C3 Luggage Racks

[jim34671]

Understand that they are a dealer added option,but just a couple of questions..
What year did they go from 6 hole mount to 8?
And is it safe to say that all 6 mount racks had 8 rubber endcaps on vertical members and all 8 mount racks had only 6 rubber endcaps?
And when did the racks start having the pins for the t-top brackets?
Did any of the older 6 mount racks ever have these pins.
I understand there are a lot of aftermarket makes out there and hence the variances.
I have an original 70 coupe with a dealer fitted 6 hole rack and trying to canabalise pieces of other racks to make one nice one.
Thx
Jim

[Wayne W.]

Re: C3 Luggage Racks

I believe that it was 76 when they went to the 8 holers. And yes the 6ers have 8 bullets, but the overall shape is much different. A more interesting question would be, when did the 69 style, with the offset mounts change to the 70 up?

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Luggage Racks

Wayne-----

I can tell you EXACTLY when. The 68-69 style rack was GM #993737. It was discontinued from SERVICE in February, 1969, although some GM parts publications show it as being available as late as November, 1969. Since none of these racks were ever installed in PRODUCTION, we know that the last one went out GMSPO's door in February, 1969 and, consequently, that's when their availability ended. Of course, dealers may have had inventory of these racks so it's possible that they could have been purchased by a customer after 2/69.

Officially, the GM #993737 was discontinued without supercession. I can find no record of the 70-style rack, GM #993862, being available prior to January, 1970, but it's possible that it was. If not, then there was a period from February, 1969 until January, 1970 when you couldn't get one of these racks from GM unless the dealer happened to have one in stock. I believe that the 70 style rack was similar to the 69, except for the offset you noted.

The "70 style rack" was available until December, 1973 when it was replaced by the GM #994628. I don't know how this rack differs from its predecessor.

That's when my knowledge of these racks ends. I never really paid too much attention to them. Without trying to offend anyone and offering my personal OPINION ONLY, I put luggage racks in the same category as side exhaust, 3 "deuces", TJ-2 louver trim, and PO2 wheel covers. I've never paid much attention to them or studied them, at all. I don't plan to, either.

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: C3 Luggage Racks

Jim, I believe that some racks were installed at the factory as they are shown in the AIM. I can offer this bit of information pertaining to my 77 luggage rack. It is 6 hole mount rack. Although the holes in the Corvette deck for installation are very clean - I suspect it was installed by a dealer or individual and not the factory. It does, however, have the pins for installing the T-top brackets, so I can say that 6 hole racks are available with the pins. Steve