Why did they stop making T-Tops?

[Jagerday]

I had a V6 RS with T-Tops in high school and I loved it!!! Was perfect for me, didn't have the negatives that come with a vert but all the positives. It is going to be vert weather soon and I wish I had T-tops! Does anyone know why they did not make this an option on the 5th gen Camaro?

[greenrail]

Passenger Protection Standards for Coupes, would be my guess. The airbags in the roof wouldn't allow this. Converts are a different story.

[TOMS1SS]

They leak.

[builder11150]

Originally Posted by greenrail

Passenger Protection Standards for Coupes, would be my guess. The airbags in the roof wouldn't allow this. Converts are a different story.

I think it's cometely stupid. We didn't need airbags in the roof for 100+ years. Now all of a sudden it's mandatory.

[builder11150]

Originally Posted by TOMS1SS

They leak.

Most 4th gens didn't. Mine don't either.

They leaked 20 years ago. I'm sure we could pull it off now.

[1WILDSScmrg]

i want to get T-tops so bad!!!

[Jagerday]

Originally Posted by TOMS1SS

They leak.

My 4th gen did not. Even if they did, most verts do also.

[Jagerday]

Originally Posted by greenrail

Passenger Protection Standards for Coupes, would be my guess. The airbags in the roof wouldn't allow this. Converts are a different story.

I see what your saying but I don't get it. I cant understand how they will let GM make verts but say T-Tops are not safe.

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by builder11150

I think it's cometely stupid. We didn't need airbags in the roof for 100+ years. Now all of a sudden it's mandatory.

...so because we didn't have seat belts in cars for 100+ years we don't need them now? Cars travel faster today than they ever have before, and so safety concerns become a much larger role in car production. That and the high statistics of teens that get into car crashes. It only makes sense that companies want to make car's as safe as possible.

[FINALLYSATISFIED]

Chevrolet has listened to us so far, it doesn't hurt to ask them about T-Tops. I don't think the demand is that high for them though.

[Jagerday]

Originally Posted by stieger

...so because we didn't have seat belts in cars for 100+ years we don't need them now? Cars travel faster today than they ever have before, and so safety concerns become a much larger role in car production. That and the high statistics of teens that get into car crashes. It only makes sense that companies want to make car's as safe as possible.

I see your argument but I don't agree. I don't see how they wont let people make cars with T-Tops but there are people flying around on crotch rockets at 100+ MPH, or smoking cig's and dying so fast we can hardly keep count. If the gov't wants to say its trying to protect the consumer I think there are things a lot more dangerous than T-Top cars.

[Ironheadspearo]

i would be more interested in a targa topped camaro... something new. although where would you stow it away? maybe multi glass panels that fold into the roof?

[1WILDSScmrg]

Originally Posted by Ironheadspearo

i would be more interested in a targa topped camaro... something new. although where would you stow it away? maybe multi glass panels that fold into the roof?

that would be nice too!

[born-to-fish-]

Hey buddy, the 80's called, they want their T-tops back

but seriously, if you want 'em you can pay to have anything these days

[RichGreene]

I had a 92 RS T-Tops looked cooler than hell and never leaked a drop.

[Jagerday]

Originally Posted by born-to-fish-

Hey buddy, the 80's called, they want their T-tops back

but seriously, if you want 'em you can pay to have anything these days

Yea well "the jerk store called and their out of you" Haha

Your right though everything has a price on it. I wish I could afford to have custom T-Tops, but that's a little out of my budget.

[HufferSS]

T-Tops are about as cool as bell bottoms, gold chains, fake tans and Burt Reynolds mustaches.

[bthomp01]

I think it's probably much simpler than any regulatory requirement. It's expensive to put another version of the vehicle into production (a T-top would have to be just as different of body construction as the vert is from the coupe), and honestly the custom ones I've seen look pretty bad.

[cab2g]

Just do a retractable glass roof and call it a day. the 2010 Camaro doesn't look good with T-Tops because of the way the C pillar is angled whereas with the old Camaro and Corvette they had a 90 degree B pillar that made a perfect line for a glass T-Top.

[NavyDood]

I loved the T-Tops in my 06 Z28. The holders in the trunk for them were great. They never leaked a drop in torrential downpours in TX or FL.

[VADR_H8R]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

T-Tops are about as cool as bell bottoms, gold chains, fake tans and Burt Reynolds mustaches.

oooooohhhhhh Burt Reynolds mustaches!!! now you cant get any cooler!

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by Jagerday

I see your argument but I don't agree. I don't see how they wont let people make cars with T-Tops but there are people flying around on crotch rockets at 100+ MPH, or smoking cig's and dying so fast we can hardly keep count. If the gov't wants to say its trying to protect the consumer I think there are things a lot more dangerous than T-Top cars.

It has nothing to do with the government. It has to do with "industry standards", standards that we (the consumers) set. The government could care less how many stars a car gets in its crash test rating. But Joe Smoo and Soccer Mom do care. They want their kids to be safe, etc etc. So again, it's not the government "protecting" anybody, it's consumers protecting themselves.

[builder11150]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

T-Tops are about as cool as bell bottoms, gold chains, fake tans and Burt Reynolds mustaches.

Have you even owned a car with T-tops?

I love mine, and it seems like most others do. The only downside to them was leaks. Then again, the 4th gens mostly did not leak, and most 3rd gens didn't. So, without any leaks, i don't see a downside. I highly doubt a car produced with T-tops would leak nowadays.

[Shu71]

Originally Posted by NavyDood

I loved the T-Tops in my 06 Z28. The holders in the trunk for them were great. They never leaked a drop in torrential downpours in TX or FL.

What? 06 Z28??? 96???
Anyway, it would require another production type which is quite expensive versus the potential sales. Also the T-Tops didn't come out until the end of the second generation, right? And this is supposed to flashback to the first gens so it probably never was on GM's radar to do it. Oh and they couldn't get a large enough supply of clip on mullets and federal law mandates occupants in all T-Tops have mullet haircuts. Ha ha, just joking, I was a 70's and 80's kid so I can make fun of my own past

[chuckstacamaro]

I had a 78 T/A back in the 90's with T-Tops even though they were great to drive around with them open on sunny days they were leaky on rainy ones. Also the storage for them when down was not the best, the 5th Gen I guess would have the same problem if they were offered as the 5th Gens trunk is smaller than the 78 T/A's..