'67 removable hard top question...

[Patrick T.]

I picked up a really nice '67 only black vinyl hardtop recently. The only problem I have with it is that it doesn't have the date code in the lower left corner. Since I want this top to be "sort of" NCRS correct, I'm going to order a new, correctly dated Plexiglas rear window for it tomorrow. Yeah, they sure ain't cheap but I want it to be 'right on' as reasonably possible.

Do any of you members out there have any first hand knowledge of which vendor has the nicest rear windows, date codes AND the quickest turn around time? How many companies actually manufacture these windows?

Thanks in advance for any information regarding this request and also which vendors to stay away from. PT

[Jim W.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...

Patrick, I had an original black vinyl hardtop for my '67 that I got 30+ years ago and it had no legible date code. I remember the rear Plexiglas window having the other correct markings but no date code that I could make out. Maybe one of our '67 experts will jump in here. Jim

[Patrick T.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...

Thanks Jim, the '67 Judging Manual states on page 53 that the Plexiglas rear window for the auxiliary hardtop should be dated at the lower left and the upper right of the window. (Doesn't make sense?); the window I have in the hard top now doesn't have any date code or any other markings, so I'm suspecting it is a replacement.

Anyway, I would need a June '67 date code, which would be 'F' on the lower left and 'G' on the upper right of the rear window. I always thought that all the date and manufacture information was on the lower left, just like the soft tops are. FYI. Paragon does offer dated tops but as you said maybe the experts will chime in later. PT

[John H.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...

Thanks Jim, the '67 Judging Manual states on page 53 that the Plexiglas rear window for the auxiliary hardtop should be dated at the lower left and the upper right of the window. (Doesn't make sense?

Pat -

The date code letters are located to the lower left and upper right of the window LOGO, which is located at the lower rear corner of the window.

[Timothy B.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...

On my hardtop the year date of F (1966) is at the upper right of the window logo as John stated. The month stamp and wording at the left is not stamped because you can see where the stamp gets lighter and lighter as you look to the lower left of the logo.

I bought this hardtop for my early (September 1966) built 67 convertible so I guess it's OK as far as dates. Is there any difference between 66 and 67 hardtops??

[Gerard F.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...It should be there PT

Thanks Jim, the '67 Judging Manual states on page 53 that the Plexiglas rear window for the auxiliary hardtop should be dated at the lower left and the upper right of the window. (Doesn't make sense?); the window I have in the hard top now doesn't have any date code or any other markings, so I'm suspecting it is a replacement.

Anyway, I would need a June '67 date code, which would be 'F' on the lower left and 'G' on the upper right of the rear window. I always thought that all the date and manufacture information was on the lower left, just like the soft tops are. FYI. Paragon does offer dated tops but as you said maybe the experts will chime in later. PT

PT,

My June 67 hardtop is date coded, but hardly readable in the upper right and lower left of where the trademark is. The guy that stamped mine sure didn't waste any time.

Take a very close look and backlight it:





Looks like the lower part of a G in the upper right, and the lower part of an F in the lower left. Looks to me like they were stamped that way (at an angle) if you look at the degree of wear for the AS-4 and other letters.

That lazy stamper G upper right and F lower left would be June 67.
My car is a June 29, 1967 car AOS.

Cheers, having fun yet.

[Jim W.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...

Jerry, My rear window had similar stampings as yours but mine were so weak they couldn't be identified as date codes. Jim

[Wayne M.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...

Jerry -- another thing to check; sometimes the stamping is located so deep (almost hidden by the weatherstrip) that you could miss it.

[Gerard F.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...

Jerry -- another thing to check; sometimes the stamping is located so deep (almost hidden by the weatherstrip) that you could miss it.

Wayne,

If you look at the high resolution photos of the ones above (which are greatly reduced), you will see that there is definetly part of a character stamped in the upper right and lower left of the logo.

Looks like the stamping was horizontal with the window sloping away from the stamp, so that only the bottom of the stamp shows. I just can't imagine how only the top part of a character would have worn off.

But I've seen stranger things.

Anybody know how when and where the date codes were applied? Were they stamped on the window before or after the hardtop assembly.

[John H.]

Re: '67 removable hard top question...

Anybody know how when and where the date codes were applied? Were they stamped on the window before or after the hardtop assembly.

Jerry -

The raw Plexiglas sheet stock came from Rohm & Haas, and the logo and dating was applied by the supplier who cut and formed the window before it got to St. Louis.