Blow Yer Top!

[Joe C.]

My car is a '65, built in May. It is a "2 top" car, but I am fairly certain that the original top took a left turn somewhere when my car took a right. Anyway, here's what I got:

Headliner is grained, padded vinyl (a la 1966-67). I believe 1963-65 should be fiberboard and 66-7 is vinyl. Right??

Rear window is wrong, but I don't know what it's from - here's the marking:

Plexiglas?G

Acrylic

AS4 (where the "4" is on it's side)

I know that if it were a 1965 window, the "G" would stand for June, and the "?" would have to be "E". But in 1965 the year designator should be after "AS4".

OK, so the window is wrong, and so is the headliner. If I decide to restore the top, I would have to replace these anyway, as they are very much showing their age. So, the MAIN QUESTION IS THIS, Were there any differences in the fiberglass shell from 1963-67. I remember hearing that there was a slight difference in the 1963 shell (or was that 1967??). If mine is, as I suspect, a 1966 top, can I use it for my 1965 with replacement of window and headliner for new and correct parts.

Thanks in advance.

Joe

[Jack H.]

Re: Blow Yer Top!

Yep, should be fiberboard liner, BUT for umpteen years the only available replacement was the later vinyl. Want to know the truth about whether your HT is original to the car? Pull the vinyl liner (fiberboard is NOW available) and read what you see underneath.... You'll know in a New York minute whether it's the original '65 factory matching hardtop for your car.

On the AS4. My factory matching April 65 2-topper has rear glass marked identically. The "ASx" isn't a date code, it's the American Safety rating level of the glass. And my '4' is sideways too on a December '64 panel.

As far as "G" and other aspects you describe about the actual date coding, I can't make heads/tails out of what you're saying....

[Joe C.]

Re: Blow Yer Top!

Jack:

Thanks for the reply. I know it's hard to try to decscribe the date coding on the rear window - I'll try it again. The main point I am trying to make is that the date coding format doesn't follow the one shown in my 1965 TIM&JG, Fourth Edition, page50, which shows the month designator after "Plexiglas", and the year designator before "AS4". On my window, there is a 2 digit code stamped slightly above and after "Plexiglas" (actually the first digit is stamped right over the "s" in "Plexiglas", and so I cannot read it, although the second character looks like a "G".
WAS THE FORMAT FOR THE STAMP CHANGED AFTER 1965 to show the month and year designators together like mine are. I strongly suspect that the window is post 1965, but I cannot be sure since I can't read the first character. I want to replace the window anyway with a new unit because mine has a couple deep scratches which won't buff out.
Jack, you talk about removing the headliner to find the answer. Do you mean that I should find an ink stamp on the inside of the fiberglass with the month/year of manufacture??
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: Assuming that this top is not original to my car, what do I look for in the fiberglass shell that might disqualify it from being used for a 1965. I remember hearing that either the '67 or '63 fiberglass shell was slightly different from the other years. As long as my fiberglass shell is not from a '67 ('63?), then I will use it. I do not want to disassemble anything if the shell won't work. If it is not the right style shell, I'll sell it and find the right one for my 1965.
At this point, I am just looking for clues. The vinyl headliner tells me it is most likely either a 1966 or '67 top. I cannot interpret the marking on the rear window for the reasons stated above, but if I learn that the stamp format was changed at some point, that will tell me a lot.
Jack, I hope it is a bit clearer now - a picture is worth a thousand words (but unfortunately I don't have a digital camera.

Thanks.

Joe

[Jack H.]

Re: Blow Yer Top!

The Judging Guide is just that--a guide. It doesn't list each/every/all variations on the theme. Over the years I've seen considerable difference in ID markings on HT plexiglass rear + side windows, including the placement of the date code. And, I've seen some date code embosses that are so obscure/sloppy they defy being read. That's the nature of the beast!

There was a change in the outline of the HT. If memory serves, all '63 and perhaps some early '64 hardtops have a 'straight line' at the base of the rear greenhouse (sides where HT meets rear deck lid). And this was changed to a chamfered line to reduce the possibility of an interference fit during door opening/closing. Others might comment further in this area.

I would NOT presume the HT, as you describe it, is incorrect for your car. You can get a fiberboard headliner, if you wish to make your current top a more correct mate for your car. This is a personal decision. Some would also take the position to leave things alone and take whatever minor deduction(s) might lie ahead during judging.

On what you'll find when you remove the HT headliner, I guess I'd prefer to hear what you find when/if you go through the exercise. Remember the HT accompanied the body down the assy line through the paint booth, so it had the same identification requirment(s) as the rest of the body (no VIN at that point) to make sure it stayed with its body, got the correct paint/color, Etc.

[Joe C.]

Re: Blow Yer Top!

Jack:

Thanks for the insight. My 1965 TIM&JG concurs with your comment about the notch for door clearance. It says that the early midyears had it, but by mid '64, it was eliminated. The good news is that my top doesn't have the notch, so is correct for my application. When my car is complete, I will begin dismantling/examining the hardtop, and now anticipate finding an ink stamp that corresponds to the build date of my car. Most of the panels on the car are stamped a month or two before the build date of May 19, 1965.

Joe