T-Tops: Glass or painted

Work on my custom Vette has been going along well, now i am looking at the T-Tops, and don't know the advantages/disadvantages of each.  I am thinking that because I am out here in Hot, Sunny Southern California, the mirrored glass ones might produce heat inside the Vette (the scourge of C-3s anyways).  Not having owned any t-tops other than the factory fiberglass, I plead innocent ignorance.  So, Vote, help me to know what to get!  Thanks, dave.

I voted for the fiberglass one's due to the heat factor you are dealing with.

 BUT! I have the black "Galaxie" glass tops, and had to put slip in headliners (from Mid America Motorworks) to cut down on the heat during the sunny 90 + degree days here in NY. Now the top of my head ain't burning, the A/C is cooling better. This is another option you can resort to if you want to have glass tops.

Darryl

I have to agree with Sarge! I like the looks of the glass tops, but the sun shinin' thru is a bi*#h!
My '85 has the glass top, and it really sucks on a hot day. The heat from the top is unreal! I'm getting a static cling insert to put on it, that's supposed to cut down on the heat transfer. I hope it works!
My '74 has the fact. solid tops, and I don't feel any heat from them.

    I have both mirrored and fiberglass. Yes, the mirrors look much better. Both sets came with the car. I have run both and didn't notice a difference in heat. On the other hand, I had a Trans-Am with smoked tops and it got REAL hot in it. Even with the a/c on it was hot. I think the smoke tops attract heat whereas the mirrors do reflect some of it. The glass block it out completely. I also had a red Thompson Astro top for a while. Red plexiglass....Looked way cool, but leaked and let all the heat in. I run the mirror tops 99% of the time.

                                               Reid   '72 T-top

 

I just picked up a used set of canvas type t-tops.  They are similar construction to conv. tops.  Light and easy to store. Something to consider for summer use.

Bret

On a red or yellow vette I like the look of smoke or mirror for contrast in looks, but I voted for fiberglass due to function (less heat and sun).

What the he77 are you doing with the tops on in sunny California anyway
I have glass tops and AC. Never too hot in overcast Upstate NY

With the glass tops, you get an extra 2 inches of headroom, as compared to the fiberglass ones.

Because of this, I have also been debating about wether to get glass ones, or keep my original fiberglass ones. My head just touches the interior panel in my vette with the tops on.

What to do???????

Alan

 

Thanks Everybody,

   Now I know that I'm going with the factory originals.  The heat factor around here is high enough (100+today) that I have to leave the tops on most summer days, i sure don't need the extra heat from the glass.  Once again, you have saved me more $$$ than my  membership cost!

Oh the mirrored ones are not so bad. And, I just love the look