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replacement T-tops?

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replacement T-tops?

Posted: 6/30/08 5:46amMessage 1 of 8
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Waterford, MI - USA
Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1795
Vette(s): 1973 Red coupe
Does anybody make a targa top other then the clear Astro top?
My T-tops fit like crap and I was thinking about the idea of a one piece painted top. How many of you would be interested in the same thing?

Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box
 


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replacement T-tops?

Posted: 6/30/08 2:06pmMessage 2 of 8
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Holland Patent, NY - USA
Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4422
Vette(s): #1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker
So what do you do about the center post? Does it go over that?

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Evil Smileebo
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replacement T-tops?

Posted: 6/30/08 5:33pmMessage 3 of 8
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Greensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5387
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe, 1989 Coupe, 2001 Roadster Present: 1967 Stingray Roadster, 1976 Stingray Coupe, 1989 Roadster..
So tell me why you don't like the Thompson Astro Top?
Here are my likes:
More headroom.
Pretty view of the clear blue sky.
Easy to store in the back.
Storage under the top in the back.
Easy in easy out from the car.
Lite to handle.
Smoke tint matches my car.
Easy to clean.

These are my dislikes;

Not intended for the Vette purist.
Have to be careful not to scratch it.
Finding a safe home for the mounting knobs when not in use.
Did I mention it leaks?

That's about it. Overall I like mine. So much in fact my T's haven't been in the car in over 5 years. But the look all nice and shiny here in the basement.


Tuxblacray2008-06-30 17:51:57
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replacement T-tops?

Posted: 7/1/08 1:01pmMessage 4 of 8
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 2/20/2003
Posts: 555
Vette(s): Frederick County Corvette Club (Maryland) Tan 64 365 Hp Conv 4 sp Red 72 4 sp Conv ..running a '68 327 Blue 76 Coupe L 48 4 sp White 79 Coupe L 82 auto Silver 98 Conv, 6 sp 35th Anniv '88 vette
My 79 runs a set of Thompson panels...2 pieces, my Brother also had a set on his 80 but replaced them with a one piece unit after he forgot to lock them down tight and one flew off at speed...ok slightly faster then "speed"  lol

Honestly they have worked fine for me and I have had them on the car for at least 15 years...maybe more .

BTW...Scratches are pretty darn easy to remove ..Nexus Plastic polish plus elbow grease will do it...

Mine do not leak...but I sure had to learn how to tighten them down and adjust them ..only took me a few years to discover how to tighten them down ...

The ONLY thing I do not like and have not been able to fix is the method the rear of each panel is secured...My original panels had a pretty poor attachment latch or whatever you call it in the back,...Thompson at Carlisle one year and I noticed a different sytle latch so I inquired about them and the good folks at Thompson just took my name address etc and a week later I had the new style latches on the car at absolutely no charge...the new ones work better BUT ARE STILL POOR ...

Bob G


Bob
64,72 & 98 Corvette Ragtops
76 & 79 & qa 88 ANC Corvette Coupes

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replacement T-tops?

Posted: 7/1/08 1:40pmMessage 5 of 8
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Greensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5387
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe, 1989 Coupe, 2001 Roadster Present: 1967 Stingray Roadster, 1976 Stingray Coupe, 1989 Roadster..
I also found that tire shine or Armour All will lift the scratches. As for the latches I am going to send you a PM about those. I am interested in them.
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replacement T-tops?

Posted: 7/3/08 7:47amMessage 6 of 8
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1034
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
Original T-tops do not have to fit like crap.  There is quite a bit of adjustability in them, and with quality weatherstrip, they don't leak.  And they sure are a lot easier to handle.

Larry
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replacement T-tops?

Posted: 7/3/08 8:10amMessage 7 of 8
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Horse Cave, KY - USA
Joined: 10/22/2007
Posts: 488
Vette(s): 1968 convertible; 1980 L-82
[QUOTE=VetteSpecialties]...Original T-tops do not have to fit like crap.  There is quite a bit of adjustability in them, and with quality weatherstrip, they don't leak.  And they sure are a lot easier to handle....[/QUOTE]
 
I agree.
 
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replacement T-tops?

Posted: 7/3/08 12:50pmMessage 8 of 8
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Greensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5387
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe, 1989 Coupe, 2001 Roadster Present: 1967 Stingray Roadster, 1976 Stingray Coupe, 1989 Roadster..
Hey guys I didn't aim for it to sound like the OEM tops are a piece of crap .... they aren't. Fact is mine fit pretty good and I don't have an issue with them.

But, I also see folks slappin the Astro tops around for quite a bit of negative feedback.

Both are fine in there own way. It is my preference to utilize the Astro Top for the reasons I listed above.

Since my Vette iss on the altered side of the spectrum I believe the look is rite for it. If it were more traditional and I leaned more to the purist side I wouldn't have one.

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