C-1

[Lee Boyer]

Are all front hardtop latches the same on C-1"s

[Dennis C.]

Yes *NM*

[Lee Boyer]

Re: Yes

could you expand a little more? what would they be? I am thinking of buying a n.o.s. pair for my 61.

[Dennis C.]

Re: Yes

Lee: 56 - 62 Hardtop latches, 1 left hand, 1 right hand are all the same. They are of the "short" handle variety. There is a later model with a longer handle that is incorrect and will usually damage the headliner when latched. I will offer that the reproductions I've seen are quite good if the price of NOS stuff gets crazy. There is also a minor difference between hardtop and softop latches. They look almost identical but the mounting surface where it touches the header is a different contour. I would have to check at my shop before trying to describe the hardtop variety.

[Terry D.]

Re: C-1

Hardtop latches are flat at the mounting base, not radiused as the soft top latch. As per the Judging Guide.

Terry

[Kevin Riel]

Re: C-1

What is the proper length of the front latches for hardtop and softtop for 59? What application do the "improper" longer latches come from? Thanks.

Kevin Riel

[Roy B.]

Re: Yes

I brought these out in 1992. As you can see the two are different as seen here Fig. 1 shows the bottom side of each handle for soft top and hard top.
Fig. 2 shows the round bottom soft top handle , while the hard top is tapered at one end and thinker at the other end. Both have short handles.
Remember the header of the soft top is different then the hard top header so you need to use the right handles . Later 63 to 67 the handles are longer and wont work right. At first the repro's were only made for one top type, then later they found out they were different

[Tom P.]

Re: C-1

The longer latches (just the handle is longer) were the GM replacements.
I have the replacement latches on my 56 hardtop, and in the latched position, the tip of the handle is so close to the headliner thay you can just barely slip a piece of paper between the handle and headliner. In this case, I guess a miss is as good as a mile, just as long as it doesn't touch and make a hole in the headliner!!!

[Larry Parylla]

Re: C-1

I noticed the same problem when I got my 62 last September/ October, I slipped a piece of cardboard between the liner and the handle as a temporary fix till I could figure out how to adjust it so as not to put a hole in the liner. After reading this thread I realize I have the wrong length handle.

[Dennis C.]

Re: C-1

The difference in the handle length is considerable - my memory is shot, but we are talking upwards of an inch. Again, I'd have to visit my shop to throw a tape measure on a correct one.

[Ted S.]

Re: C-1

Kevin, These ones on ebay look like the longer version

[Kevin Riel]

Re: C-1

Thanks!

[Terry D.]

Re: C-1

Dennis

Could you do that for us. There are several on E-Bay and elsewhere and it would be nice to know correct length of handle.

Terry