevent drilling into the fuel tank as the holes were made. I have to wonder how often that happened with the standard Chevrolet Accessory racks.

Oh man, talk about nightmare scenario...

That's a good point about dropping the tank to increase access to the bottom of the holes for proper repair, ie blending glass into surrounding hole area instead of using body filler. I'll drop my tank for that project, if nothing else just to collect my tank sticker, which is still waiting for the right time for removal.

[David P.]

Re: Anyone seen this luggage rack variant before?

DAVID Look at the bright side. You only lose 4 points instead of the 6 I lost for the GM dealer installed one on my 70.

You're a positive influence, Ken Thanks.