"68" Removeable Hardtop

[Jeff P.]

Hi Everyone,

What are some of the features the 68 only hardtop has that differs from the other C-3 tops ? Is the mounting of the top to the car fastening points the same as later C-3's ?

[John C.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

Jeff

A number of changes occurred to the hardtop over the course of the 68 and 69 model years.

68 hardtops do not have the stainless steel corner covers for the rear tips. These were added early in the 69 model year.

Early 68 hardtops were held down at the rear by two tapered pins at the corners. This is the same arrangement the soft top uses. During the 68 model year this was replaced by studs that used u-shaped washers and bolts to hold the rear in place.

A third center hold down point was added to the rear late in the 69 model year.

The handles for the 3 latch Assemblies that held the hardtop in place at the front windshield were originally chromed metal. They were changed to rubber covered at some point during this time. Exactly when this occurred I am not sure of.

The hold down pins used in the latch Assemblies at the front were all metal with a round head in 68. They became rubber tipped in 69.

John

[Joe L.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

Jeff

A third center hold down point was added to the rear late in the 69 model year.

The handles for the 3 latch Assemblies that held the hardtop in place at the front windshield were originally chromed metal. They were changed to rubber covered at some point during this time. Exactly when this occurred I am not sure of.

John

John------


The center rear hold-down was added VERY late in the 1969 model year. My mid-September, 1969 hard-top did not have this feature. So, it had to be added after that time.

I am not aware of any rubber covered front latch levers for the 1968 or 1969 model year for HARDTOPS. My mid-September, 1969 hardtop certainly does not have them. As a matter of fact, I'm not even aware of rubber covered levers coming along in the 70-75 period but it's possible they did.

[Sal C.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

I have never seen rubber coated handles on a 1968 through 1975 hard top.

[John C.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

Joe

How late the center hold down was added in unknown to me. It must have been very late as I can't remember seeing many 69s with it.

I certainly could be wrong on the rubber coated handles. Paragon Reproduction's catalog shows them for L69-75 usage, but they could easily be wrong or simply showing the incorrect picture with the part.

John

[Reba W.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

I also have not seen the rubber-coated handles on hardtops for 1969-75. We recently sold what looked to be an original 1975 at auction, and it didn't have them.

[Dan M.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

To add to the list; I know the diameter of the two rear hold down pins were smaller in 68 than they were in 69 and up.

[Joe L.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

To add to the list; I know the diameter of the two rear hold down pins were smaller in 68 than they were in 69 and up.

Dan-----


The 1969-75 rear fasteners were not pins, per se. They were simply studs, threaded on either end. One end threaded into the bracket on the rear bow and the other had a special retainer with nut.

[Ralph A.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

My Very Dec 1st 1969 hartop does not have center pin.
My 71 and 72 have center pins.
My 69, 71 or 72 do not have rubber coated handles.


Something for the books.

Ralph

[Dan M.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

Joe

I would not argue with you as you have more knowledge than I ever will hope to. While I agree the 69-75 hardtops had the "studs" instead of the "pins" like the convertable top had, still I know the diameters were different on the 68. The receivers on the back rear of the hardtop that the "pins" or "studs" would screw into were different; the 68 version having the smaller threaded hole. I believe 68 was a 1/4" diameter and the 69 and up had 5/16" diameter. Same difference on the folding tops as well.

You agree?

[Joe L.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

Joe

I would not argue with you as you have more knowledge than I ever will hope to. While I agree the 69-75 hardtops had the "studs" instead of the "pins" like the convertable top had, still I know the diameters were different on the 68. The receivers on the back rear of the hardtop that the "pins" or "studs" would screw into were different; the 68 version having the smaller threaded hole. I believe 68 was a 1/4" diameter and the 69 and up had 5/16" diameter. Same difference on the folding tops as well.

You agree?

Dan-----

Yes, the housings were different from 1968 to 1969. I believe the 1968 pins that threaded into the housings were 5/16". The 1969-75 housings were threaded for 3/8" studs.

[Joseph K.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

My Very Dec 1st 1969 hartop does not have center pin.
My 71 and 72 have center pins.
My 69, 71 or 72 do not have rubber coated handles.


Something for the books.

Ralph

I agree with Ralf my 69 hard top is like his.

[Dale C.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

Also the glass is date coded as is the other glass on the car.

[Jeff P.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

Thanks for all the member feedback. From the information gathered here the top is matching to my "68" . The vinyl on the outside has a couple lite scuff marks that i hope to somehow hand buff out. The interior on this top looks to be a shade off, probably needs some vinyl dye.All the weatherstrip is still soft and not missing pieces. The stainless trim looks great too.Thanks again

[Joe L.]

Re: "68" Removeable Hardtop

Thanks for all the member feedback. From the information gathered here the top is matching to my "68" . The vinyl on the outside has a couple lite scuff marks that i hope to somehow hand buff out. The interior on this top looks to be a shade off, probably needs some vinyl dye.All the weatherstrip is still soft and not missing pieces. The stainless trim looks great too.Thanks again

Jeff------


I'd be extremely careful trying any "buffing out" on the vinyl. I fear you'd do more harm than good.