Dated T-Top Bags

[Raymond Wells (40797)]

As I search for a pair of original black T-Top Stowage Bags, what would the permissible date code range be for a car with a build date of Jan. 11, 1974? Also, when being judged, what point loss could you expect from a pair of original bags, in excellent condition, that pre-date the car's build date by almost 2 years? Given other's experiences out there...is locating the above item, in excellent condition and with the correct date, like searching for a needle in a haystack?

[Patrick Hulst (16386)]

Re: Dated T-Top Bags

Ray,

The bags for each of my cars pre-date within 4-6 weeks.

Remember that for virtually any part, but especially commonly used ones like t-top bags, they didn't sit around long and were used up to 100 times a day. That means that the odds of MOST parts falling within a 6 month window is actually not correct; it should be more like a 6 WEEK dating window.

Having said that, you would probably only lose 1-2 points for the wrong date.

Patrick

[Jack Humphrey (17100)]

Also....

check the specific descriptive text of the Judging Guide for your year Corvette. You might find there's an 'out clause' along the lines, "Not all bags were dated" that allows you to source undated bags without penalty....

[Harmon Chamberlain (24961)]

If you find bags that are not dated

make sure that the material is not date stamped. Most bags I have the material was dated in large letters when the material was made. Lyle

[Geoff Coenen (2473)]

Before I got married I dated some bags *NM*

[Tracy Crisler (40411)]

Are you braggin or what? *NM*

[Peter Lindahl (6598)]

Re: Before I got married I dated some bags

Were they NOS bags or just OLD bags ????????????????????

[Geoff Coenen (2473)]

Re: Before I got married I dated some bags

Truthfully finding a NOS bag is as difficult as the comparable NOS part. Most have been test driven. Some hard and put away wet.

Geoffrey Coenen

PS I have dated real bags in one 1968 and 1975 and they could pass for close to NOS (Never Originally Stolen ) Honestly. Originals always trump repro's, but nice 30 year old original stuff is rare these days.

[Patrick Hulst (16386)]

Re: Before I got married I dated some bags

"...but nice 30 year old original stuff is rare these days."

That much I can verify. Even 20 or 25 year old original stuff is not all that common.

P Hulst, MD