I have a 1969 Z-28 with a 76B paint code. To be honest I prefer the non vinyl top look with the Daytona yellow cars and am tempted to not put the vinyl top back on this car . Is this a no no ? I am in the process of a full restoration and this is the one area where I am considering not keeping the original format ..I am on the fence and would appreciate some feedback.

You can always add the vinyl top over a nice paint job easily later on if you want, but it's alot tougher to strip a vinyl top and paint the roof. Leave it off if that's what you want, it's your car.

Keep the trim pieces safe and sound though.

Do it, that's the scheme I went with on my first Camaro, and it looked great!

http://www.BartonekDragRacing.com/webfilez/106_0614.JPG

Love vinyl roof cars. graemlins/thumbsup.gif All my first gens have it except for my 69 RS/SS unfortunately. :(

i think mark C has a wise answer...do what u want...then keep all the trim stuff and if you want you can put it on later

OK. Vinyl tops definitely take away from the look of the car. Looks much nicer and cleaner without the top. I know...im going to hear it for that statement. Bottom line, its your car do whatever you want and dont worry about what others might think is the right or wrong thing to do. My RS had the vinyl top option but looks waaaay better without it.

Im on the other side on this, I love the looks of the Vinyl top, maybe on some colors it looks better if the vinyl is the right color too. I get alot of comments at car shows on the lack of vinyl top cars around, they are kinda rare these days. Each their own of course but I love em smile.gif

http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/BodyShots/DCP_0005.jpg

I really struggled with this because I believe cars should be restored properly to original form..but since my hypocrisy knows no bounds , and I have recieved support from my fellow enthusiast on this issue .. I think I am going to go with smooth , beautiful ,glossy Daytona Yellow on the roof:) ...and in the end , I can always put the vinyl back on should my conscience get to me! Thanks for the input .

Van

chevythunder, welcome to the site! :D I agree with you, looks better without the vinyl top. Don't get me wrong, first gens ALL look good, but thats just my opinion. Heres mine, http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/Zuma1211/My_69_on_Roberts_Road.jpg
...BTW where abouts are you located in NorCal?...Mike :D

Mike ,
I agree , I love all the Camaro's , vinyl top or not..something about the yellow cars without the top ..I really like..Your's is great looking too .But they look pretty darn good with the vinyl top also , like the yellow car and white car posted on this topic.

Van , Burlingame CA

Thanks Van, Looks like we are not to far apart...good luck with your resto...hope to see you at some future carshows...or at the golf course, ;) I'll be at Tilden tomorrow graemlins/thumbsup.gif Mike smile.gif

I actually like them both ways. But I cannot stand owning one with a vinyl top, I've seen too many good cars killed by vinyl top rust. My last resto (not really I suppose restification would be more accurate) I nixed it and didn't feel a bit sad, most people I talked to about it when I was selling it agreed that it was an improvement, and the person who bought it? Said he'd never have done it if it still had it... I do like the look and I really enjoy seeing them out and about and think it's a GREAT look, but I'd remove it and never look back!

dude Zuma that is an awesome color!!!!!...love it

Thanks!! Camp07 graemlins/beers.gif

I will have to vote FOR keeping the vinyl top, especially for Daytona Yellow. I struggled with this same issue when I restored my previous 72B car. I am glad that I put the top back on.
One thing to remember if you decide not to put the top on - if you want it later, it will take quite a bit more work after the fact. You will need to grind/fill all of the little pins that attach the top molding if you paint the roof.

Back in the day, we would always strip the tops as the painted roof had a much racier look. But, that was when all the big new Lincolns, Mercs, etc. were standard with vinyl. Nowdays, I love the look of vinyl tops (especially the yellow/black combo!) The only drawback to them was the moisture that would accumulate under them around the rear window and chrome trim would rot out the metal. If the car isn't going to be exposed to the elements it really isn't an issue today. Build your car for you, not for the next guy!

looks like you own a code 76 76 Z, I would think it would be cool to have one of each, one w/ vinyl 76B and the one without. vinyl looks great on daytona yellow. keep'em real ! p.s. if you get tired of the vinyl top just park it and drive the other one ! graemlins/hurray.gif

I usally don't like the look of a vinyl top car IMO. It also as stated earlier can rust underneath. However, on ebay a while back a guy had a black 69 Z/28 and put a white top on it. Although not correct, it was stunning.

