T-Tops for Your New Camaro?

[Dave McFly]

yep, no t tops oh and its not gonna have a hatchback neither (for the other thread asking that will probably pop up along with another t top thread).

[joes3rdcamaro82/91/2010]

Originally Posted by Supermans

Not necessary in my opinion. The website needs more traffic and the more people create posts, no matter if they've been talked about before. The search function doesn't work as well as everyone thinks and it is a lot easier to simply ask a question in a new post. THis thread is offering some new information which is in new opinions about the subject. For example, I do feel T-top's are possible since there is a convertible in the works. Structural rigidity has already been achieved without a top entirely, so getting that rigidity on a t-top with this new body shape is 100% possible if they wanted to. I think the reason for not having it is that they want to test the market out the first year of release and they know the v6 coupe will be the biggest seller. They want to make some money first, then in the later years I see t-top's all glass tops.. etc. to keep things fresh..

Hate to say it, but i typed in t-tops and in a second i found three threads. And yes i want them to, and i agree maybe in a few years, but anything is possible in a few years.

[Camaro_Corvette]

forget it guys....sorry man no t-tops safety concerns, and they don't even look right on the car...

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by Supermans

Not necessary in my opinion. The website needs more traffic and the more people create posts, no matter if they've been talked about before. The search function doesn't work as well as everyone thinks and it is a lot easier to simply ask a question in a new post.

The search function will only work when we make it work. I agree with you. However, when the original member posts up a thread that is mispelled (ie: convertuble, chevele, cuope, etc...), there's no use in searching. I can't even begin to tell you guys how many threads have been created that have been misspelled (be careful in this! Oh...and we always try to fix these). I also can't begin to tell you how many NUMEROUS threads have been created over the same topic which we've had to search for and merge. However, searching should always be the first step.

THis thread is offering some new information which is in new opinions about the subject.

Actually, there are numerous threads on this....no biggie. Try the search and you'll see. All good.

For example, I do feel T-top's are possible since there is a convertible in the works. Structural rigidity has already been achieved without a top entirely, so getting that rigidity on a t-top with this new body shape is 100% possible if they wanted to.

Yep. It's possible.

I think the reason for not having it is that they want to test the market out the first year of release and they know the v6 coupe will be the biggest seller. They want to make some money first, then in the later years I see t-top's all glass tops.. etc. to keep things fresh..

Actually, and I'll quote Scott on this ..."you're preaching to the choir" when he said that t-tops only adds weight and cost. The technology is there to do the t-tops. But, the weight would/cost ratio is not worth it in the eyes of GM. There's also the safety factor and crash test standards.

Would people buy them? You bet. But, it WON'T HAPPEN. I want them too, don't get me wrong. A lot of us do!!! It really sucks that we won't be getting them.

And...thread merged.

[z28collection]

no t-tops for me im waiting on the convertible

[chadrcr]

Is there a sunroof in the cards? Or stiil too much weight? I did really like my
t-top on the 2002 Z-28, even though it (they) were rarely removed, you could look thru the glass and see the stars shooting by when at cruising speed....150+

[COPO_Chevy]

Iv never been a fan of T-tops... y, owell, with or without this car is going to look bad @ss!

[Dave McFly]

As a member of a family that had multiple F cars. I myself had a 88 T top my dad had a 82 hard top, a 85 firebird T top, a 83 trans am T top, and a 96 camaro (the only 4th gen car we had) T top. I think they really only work for the 3rd and 4th gen cars since both had hatchbacks that made the car's 'greenhouse' mostly glass which looked great, mainly on the 3rd gen cars. as the 5th gen car does not have a hatchback and is more like the 67-69 cars T tops would look in my opinion retarded. I prefer a hard top or a rag top but would not mind a sunroof .

[shank0668]

Whats wrong with the looks of t-tops?

[COPO_Chevy]

IMO i dont like them.. if i had a choice i wouldnt take them. However, i would take them if it was cheap and reasonable , looking for a car.., but its just my style and what i prefer.

[pinkcamaro10]

Im a huge fan of t-tops, my old camaro had them, and i loved them, but i just dont like them on the new camaro, it just doesnt look as sleek to me. just my opinion though.

[COPO_Chevy]

Originally Posted by pinkcamaro10

Im a huge fan of t-tops, my old camaro had them, and i loved them, but i just dont like them on the new camaro, it just doesnt look as sleek to me. just my opinion though.

