71 luggage rack lesson

[Kathy Morris]

Hi-
I am curious if there are any special things to know about luggage racks beside the obvious - 6 hole from 68 to 75, 8 hole from 76 to 82? Are there any applications where luggage racks shouldn't be on the car? Specifically on a 74 and 71 big block convertibles?
Thanks.
Kathy

[Craig S.]

Re: 71 luggage rack lesson

My 74 has the 6 hole rack.....I bought it in 77 and it was on the car...so I am guessing the dealers installed these.....Craig

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 luggage rack lesson

Kathy-----

As far as judging is concerned, they should NEVER be on the car. No Corvette ever came from the factory with an installed luggage rack. These were always installed by dealers or customers, although a rack was offered from GM parts as an accessory item. This is the "factory" rack, although it was never factory-installed. As far as I know, the presence of a luggage rack is cause for a judging penalty. So, if this is your aim for the cars and you don't have them installed on the cars now, I would not recommend installing them.

The racks changed configurations over the years that they were offered. The rack which was offered by GM during the period when your 71 was new was GM #993862. This is a 6 point mount. For the 1974 model year, 2 racks were available. For the first part of the model year the rack was the same as for 1971---GM #993862. This rack was discontinued in December, 1973 and replaced by GM #994628. I don't know how this rack differed from the one it replaced. I believe that it was still a "6 point" mount, though.

[Jack Layton]

Re: 71 luggage rack lesson

Well Joe, you used the NEVER word and you know Never use the Never word !
Those "absolutes" will get you now and then. In 1977 from the factory there was a luggage rack offered with a combined Roof Panel Rack RPO# V54. $73 and 16,680 were sold. The same RPO# was offered in 1980, 1981 and 1982 although the rack was much different than the earlier 1977 rack.

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 luggage rack lesson

Jack-----

Yes, I should have limited my "never" to 1963-76 Corvettes.