Mike

I am starting to reconsider the vinyl top issue..I was leaning toward leaving it off..but now I am considering going the other way ......I don't know...maybe I will just flip a coin....

Older vinyl roofs rusted out because the painting under the vinyl was poor at best. Now a days, these cars only see about 10% of the water and weather (temperature swings which cause humidity). I have yet to hear about a restored vinyl roof car that had the roof rust out on them.

Personally, I LOVE the vinyl top cars...I looked hard to find mine...and I will always keep the top on it. As someone said...somehow to me they are unique.

Uncle,
119 posts in 3 weeks...do you ever sleep? graemlins/boring.gif
Actually make that 10 days...you might have the bug.

Like it says on the main page...
This is a great place to immerse yourself in.

Besides, I sell Mercedes Benz for a living...that is like being a Maytag Repairman...lots of down time. We don't see as many people a day as the Chevy salesmen.

I am really just trying to educate myself more, I despise being uninformed when it comes to something I am participating in.

Hope I am not being a pest...there is just SO much good info here.

I was just messin with ya. :D Indeed it is a great place to immerse yourself.

I Know ya were....

hello everyone,

hey ChevyThunder im going through the same
thing because i have a 68 that was originally
island teal with a black vinyl.

i got some pictures from another forum and the
people posted 2 68 yenkos that are island teal.

i found a 68 rs z/28 camaro that is isand teal with a black vinyl top.

i just want to be different so i think that im
gonna paint the camaro back to that color with
the black vinyl top.

my 68 is a plain jane so i'll put the body back
to original condition.the original motor,trans,
and rear end are gone.

i will have the car painted by next year i hope.

thanks for your time
mark b

At the Super Car Reunion a couple of years ago, there was a DY Yenko that came from the factory without vinyl top. The guy who bought it wanted a vinyl top. so Don sent it to a local vinyl shop and had a top put on it. Only difference was that it extended all the way to the drip rail, like most tops of the day.

No vinyl top.... Think it spoils the lines of the car JMO. They also are magnets for starting rust, even if the car is garaged. As others have said, its your car and your preference that matters most.

Van, My vote is for the no vinyl top option. Are there any pictures of what I believe is a new 68 car in your signature?

ChevyThunder,
One of my favorite '69 color options is the yellow with a black yinyl top. I'm into originality also so since you asked for feedback that is my vote!!
Doug

Here is a picture just how I found it two blocks from my house. That is my driver you see in the back ground...this car is all original except the paint and door panels that have been replaced. It is an RS SS and has Fiber Optics,Power Windows ,fold down rear seat, tilt wheel,speed minder,low fuel light,deluxe interior, console with guages , AM/FM w/ 8 track, D80 ,remote mirror, Ralley wheels and power front disc brakes...and a few more options.It is a 396/325 with a turbo 400 and air conditioning..really a nice car.Obviously I have never been bitten by the 68 bug but this is the nicest riding ,cruising and most comfortable First Gen I have ever driven.I was told by the previous owner that the sticker price was $5,900 in 1968..Base price is 2,900 so I am not sure if that is right, probaly closer to 3,900. Owner says he has the window sticker, order form etc but that he has not been able to find them since his last move in 1990.
Getting back to the vinyl top issue. Since I do have two Daytona Yellow cars I think I am going to put the top back on this one since the Van Nuys car is a 76 76 car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/ChevyThunder/68%20RS%20SS/DSC00686.jpg

Not that you need my approval, but the black vinyl top on the DY car just adds to the bumble bee look. First yellow Z I ever saw had black vinyl, and they just don't look right without it.

Lynn

That 68 is a great find. That car is really loaded. I did a quick total on the options you mentioned and those I can see and came up with a sticker price of at least $4600. Also nothing drives like a good well preserved original car, as you stated.

Wow..maybe he meant 4,900 instead of 5,900..unfortunatley I had to pay a little more than that smile.gif