Hardtop for Midyear

**Ed Jennings** · February 5, 2002, 03:09 PM

Re: Hardtop for Midyear

As far as factory offerings, the vinyl hardtop was a 67 only item. Also available for sharks, but no midyears except 67. May have been installed as an aftermarket thing or may be a 67 hardtop.

**Dave S.** · February 5, 2002, 03:24 PM

Re: Hardtop for Midyear

I owned a 66 gray convertable with a black vinyl hardtop. I didn't buy the car until 1968 so I suppose the original owner could have bought a 67 hardtop, but it was represented as the original hardtop when I bought the car.

**Jack H.** · February 5, 2002, 03:49 PM

Re: Hardtop for Midyear

The auxiliary hardtop (RPO# C07) was not available until '67. The RPO# was C08 and the retail cost from the factory was $52.70.

**Jack Layton #896** · February 5, 2002, 05:13 PM

Re: Hardtop for Midyear

Depending on quality and condition your hardtop has a significant value. It would be helpful to determine it's year of origin. Clearly vinyl tops were not available in 1965. However, that does not preclude your top from being a 1965 top with the vinyl having been added at a later date. In any event do not sell or discount the top until you have determined exactly what you have. Determining the date code on a '65 can be tricky so let's step away from that area at this point. Describe for us the interior. Soft padded vinyl or rough fiber board?

**Ryan Clark** · February 5, 2002, 05:29 PM

Re: Hardtop for Midyear

The interior is definately not a "soft" material. It is very tight and appears fibrous. There is a small hole in the material and the interior appears fibrous as well. There is some give to it.

If it would help, I could post a couple of photos tomorrow so someone could help me determine just what I have.

Just let me know what areas to take photos of.

Thanks
Ryan

**Joe L.** · February 5, 2002, 06:06 PM

Re: Hardtop for Midyear

Ryan-----

As others have commented, I think that it's very likely what you have is a 1967 Corvette hardtop which was equipped with the C-08 vinyl option. For the most part, 63-67 hardtops are functionally interchangeable between years so it's very possible that some previous owner of your 65 purchased a 67 hardtop which happened to be equipped with the vinyl option. It's also possible, although less likely, that your car was originally equipped with the hardtop and someone had it vinyl covered. Back in the 60s a lot of folks seemed to think that this vinyl top thing was the thing to have. Many were added by automotive upholstery shops. I could never understand it, though. When I originally factory-ordered my 69 with hard-top only there were many options that I agonized over (but couldn't afford, anyway). 3 that I didn't agonize over were the TJ-2 louver trim, the N-14 side exhaust, and the C-08 vinyl covered hard-top. I wouldn't have added any of those options if they had been free! That's NOT to say that those options are "bad"; it's just that I never liked them.

Your hardtop definitely has considerable value. I'd say that it's worth $1,000+. However, the vinyl top will likely limit its value to the majority of buyers since the cost of removing it and repainting will be significant. On the other hand, for a buyer looking for an original 67 top with C-08 to restore a car originally so-equipped which "lost" its top along the way, your top will be a prize.

**Ryan Clark** · February 5, 2002, 06:28 PM

Re: Hardtop for Midyear

The previous owner said that it is a Hardtop from '67.

He never used the hardtop and I don't plan on it either. The car is a '65 and as of now it is just a driver. I don't have any plans to change that anytime in the near future.

The top does need some work. The interior has a small hole in it. The painted trim needs to be repainted, the chrome needs some attention, it needs new weatherstripping. I'm sure there is other work to be done on it.

I may post an add in the driveline to try to find it a good home. Otherwise it will spend time in my basement.

Thanks
Ryan

**Mike M.** · February 6, 2002, 05:28 PM

What's the date on the window? *NM*

Hardtop for Midyear

Hardtop for Midyear

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