Now that Spring is well underway and summer is just around the corner, our friends at Corvette Central say this is a great time to talk about your Corvette’s convertible top. From the beginning, Corvettes were designed first as a Convertible model, and one of the great rites of ownership is your ability to drop the top and enjoy that open air driving experience. Hearing your Corvette with the wind in your face as you shift through the gears is a magical experience, and if your convertible top isn’t able to handle the elements to protect your car while out on the road, it’s time to call Corvette Central!
Corvette Central offers everything your Corvette Convertible needs when it comes to replacing or simply repairing your Corvette’s soft top, hardtop, T-Tops, or your targa roof panels. To locate the tops at CorvetteCentral.com, simply click on the generational sections on the top menu bar and select “Tops” from the submenu. We also have those links for you below to get started:
C1: 1953-1962 Tops
C2: 1963-1967 Tops
C3: 1968-1982 Tops
C4: 1984-1996 Tops
C5: 1997-2004 Tops
C6: 2005-2013 Tops
C7: 2014-2019 Tops
Convertible Soft Tops
The most common type of convertible tops on our Corvettes is the soft top made of a waterproof canvas or vinyl, and they have either a clear poly-style window or actual glass sewn into the rear portion. These tops are often subjected to long periods of being folding up in storage, or when deployed they are at the mercy of the elements like the sun’s UV rays, rain, and other debris associated with parking outdoors.
Corvette Central offers a number of different styles and levels of protection for soft top convertibles ranging from the 1953 Corvette all the way through last soft tops manufactured for the 2019 Corvettes.
For classic restorations, Corvette Central offers both full replacements that include the frame assembly and soft top material which also includes the latches, adjustment plates, and all the hardware required. If you just need the new soft top material, there are convertible top restoration kits that can be ordered with a dated window. Later model convertible soft tops include the heated/defroster back glass, just like your original tops.
Don’t forget to update your weatherstripping surrounding your tops, or stock up any replacement hardware needed such as pins, latches, adjustment plates, and other hardware.
Convertible Hardtops
Auxiliary Corvette Hardtops have been around since the C1 days, and they provide great looks and a lot more protection from the elements than the regular soft tops. Like many of the convertible top components, the earlier cars used Plexiglass windows which can become scratched and discolored over the years. Corvette Central carries replacement Plexiglass windows and they can be purchased either as non-dated, or date coded to match your car.
Corvette Central carries weatherstrip kits, replacement hardware for mounting your hardtops, as well as also has hardtop storage covers for 1956-1996 Corvettes and hardtop carrier and storage carts.
T-Tops for 1968-1982 Corvettes
If your C3 Corvette T-Tops aren’t fitting properly, you could be looking at a leaky mess inside the cockpit. The culprit here is usually worn weatherstripping and making sure your latches are working correctly and are properly adjusted to seal against that weatherstripping. Corvette Central carries the T-Top latches and associated hardware for keeping your tops on the car, as well as correct weatherstrips kits for 1968-77 models and (late) 1977-1982 models.
Corvette Central also offers a number 1968-1982 Astro Tops available in Smoke Bronze, Gray or Transparent, and don’t forget to add these T-Top Bags for protecting your tops when they are off the car.
1984-2024 Targa Tops/Roof Panels
Starting in 1984 and running through the current C8 generation, Chevrolet has offered the ability to remove the roof for a near convertible-like driving experience. One of the additions that many owners make is adding a transparent roof panel which really opens the interior while keeping a roof over your head. Corvette Central carries acrylic roof panels for 1984-1996 Corvettes, 1997-2004 Corvettes, 2005-2013 Corvettes, and 2014-2019 Corvettes. If you have a transparent top already, consider adding a Blackout Headliner if you need to keep it cool inside.
While the roofs were fixed in place for the C6 Corvette Z06 and ZR1s, Corvette Central offers this beautiful visible carbon fiber roof panel. It bolts on with OE hardware and requires transferring or adding new weatherstrips.
And finally, one of the common complaints owners have about their removable roof panels is that they can be quite noisy with the mounting points creaking and popping while you drive. The fix for this is to lubricate the attachment pins and shoulder bolts with Dielectric Grease.
To keep up with the latest products, plus all your old favorites, Corvette Central offers eight unique catalogs, each specific to your Corvette’s generation. Request your free Corvette Central Catalog today.
Corvette Central is America’s leading distributor and manufacturer of Corvette parts and accessories. If you have questions about the right parts needed to complete the job, call one of their sales specialists at 800-345-4122. Visit Corvette Central today at www.corvettecentral.com.
Source:
Corvette Central
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