T-tops were a $1,000 option. Considering what I've seen convertibles go for, I don't think it's possible to do one for "a little more". Maybe someone with more knoweldge could chime in....

My wife drives the Sebring Convertible I own. In and of itself it's not fun to drive, but put that top down and WOW!! Much better. I've driven cars with sunroofs and I've had 2 t-top Camaro's and one hardtop Camaro. T-top, if possible, is the best compromise when you can't afford a convertible.

 

My current Camaro has T-tops and I absolutely love them. You don't have the issue of a soft-top that suffers constant wear and tear, and you don't have the sun roof which cannot compare in any way. I have not had any problem with leakage (knock on wood) and my car has spent plenty of time here in Northern British Columbia, facing the worst weather it has to offer. I would love to see T-tops as an option, however many people have brought up the argument about the rear 3/4 window that may mess up the image a bit.

Two people posted these chops a while back (Sorry I forgot who you were!), so use these as reference.




If it's done like in these chops, personally I have no problem with the appearance.

 

T-Tops OR Targa.....doesn't matter to me. Every car except my 78Z & 66 Vette has had them and I think they're GREAT.
If they offer a sunroof instead, I'd either go without or MAYBE shell the extra bucks out for the convertible. Sunroofs have always screamed tacky '70s "custom" to me . Just my opinion of course.

My wife loved the tops of my previous cars and insisted on the sunroof when we got her Trailblazer. So, we got her one with a sunroof. Go figure .

 

So what do you think Red? Can you weigh in on this? "If" the car goes into production, would T-Tops still be a possibility? Hypothetically of course...

 

I love T-Tops, we have them on our SS and in the summer they are often off. They do make getting in and out a lot easier (especially for the back seat). But I do think it may be hard to do it with no B-Pillars. I would love it if they could pull it off and if they dont ruin the look of the car.

If not, what about a glass roof (not sun roof) but like the whole top, save for structural areas is made out of glass or plexiglass? what would u guys feel about that. Can still look up at the stars at night and what not.

 

Ttops look terrible on the concept. They completely destroy the look of the car. A sunroof will be just as goofy looking.

 

T-tops could be made into the roof but they would be narrow?

 

If ttops are not engineered into the concept now, are all of you willing to have the Camaro pushed back just so this can be added? Furthermore, what about the extra cost for the engineering???

 

Those photoshops are just that, photoshops. T-tops won't work properly from an engineering standpoint without a b-pillar. Adding a b-pillar would ruin the look of the car and make it more Mustang like. If you really want t-tops, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone to do a conversion for you; however they'll probably ruin the structural integretity of the car and leak. Anyone look closely at a first gen convertible? Because they removed the top, the convertibles required a x-beam support added under the car, to replace the structural rigidity, and cocktail shakers at the corners for stability. These all added weight to the car and also played havok with the handling. (Which may be one reason there never was a production Z28 convertible in 67-69. No, I'm not including the Pete Estes one-off.) T-tops just don't work with this concept; I don't care how cool they look with photoshop. Also, as others have said, t-tops are totally disco. They were hip in the late seventies and early eighties during their heyday, but their time has come and gone the way of the dodo.

I'm actually more concerned with what they have to do to the car to make a convertible version work. If its going to compete with Mustang, they'll need a convertible, more than they need a t-top option.

P.S. Before anyone accuses me of being a t-top hater, yes I do have t-tops on my 52k mile '95 Camaro Z/28, and yes they do leak, and yes they were a requirement when I bought the car. But that was almost eleven years ago, and times have changed.

 

Humm...I had T-tops on my '76, my '79 and my "00 and I wouldn't consider buying an F-body that did not have the option of a T-Top or a Targa top.

Convertables are Ok but I much prefer a T-top/Targa.

 

IMPALA,

Gee, here's a novel idea. You don't like them? Congrats...more of us DO. Hence the term OPTION.

jg,
I understand what you're saying about the B pillar. Give me a godamned B pillar then if you have to. Scenario: You're a salesperson, and you have a person pre-approved for $30k on your lot, looking for a new Camaro. He sees the car, and says "wow, what an awesome car. Oh wait, that B pillar is hideous...I don't want it now!!"

Do you REALLY see that happening???

Now, consider if t-tops are not available? This person...maybe he's owned a Camaro in the past, maybe he hasn't. But that $1,000 removable roof option is crucial to MANY. Again, 80% of '02 Camaro owners demanded t-tops. You say times have changed. Welp, consider that as time changed, MORE PEOPLE WANTED T-TOPS. For the record, my own car had to have them, I would not have bought it without t-tops, and mine do not leak.

No t-tops will seriously push me back towards a third gen, personally...that's how important they are to me. I ALWAYS have them off if I'm in the car. This one will be a weekend car for me, too. My GP has a sunroof...BFD. Its not even close to the same.

Not having a t-top or targa top WILL limit the sales appeal, period. And now, if a Mustang has them but Camaro does not? We're already a day late...do we want to be a dollar short, too?

This car needs to be as successful saleswise as possible. Adding a B pillar will not adversely impact sales, but I assure you t-tops WILL. ESPECIALLY if Ford puts them in their sports car...

If the Corvette can crash test with a targa, so can a Camaro. No excuses.

 

I just don't see a t-top for this Camaro. If the concept had been more 2nd or 3rd gen based, then yes a t-top and b-pillar could make sense. However, as they have based their design on the 69 Camaro, they can't simply add a b-pillar and achieve the same look. Perhaps t-tops are something to consider on the 6th gen Camaro, if it comes with a b-pillar.

Ford has to add t-tops to compete with Corvette. GM doesn't need to counter-act with adding t-tops to the Camaro, when they already have the Vette. (Yes, I realize they're traditionally different markets, however I see that starting to blur when Camaro returns, especially if the build the uber Camaro.)

 

Your 76 must have had aftermarket T-Tops. T-tops were not offered from the factory until '78.

 

No...I had a 50th Anniversary (Pontiac's 50th) TransAm "Black/gold"...I believe it was the first production car ever fitted with T-Tops (Hurst did the conversion for GM until, I think '79 when the T-Tops were truly installed at the factory).

About 3,000 50th Anniversay models were slated for production (about 1 per Pontiac dealer) but Hurst got so behind schedule only around 600 cars actually had the T-Top option.

 

[QUOTE=jg95z28]Those photoshops are just that, photoshops. T-tops just don't work with this concept; I don't care how cool they look with photoshop. Also, as others have said, t-tops are totally disco. They were hip in the late seventies and early eighties during their heyday, but their time has come and gone the way of the dodo.
QUOTE]

Thats why I dont like the idea of them even being optional. They simply dont fit this new Camaro...from a design and image point of view.