Painted Top Questions

[WARP TEN]

I actually got a transparent top from Melrose T-Tops (815-758-2783) or www.melrosecorvette.com. I am happy with it--just like the original. I presume he sells painted ones (or ones for painting). You might call Dave and ask what he would charge for one including shipping, and or whether he had any advice for you on shipping. Since I live fairly close to them I was a able to go down and pick it up and got a discount for doing so. I got mine because the one that came with my 2-top car was a Lexan replacement and was delaminating. He said that is common for those tops. Original tops are not Lexan. Note that original top frames came with the car's VIN on them so you may get one with a different VIN or none at all if it is a replacement frame. Mine has no VIN (nor did the one I got with the car) and it is illegal to either remove, change or add a VIN to anything. --Bob

[hiperf406]

Originally Posted by KILLSHOTS

1) black

2) Only you can say what it's worth. That said, your Z is rare Polo, not red, so you have a significantly diminished chance of finding one that DOESN'T need to be painted. My advice is to cast a wider net...any later C4 top will fit. My 1990 tops have the VIN stamped on them, but I believe GM stopped that in '91 or '92, IIRC.

Best of luck. Beautiful color!
Chris

Originally Posted by KILLSHOTS

Sorry, entering shipping across the border into the equation probably changes things somewhat. Should
have taken that into account.

Hey Lorne, looking forward to seeing you and Marianne again soon!

Hey Chris how's the car doing? We are planning to be there late Aug so hope to see you at some shows.
lorne

[PhillipsLT5]

Originally Posted by KILLSHOTS

Sorry, entering shipping across the border into the equation probably changes things somewhat. Should have taken that into account.

Hey Lorne, looking forward to seeing you and Marianne again soon!

Its only 105 today in Phx

[Mr Blue]

I bought a fiberglass top from T. Curtner last year $380 shipped. He packed it bubble wrap placed in guitar boxes and closed cell foam reinforcements. It arrived unscathed. If you have the shipper wrap the top in plastic they could us expanding foam insulating material( Great Stuff etc...) to take up the void in the box. That should protect it. Good luck. There are tops for sale on Craigslist, at good prices, from time to time. BTW the top I got was Polo Green, and I needed Steel Blue, go figure.

David

[Vetman]

I just paid 950 shipped for a black solid top that had been stored in a Chevy dealership for years, but it is in pristine condition. In fact I think it may have never been used. Paint on hardware , bolts etc had no scratches. My z is black so if felt it was a good buy for me. ��

[csavaglio]

Out of curiosity, where is the VIN located on the tops? I've owned 8 C-4s that run the range of years, including a couple low mileage ones that I have not reason to believe had replacement tops.

C

[KILLSHOTS]

Originally Posted by hiperf406

Hey Chris how's the car doing? We are planning to be there late Aug so hope to see you at some shows.
lorne

Doing great, Lorne..lots of mods. See you soon!

[WVZR-1]

Originally Posted by csavaglio

Out of curiosity, where is the VIN located on the tops? I've owned 8 C-4s that run the range of years, including a couple low mileage ones that I have not reason to believe had replacement tops.

C

Front of LH rail. Top needs to be removed for it to be seen.

[Alberta_ZR1]

Originally Posted by WVZR-1

Interior headlining on all is black.

Painted top fit is '89 to end of production.


What year top were you told it was? You mentioned "silver" and the only "silver" that would be considered a fit would be a '96 CE top. There were gray '89 cars but you mentioned "silver". You need snapshots of the front mounting points.

The greatest issue is shipping. A C4 top doesn't ship well and probably 30% are received damaged and there's little chance of recovery of funds because packaging is generally the issue. In this case it's usually not the handling.

I'd maybe try to shop a correct color top but I believe I'd consider a top of the incorrect color if I could do one local and priced right. The headliners are nearly all loose and will require replacement, that is NOT an issue.

I'd do the WTB for sure here and also the CF. I would think a "local" isn't out of the question and you get to check weather-strip condition and headliner. I'd consider paying more for a local I could put my hands on.

LOCAL - LOCAL - LOCAL or "know the shipper/packager". No exceptions. I've shipped several but I had a carton I used and part of the sale was the agreement that it would be returned and I charged for the return ship in the price. I never had an issue. The last time I used it the buyer paid for the box just to have it.

$650 is pretty steep for used unless very nice with "no issues". I did one the correct color that had been in the closet since new for not much more than that.

Use this for pricing comparisons and maybe call a local salvage yard. Use the drop-downs and select roof, it will give you options:

http://car-part.com/

Great! Thanks for the advice on this one. I haven't gone out hard to look, this one had popped up while cruising the Canadian section of another forum. I'll post a local ad and see what I can find!!

Originally Posted by Mr Blue

I bought a fiberglass top from T. Curtner last year $380 shipped. He packed it bubble wrap placed in guitar boxes and closed cell foam reinforcements. It arrived unscathed. If you have the shipper wrap the top in plastic they could us expanding foam insulating material( Great Stuff etc...) to take up the void in the box. That should protect it. Good luck. There are tops for sale on Craigslist, at good prices, from time to time. BTW the top I got was Polo Green, and I needed Steel Blue, go figure.

David

Isn't that the way it always goes??