Agreed, I dont think they would look quite right on the camaro, maybe because of the wider roof?? or maybe because its a history thing..the first gens never had them maybe my brains just doing a *Red Alert*Red Alert* when i think of them being on the camaro. lol who knows.

[Lessk]

I personally think it looks good. But maybe a little too retro for this car? It's an updated version of a classic icon of American history.

I'd roll me a '77-'78 T/A with t-tops anyday. But I don't think it fits the new camaro very well. Not for it's theme.

[Moose]

There's been discussions on the "t-tops issue" here previously. (search button respectfully recommended for more info. )

Personally, I think they take away from the car.

[stovt001]

They look good, but thinking of the possible leaks and rattles after the car ages turns me off to them.

[SilverTurtle]

new car crash standards FTL... aint gonna happen... move along, folks

[shank0668]

Originally Posted by GhoSSt

There is always a problem with leaks. Maybe they want this one to score high on JD Powers "initial quality." A T-top would endanger that IMO.

Funny how some people call it "T-tops" as if there was more than one top on the car.

i dont understand t-tops there are 2 tops

[fastball]

Sorry folks, no T's on modern cars - and no, it doesn't fall into the same category as a targa or convertable.

GM wants (and will get) 5 star side impact ratings for the Camaro, and you can't get that with a part of the roof missing and no curtain airbags.

[chadrcr]

Originally Posted by shank0668

i dont understand t-tops there are 2 tops

Some people do not count each removeable panel.......
just a bottom and the top: one each

To get picky I might call it an H top....
t-top(s) is/are not apparently available.....

How is it we can have a 'safe' strong convertable, but not a t-top(s)?

[fastball]

Originally Posted by chadrcr

How is it we can have a 'safe' strong convertable, but not a t-top(s)?

Convertables are classified differently now under the NHTSA guidlines than a coupe. Convertables are also engineered differently than their coupe counterparts. Back in the old days, even as recently as the 1985 Cadillac Eldorado, the convertable was just litterally a choped coupe. The 4th gen Fbods were substantially engineered as convertables from the ground up, as will the 5th gen Camaro.

T-Tops would be classified as coupes, hence missing vital roof structure and curtain airbags. They would probably get a 2 or 1 star NHTSA safety rating, which would not be good when you want to sell the Camaro mass market. And no, GM could not make non T-toped Camaros with curtain airbags and a stonger roof design and get a sepparate rating. Doesn't work that way.

BTW, one of the biggest contributing factors to the 4th gens demise was they could not meet 2003 impact protection guidelines - the low angle of the front windshield (and lack of capacity for curtain airbags) would have not only been a failure on every impact rating but actually been illegal to produce period.

[chadrcr]

Originally Posted by fastball

Convertables are classified differently now under the NHTSA guidlines than a coupe. Convertables are also engineered differently than their coupe counterparts. Back in the old days, even as recently as the 1985 Cadillac Eldorado, the convertable was just litterally a choped coupe. The 4th gen Fbods were substantially engineered as convertables from the ground up, as will the 5th gen Camaro.

T-Tops would be classified as coupes, hence missing vital roof structure and curtain airbags. They would probably get a 2 or 1 star NHTSA safety rating, which would not be good when you want to sell the Camaro mass market. And no, GM could not make non T-toped Camaros with curtain airbags and a stonger roof design and get a sepparate rating. Doesn't work that way.

BTW, one of the biggest contributing factors to the 4th gens demise was they could not meet 2003 impact protection guidelines - the low angle of the front windshield (and lack of capacity for curtain airbags) would have not only been a failure on every impact rating but actually been illegal to produce period.

And to put the t-top on the convertable frame would cost more than a convertable, or at least as much....? that would make sense. no Ts

[68RS]

Yeah, I agree that it just wouldn't look right on the car for me. Although, if they offered them, I'm sure many would buy them.

[Camaro_Girl666]

i love t-tops and i think it would look nice on the new camaro

[BBfan24]

i really like the t-top on a 3rd gen. i thought the 2nd gen looked funny with it. and i'm sorry, but i'm not a fan of the 4th gen body all together. my thoughts on the 5th gen... i really don't think i'd like it. it just looks funny when i picture it in my head. and i'm big on not dieing in a firey crash. if it doesn't meet safety standards i say don't do it.

[TainoWarrior316]

Wheres the T-Top