Quote:
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.
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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