Due to a door clearance problem with the 63 hardtop, a "notched or cut out" section of approxmately 2 inches started being incorporated on the hardtop's bottom side. Approxmately what month and year did this occur ? Did all 64 hardtops have these notches ? Did the hardtop notches continue in the 65-67 cars, or were they redesigned to eleminate the notches ? If redesigned, approxmately what month and year did this occur ?
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Charles, here is a revision I submitted for an update to the JG. I do not know if it has been accepted, but I believe it is being considered... Harry
Current Text, pages 41 and 42:
1963 models, after approximately VIN 5,000 and 1964 models until approximately VIN 15,000 have a notch cut in the bottom of the hardtop to give greater clearance above the door. For Judging purposes, those models can be identified by the raised areas in the outer door panel where the door handle is attached. A redesigned outer door panel was introduced in 1964 at approximately VIN 15,000 which eliminates the interference problem with the hardtop. Models with door that do not have the raised area at the door handle should not have a notch in the hardtop.
Revised Text Proposed:
The Auxiliary Hardtop for 1963-1964 models had three distinct designs.
Design One: At the startup of 1963 production the auxiliary hardtop had a notch cut in the bottom, each side, to give greater clearance above the door. This design was present until approximately March 1963.
Design Two: For cars built in approximately April, May and June 1963 the notch in the auxiliary hardtop is not present.
Design three: For cars built approximately near the end of June 1963 until the end of 1963 production and all 1964 production the notch in the auxiliary hardtop is not present and rear window reinforcing brackets are present at the upper center and lower center of the rear Plexiglas. -
Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Charles, here is a revision I submitted for an update to the JG. I do not know if it has been accepted, but I believe it is being considered... Harry
Current Text, pages 41 and 42:
1963 models, after approximately VIN 5,000 and 1964 models until approximately VIN 15,000 have a notch cut in the bottom of the hardtop to give greater clearance above the door. For Judging purposes, those models can be identified by the raised areas in the outer door panel where the door handle is attached. A redesigned outer door panel was introduced in 1964 at approximately VIN 15,000 which eliminates the interference problem with the hardtop. Models with door that do not have the raised area at the door handle should not have a notch in the hardtop.
Revised Text Proposed:
The Auxiliary Hardtop for 1963-1964 models had three distinct designs.
Design One: At the startup of 1963 production the auxiliary hardtop had a notch cut in the bottom, each side, to give greater clearance above the door. This design was present until approximately March 1963.
Design Two: For cars built in approximately April, May and June 1963 the notch in the auxiliary hardtop is not present.
Design three: For cars built approximately near the end of June 1963 until the end of 1963 production and all 1964 production the notch in the auxiliary hardtop is not present and rear window reinforcing brackets are present at the upper center and lower center of the rear Plexiglas.Comment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Charles,
This topic was thrashed pretty hard a year or so ago. (check archives) But as Harry mentioned most of us now consider the notch correct for only early-mid production 63's.
I have a 64 top with the original window installed dated 12/63. It has no notch and it does have the reinforcements consistant with the third design.
tcComment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Charles,
This topic was thrashed pretty hard a year or so ago. (check archives) But as Harry mentioned most of us now consider the notch correct for only early-mid production 63's.
I have a 64 top with the original window installed dated 12/63. It has no notch and it does have the reinforcements consistant with the third design.
tcComment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Harry's right on--and what he doesn't mention, because that is for the 63-64 manual, is that design three was carried through 65-67 as well with no notch and with the reinforcements top and bottom on the back window,Comment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Harry's right on--and what he doesn't mention, because that is for the 63-64 manual, is that design three was carried through 65-67 as well with no notch and with the reinforcements top and bottom on the back window,Comment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Thank you Harry & TC. So if the proposed text is accepted, this would indicate the JG was incorrect with stating that any 64 cars had hardtop notching. I have a 64, # 13929. My doors are of the early design as I have the raised area for the early style handles. I am considering buying a hardtop and wanted to make sure I don't have a clearance issue if the notches are not present.Comment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Thank you Harry & TC. So if the proposed text is accepted, this would indicate the JG was incorrect with stating that any 64 cars had hardtop notching. I have a 64, # 13929. My doors are of the early design as I have the raised area for the early style handles. I am considering buying a hardtop and wanted to make sure I don't have a clearance issue if the notches are not present.Comment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
There was never a clearance issue with the door handle (raised pad or not). The notch did provide a little relief with the corner of the door but it was not really required so they quit doing it.
tcComment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
There was never a clearance issue with the door handle (raised pad or not). The notch did provide a little relief with the corner of the door but it was not really required so they quit doing it.
tcComment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Charles, I'm not sure what you mean by early design for a 64? As I recall there was no difference is shape, not even between a St. Louis door or an AO door. Can you explain.Comment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
Charles, I'm not sure what you mean by early design for a 64? As I recall there was no difference is shape, not even between a St. Louis door or an AO door. Can you explain.Comment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
I read the proposed JG changes Harry suggested. My 64 is VIN 151XX with an early Apr build date. The hardtop is original with no notches, however the doors do have the raised pads. The doors are also original to the car. Whenever the JG changes are made it should be clear that door handle pads and notched hardtop changes coincidentally appeared in the same time frame, but because you have one it does not mean you should have the other.Comment
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Re: 63-67 Hardtop Information
I read the proposed JG changes Harry suggested. My 64 is VIN 151XX with an early Apr build date. The hardtop is original with no notches, however the doors do have the raised pads. The doors are also original to the car. Whenever the JG changes are made it should be clear that door handle pads and notched hardtop changes coincidentally appeared in the same time frame, but because you have one it does not mean you should have the other.Comment
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