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Started By
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re: Why did they stop making cars with T-tops?
Posted on 5/8/15 at 6:58 am to Y.A. Tittle
Posted on 5/8/15 at 6:58 am to Y.A. Tittle
quote:
When they stopped allowing the 'yeah brahs' to cruise the Lakefront in New Orleans, it killed the market for em.
Not so fast brah
0
Posted on 5/8/15 at 8:40 am to NatalbanyTigerFan
as a kid my parents had a 1978 Dodge Magnum with T-Tops
Was a special order item at the dealership that someone didnt take, so they got a great deal on it.. 1970's cars were basically tanks on wheels
This wasnt ours, but looked similar:
Was a special order item at the dealership that someone didnt take, so they got a great deal on it.. 1970's cars were basically tanks on wheels
This wasnt ours, but looked similar:
Posted on 5/8/15 at 8:41 am to tigeraddict
Pretty sweet looking ride.
This post was edited on 5/8/15 at 8:42 am
Posted on 5/8/15 at 8:46 am to Bushmaster
tss
I had a 300Zx with T-tops. Had them off coming back from the beach once with a chick. It started to rain so I pulled over to try and put them on. I was struggling to properly get them on so the chick took over and did it.
I had a 300Zx with T-tops. Had them off coming back from the beach once with a chick. It started to rain so I pulled over to try and put them on. I was struggling to properly get them on so the chick took over and did it.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 8:53 am to 7thWardTiger
quote:
my next car purchase is gonna be an 02 Trans Am firebird ws6, black, 6 speed, LS1 motor and T tops
I came here to post about this car, was my dream car when it came out, what do these run if you can find them now? Anything special about the 02? Other than the year I graduated highschool
Posted on 5/8/15 at 8:58 am to tigeraddict
I had a 78 Cordoba with T-tops.
Never leaked a drop, but the rest of the car sucked.
Never leaked a drop, but the rest of the car sucked.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:01 am to chickman1313
Hemings will give you a guy idea. Price varies widely by condition, but probably around $15K for a real clean example.
I would avoid real rough cars just b/c of labor costs to get them into decent shape.
I would avoid real rough cars just b/c of labor costs to get them into decent shape.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:04 am to The First Cut
quote:
Three pages and no one mentions how freaking hot they were to handle when you were taking them off on a summer day. They were a pain to handle and store in the trunk. The sunroof is infinitely more efficient. Americans are too lazy to do things manually.
Here's the correct answer. Along with the leaking. They're just impractical.
Having said that, I think the new Corvettes have a completely removable top.
Idiots trying to take T-tops off while going down the highway didn't help, from a law suit standpoint.
FWIW, T-tops dont affect the integrity of the body enough to be an issue.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:13 am to chickman1313
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:14 am to BayouBlitz
Well, I disagree with your last statement.
Cowl shake was a huge issue, especially with the old GM F-bodies as they only had a partial subframe. Taking the tops off induced a lot more chassis flex and was really the cause of a lot of leak problems. This only became an issue with the tops off, obviously.
Now, with hydro formed frame rails, cowl shake is pretty much gone. Corvette convertibles don't even need additional bracing from the fixed roof (C5) or targa cars.
Cowl shake was a huge issue, especially with the old GM F-bodies as they only had a partial subframe. Taking the tops off induced a lot more chassis flex and was really the cause of a lot of leak problems. This only became an issue with the tops off, obviously.
Now, with hydro formed frame rails, cowl shake is pretty much gone. Corvette convertibles don't even need additional bracing from the fixed roof (C5) or targa cars.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:22 am to N2cars
quote:
Taking the tops off induced a lot more chassis flex and was really the cause of a lot of leak problems. This only became an issue with the tops off, obviously.
Let's agree to disagree. The roof still had the center bar as well as the front and rear section. In essence, this gave the roof an "I-beam" type effect. The T-tops in wouldn't help much, because they were only attached on the two sides and could flex at the seals.
I think the sub frames were the major factor. It's why subframe connectors were mandatory if you wanted to get around corners well.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:28 am to Mud_Till_May
I'ma 90's kid who loves Camaro's. I know I know but I assure you I'm not from Livingston...
Here's a new model camaro with T-top conversion. I love it
But I will also covet a 92 camaro
Here's a new model camaro with T-top conversion. I love it
But I will also covet a 92 camaro
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:33 am to BayouBlitz
Agreed. 
We are also talking about two differs types ( or at least I am). C4 Corvettes had a targa top that attached with a latch and two Torx bolts, thus it was a stressed point.
T-tops, like we are mostly talking about here, were usually just latched. Certainly not a structural issue, but cutting into a top with a car that only had a subframe definltly didn't help with chassis flex or cowl shake.
I noticed it a good bit more when they were off, not that it was that great when they were on.
We are also talking about two differs types ( or at least I am). C4 Corvettes had a targa top that attached with a latch and two Torx bolts, thus it was a stressed point.
T-tops, like we are mostly talking about here, were usually just latched. Certainly not a structural issue, but cutting into a top with a car that only had a subframe definltly didn't help with chassis flex or cowl shake.
I noticed it a good bit more when they were off, not that it was that great when they were on.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:37 am to Bushmaster
quote:
I know some here might think I'm a douche for having that car but I still have that car.
I want a GNX but they have gotten crazy expensive so I'll find me a GN and restore it. It's a landmark car.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:38 am to shutterspeed
this was my dream car when i was a teen.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:40 am to LSUTygerFan
I saw one on the interstate by Mandeville last week, looked like it was in perfect condition. had a damn high school kid driving it
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:41 am to N2cars
Just proves that Nissan made damn good cars.
Eventually I'm going to get a 90s 300ZX and fix it up.
Eventually I'm going to get a 90s 300ZX and fix it up.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:42 am to N2cars
quote:
T-tops, like we are mostly talking about here, were usually just latched.
The ones I'm thinking about were the C3 Vettes, which had the 2 pins that would go in slots in the middle and latch to secure.
For the record, I dig T-tops. With the windows up and the T-tops off, your hair would stand straight up from the vacuum effect. (At high enough speeds).
But you already knew that.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:42 am to LSUTygerFan
There is some company that converts and restores those.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:45 am to N2cars
i grew up during the smokey and the bandit days. The really cool guys with the hot girls drove those cars.
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