56 Corvette question

[Walter F.]

Reading a 56 Corvette brochure it says that cloth power top was standard. The Corvette black book says it is was an option. Also did the vents on top of the 56 and 57 Corvette fenders serve any purpose ?

[Mark S.]

Re: 56 Corvette question

Some of the brochures were published before production; and thus you will see differences. The power top was an option to my knowledge. The vents were originally going to serve a purpose like allowing air flow in; but it did not work as well as they thought. So the vents were closed; and it became more of a styling item.

[James G.]

Re: 56 Corvette question

The car came with the soft top only. The hard top was optional at $215.20. It was a popular option as 2076 were made You could order the hardtop only as a substitute for soft top. The power operated soft top was ''in addition'' $107.60 item to the soft top. It also was a popular option as 2682 were made. Remember now, only 3467 Corvettes were built in 1956. Many had both tops.

The model is often overlooked by collectors as everyone wants a 57 fuelie. Many 56 cars were full of luxury options, even power windows, [547 cars with PW ]. Add the new 1955 V8 small block with 2X4 cars at 225hp and power glide , you had a real cruiser. And if you were a serious racer type, you could order the RPO#449 High lift ''DUNTOV'' camshaft with your 2x4 carbs. It was a $188.30 option in addition to the $172.20 cost of the 225hp engine. Only 111 cars got the special cam.

I love 56 Corvettes. Very early cars had painted headlight rims, and small 1 inch hardtop header bars. That's another judging story.

[Loren L.]

Re: 56 Corvette question

Initial pricing for the 1956 Corvette provided for MANDATORY OPTIONS; ie, Parking Brake Alarm (107), Courtesy Lights (108), Windshield Washer (109), Dual 4-Barrel Carburetor Equipment (469) and Hydraulic Folding Top Mechanism (473). Without those items checked, your order would not be processed. 4/6/56 saw the announcement of the 210 HP base motor. 4/9/56 saw the announcement of the DROPPING of the mandatory options.

[Richard M.]

Re: 56 Corvette question

Yes the Hydraulic Power Top was mandatory for IIRC, the first 1,400 1956's.

I'd bet the Procurement Department made a big mistake and over ordered way too many of these systems, and the only way to get them off the books was to make it a mandatory option.

Such a nightmarish design, with inadequate harness wire gauges, problematic toggle limit switches , hydraulic valve complexity, DOT 3 Brake Fluid as the power medium, awkward to use, and poor service documentation. 1956 had several revisions of the design. 1957 and beyond went to a more reliable limit switch system. However, all of the current for the hydraulic valve solenoids was directed through these switches, of which was on the order of 15-18 Amps. Wires melted, switches failed, and hoses blew spraying brake fluid out ruining paint.

It also must have been a nightmare for the Dealer Service folks. There must have been at least 99% of them that failed during their Warranty periods.

After restoring one of these 1956 systems a few years ago, I am amazed that they made so many and forced buyers to pay extra for them. One thing I did for switch longevity and to protect paint, was to add relays to the 4 valve solenoids and Dexron fluid in the system instead of the paint remover.

Rich
PS However, I have a complete system I'm restoring to add to my '59 soon. Mainly for fun.

[James G.]

Re: 56 Corvette question

Initial pricing for the 1956 Corvette provided for MANDATORY OPTIONS; ie, Parking Brake Alarm (107), Courtesy Lights (108), Windshield Washer (109), Dual 4-Barrel Carburetor Equipment (469) and Hydraulic Folding Top Mechanism (473). Without those items checked, your order would not be processed. 4/6/56 saw the announcement of the 210 HP base motor. 4/9/56 saw the announcement of the DROPPING of the mandatory options.

Thanks Loren. I never knew that. I was 13 and could not order one in 1956.

[Loren L.]

Re: 56 Corvette question

Richard, a more cynical view would be to look at it in the same way as the retention of the "Crossfire" system in 1984 - "for recovery of R & D costs". Installing one for "fun" would lead one to the Yellow Pages under the Mental Health category.......

[Richard M.]

Re: 56 Corvette question

Richard, a more cynical view would be to look at it in the same way as the retention of the "Crossfire" system in 1984 - "for recovery of R & D costs". Installing one for "fun" would lead one to the Yellow Pages under the Mental Health category.......

R&D cost recovery? Hmmm, that could be too.

I laughed loudly at your sentence #2. Yes I admit it's a crazy thing to do too, and everyone else tells me that too, but I need more fun. I read a article by John Hinckley years ago about power tops and when a buddy's car was here with its nonfunctioning system, I restored it. Good practice for my car. Docs below.

I started working on mine over a year ago and I will be getting back to it very soon .

Rich