Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Corvette / September 2005

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

78 t-top question

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
gn156630 - 17 Sep 2005 18:24 GMT
I have a 78 black corvette,my question is. This car came to me with glass panel tops,from my research that was a pretty rare option for 1978 on cars other then the pace cars can anyone expand on this for me? Thanks!

This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.
Tom in Missouri - 17 Sep 2005 20:32 GMT
Since it takes all of two minutes to put a set on, unless you have the
window sticker or build sheet saying it had them, then they mean nothing.

And it isn't like it increases the price of your car $1000 or anything.

>I have a 78 black corvette,my question is. This car came to me with glass
>panel tops,from my research that was a pretty rare option for 1978 on cars
>other then the pace cars can anyone expand on this for me? Thanks!
>
> This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
> http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.
Dad - 17 Sep 2005 23:17 GMT
It is odd though that there were as many class T top options sold as there
were trailer packages???? Both were low number sales.

> Since it takes all of two minutes to put a set on, unless you have the
> window sticker or build sheet saying it had them, then they mean nothing.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>> This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
>> http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.
Tom in Missouri - 18 Sep 2005 03:24 GMT
The glass roofs were originally going to come out in '77 and made by the
Moon Roof company (don't remember actual name of company).  The Moon Roofs
had been marketed already in '76 and Chevy was going to make them an option,
but there was a legal battle over them, as Chevy wanted them exclusively if
they were going to be an option, and Moon Roofs wanted to still sell them
through their company to anyone who wanted them, like '68 to '76 owners.

Basically Chevy said that if they were going to be an option on the '77 and
you are our vendor, then you cannot sell on the open market, to which Moon
Roofs took their roofs and left.

In '78, Chevy brought out their own, and I believe Moon Roofs files suit
against Chevy for stealing the idea.  This may be why the production was
low.  Also, if I remember right, Moon Roofs sold for $250 a set while the
'78 Chevy option was $349.  Now where would you buy yours?

Plus, buying the aftermarket Moon Roofs, you still had a set of solid t-tops
but buying the Chevy glass roofs, you had only the glass roofs.

> It is odd though that there were as many class T top options sold as there
> were trailer packages???? Both were low number sales.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>>> This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
>>> http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.
Bob G - 18 Sep 2005 06:30 GMT
>The glass roofs were originally going to come out in '77 and made by the
>Moon Roof company (don't remember actual name of company).  The Moon Roofs
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>Speaking of which.....
I have a set of moon roofs on my 76...(they were on it when I
purchased the car in the late 80's)...  Does anyone know where to
purchase the pins that go into the hole in the windshield frame for
these things....?

I made my own years ago out of lead using a home made mold...and they
have worked fine...just like to actually get a set of the real
things...

They are always on my list at Carlisle...

Bob G.
Tom in Missouri - 18 Sep 2005 23:00 GMT
Since I know you have a few C3s, have you compared them to the ones on the
t-tops or the convertible top?  Also, since they made them for Camaros and
Trans Ams, maybe they match those.

>>Speaking of which.....
> I have a set of moon roofs on my 76...(they were on it when I
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Bob G.
Bob G. - 19 Sep 2005 19:18 GMT
>Since I know you have a few C3s, have you compared them to the ones on the
>t-tops or the convertible top?  Also, since they made them for Camaros and
>Trans Ams, maybe they match those.

Yes I have compared the metal inserts from both early and late C3
style T-tops...They are exactly the same...   Honestly I never looked
at them from convertibles...until a few minutes ago when I walked out
to the garage and checked my 72 which is a convertible...they look the
same BUT later today I will pull one off  a moon roof and compare the
two...from memory it does look like the ones on the convertible have
more adjustment protential..that is the mounting .holes look a little
larger... Have no idea now why I did not compare then years
ago...since I had my 72 since 1980 or so...???

Also just looked at the inserts on the 64 Convertible...completely
different animal ....

I am going to Carlisle again next week I think I will carry one with
me... and check it against The inserts from Camaros, Trans Ams or even
For#s ....

Thanks Bob
..

Bob G.
Vandervecken - 18 Sep 2005 15:33 GMT
Interesting, Tom. It's always fun to learn what happened behind the scenes.

-- V

> The glass roofs were originally going to come out in '77 and made by the
> Moon Roof company (don't remember actual name of company).  The Moon Roofs
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>>>>This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
>>>>http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.
Tom in Missouri - 18 Sep 2005 23:00 GMT
The reason I remember that is because I was at Koenig Chevrolet in
Carbondale for a show in April 1977 and they had several '77s with the Moon
Roofs.  When I asked about them, the dealer told us that he had several on
order from Chevrolet, kept getting the back order status, and finally
cancelled.  He ended up going directly to Moon Roof to get them for his
customers.

> Interesting, Tom. It's always fun to learn what happened behind the
> scenes.
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>>>>>This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
>>>>>http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.
gn156630 - 20 Sep 2005 02:37 GMT
thanks for all the info, i never knew about a lawsuit.

>Since it takes all of two minutes to put a set on, unless you have the
>window sticker or build sheet saying it had them, then they mean nothing.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>> This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
>> http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.

This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.
Tom in Missouri - 20 Sep 2005 03:28 GMT
I don't know if there was a lawsuit.  The legal battle can just be how many
attempts to sign a contract they had.  No contract, no merchandise.  I'm
sure Chevy wanted glass roofs, since that was the rage then, and Moon Roof
sold a bunch and since while '78 was low, there were nearly 15,000 in '79,
nearly 20,000 in '80, and 29,000 in '81.

And out of all of those, the number which found their way to '78 and older
has to be more than a few.

> thanks for all the info, i never knew about a lawsuit.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> This article is posted by A4Pocket Newsreader from Pocket PC. View
> http://www.a4pocket.com for detail.
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.