1966 roadster hard top attachment

[Jim S.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

So, you are saying that any car delivered with a hard top would necessarily have to be shown with the hard top. I have shown my car many times in the past, granted a LONG time ago, with and without the hard top. It was always judged with which ever top was up. Never a deduct for not having the hard top, even with the attaching provisions on the deck lid.

In this case the deck lid was not drilled and it was most likely shown with the soft top only. I would not expect a judge to deduct for not having the hard top presented. Things might have changed since I used to judge. The only funky thing that might get a deduct, would be the fact that it is presented with the side holes for attaching and not the rear holes. This might get a deduct, if caught. But, one presented with all attachments never got deducts when I judged.

Having a 66 with both tops , and putting it back together as we speak, I am wondering if there is any deck lid attachments to the side holes , like the ferrules on the top of the deck lid , that should be present even when the top is not on the car ?

Jim

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Having a 66 with both tops , and putting it back together as we speak, I am wondering if there is any deck lid attachments to the side holes , like the ferrules on the top of the deck lid , that should be present even when the top is not on the car ?

Jim

The deck lid would have the sockets on the sides, and the ferules on the top of the deck. The question is how it should be presented when the soft top is displayed. I think it is the opinion of the powers that be to put the attachment pins in the deck when judging, however, I have some issues with that. Whether the side bolts should be installed for judging, lets see what they say.

In my opinion, no matter what is said in the manuals, the pins were not likely used on the deck. My reasoning is this. I also have an original HT car, and the the pins were installed on the top at the factory. They were caulked to keep them in during install. A mess if you try to remove the pins and put them on the deck. The pins were also slick on on the surface and did not have the P marking commonly seen on replacements. If new pins were supplied in the goody bag with the car, I will change my mind. Lets see what they have to say about that.

[John H.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

If new pins were supplied in the goody bag with the car, I will change my mind. Lets see what they have to say about that.

Wayne -

I think this came up in an earlier discussion - when the hardtop car left St. Louis, the hardtop was installed with the rear hold-down bolts (and the side bolts), and the only thing in the bag with the wrench were the two rubber washers that were to be used under the hold-down bolt heads when they were used to plug the bolt holes after removing the hardtop and using the soft top.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

You make the rules to fit what ever you want but it sure sounds funny that you don't judge floor mats, or other dealer installed items, but you casually over look the fact a car has a part missing as delivered?

[Jim C.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

I have an originally equipped two top 1966 car. When I had my car judged at the chapter level in 2007, I did so with the hard top installed because I felt that it would show better than the soft top. As a result, the hard top was judged, to inlcude having the correct rear deck bolts. The soft top was not judged. The judges did require that the soft top be presently stowed in the car and appropriately attached to the car. Correct hardware (wrench, etc.) also needed to be present and accounted for.

Jim C.

[Dan L.]

Re: 1966 roadster hard top attachment

Another issue - I had the seat belts on my 66 restored and the belts appear to be a different shade of red (brighter) than the seat and carpet. Other than the interior color code of 407 for R/V is there a dye color code for the belts? Thanks