T-Tops: Here's Why They Were so Cool in the 1970's
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- Опубликовано: 2 июн 2024
- In this video, we go over some of the top cars that came out with T-TOPS. T-top cars were all the rage in the 70's and 80's. Sure, they leaked, but who cared when the sun was out? We all looked so cool with them off! ENJOY EVERYONE!
#T-top
#firebirds
#corvette
#camaro
#thunderbird
Chevy Corvette
What puts the 1968 Chevy Corvette on this list is that it was the first T-top production car from an American automaker. All Corvette C3 hardtop coupes (1968-1982) received it as standard equipment. After that era came the Targa-top-style roof for the 'Vette. ("Targa" uppercase is a name that belongs-literally-to Porsche.) In 1968, Chevy described the roof design as "two removable roof panels and removable rear window."
Hurst Hatch Cars
The 1975 Hurst Olds sported a T-top, but it was called "Hurst Hatch." The name stemmed from the roof panels not being added on the GM assembly line but rather implanted at nearby Hurst Performance (later switching to become Fisher roof panels). GM's Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac cars-including the Regal, Cutlass, Grand Prix, and Trans Am-began offering the T-top soon after.
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
The Pontiac Trans Am will forever be associated with the movie Smokey and the Bandit. Period. The car arrived in 1976 and the movie in 1977, but that flick made the car a superstar and a sales star. The Hurst Hatch roof first appeared on the T/A Y82 special-edition model. Although the Corvette had the first production T-top, the Trans Am put the T-top on the map. By the way, John DeLorean oversaw development of the Firebird Trans Am, but he initially wasn't much of a fan. Imagine overall T-top success in America if he'd killed production of the T/A.
Chevy Camaro
Smokey and the Bandit struck a chord with audiences, particularly the car chases and the benefits of having a proper mustache. But it was also about the Pontiac Trans Am co-star and its T-top. Chevy wanted in on some of that action, and soon after, the T-top came to the Camaro in the 1978 model year. The $625 option was classified as RPO CC1-"Roof Panels, removable glass"-with 9,875 sets available. The last factory T-top cars made were for the Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, which hung onto the panels until 2002. Camaro production is coming to an end, but the car will remain a part of both automotive and roof history.
Ford Thunderbird
Ford's first "personal automobile" was the Thunderbird, and it offered the "T-Roof Convertible"-what the Blue Oval called the T-top-for the 1978 and 1979 model years. The T-bird made this list precisely because of that brief production time frame; less is more, particularly for collectors. Ford hyped it for its 1979 models as, "The sky-high exhilaration of an open-air coupe is yours to enjoy in any Thunderbird, with the optional T-Roof Convertible," promising a "highflying adventure" from the addition of "two oven-tempered tinted safety glass panels." Ford might have overpromised, however, with its marketing boast of the "countless ways in which you can tailor your T-Roof to help you look and feel even better."
Ford Mustang
When it came to the Mustang, Ford marketed the roof design as "the next best thing to a convertible" and, "The T-Roof and flip-up open-air roof give you a way to soak up the warm weather in your Mustang hatchback." The original 1965 Mustang offered a convertible, but in 1977 the factory T-Roof was made available. The option was offered through the better part of the 1980s, even when the convertible Mustang returned in 1983. In 1978, dealerships offered the Mustang with "substantial sticker price reductions," with the T-Roof model ringing in at $4,500. 
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The Grand Prix is not a Chrysler.
This
Beat me to it 😅 I had to go back and make sure I heard it right
If the Grand Prix were a Chrysler, it would be rusty.
I had to rewind too to make sure I heard him right. He even mentioned the Grand Prix earlier along with the Cutlass and Regal. I think he was probably thinking of the Cordoba.
It's a Pontiac
My mom had a 1977 Dodge Aspen with t-tops. Baby blue with white vinyl quarter top and interior, bucket seats, console automatic, 360 V8, just an awesome car. She doesn't drive fast. But my uncle took me out in it once. He said 'let's see what she's got' and next thing I know we're sideways. I would love to find another car like that.
I got a 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo with T-Tops. Very nice and came with storage for them behind the seats
My bosses wife had a 76 Grand Prix LJ with T-Tops. It was so cool!!! 👍👍🙂
The MR2 and Pulsar were two imports not mentioned. The latter came with T tops as standard equiptment.
Those were 80s cars
The subject would never be complete without any mention of the Vette!
T tops made so called old man's cars , BUICKS and OLDSMOBILES very sexy indeed. I grow up in the 70's and remembered them very well .. I loved the T Tops , never owned one yet.
Great video!! I really wish manufacturers would bring back the T-Top!! Had the pleasure of riding in and driving lots of these. My favorite was one you sorta left out. The Chevy Monte Carlo. They started adding T-Tops in 1978 and kept the option until 1987. you did mention the Regal. My brother had a 79 Monte with a regular roof, but my other brother bought a really usual Monte in 1984. A 1982 Chevy Monte Carlo diesel with T-Tops. That was a wicked slow ride...but who cares with that body style and the roof off. Other rides include my brother' 1981 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am Pace Car (same owner as the 79 Monte) with T-tops....I took that to college a couple times in 1984....definitely a LOOK AT ME car.
The only T top car actually made by auto manufacturers was the C3 Corvette. All the others were sent out to specialty shops to be converted.
The Subaru Brat had T-tops as an option.
Don't think you could remove them, more like gull wings...
yes but not removable, my brother had an '83 BRAT
My sister got a 77 Smokey in the Bandit Trans Am when she got her license- it was so much fun !
I got a 88 Dodge Daytona with T-Tops when I got my license- after that we went to sunroof automobiles!
You guys were lucky and had some money. Lol
cool ,always wanted the 1978 -81 camero t top wanted to remove the back glass
I believe the Pontiac Fiero gt (2nd generation) had t-tops and it was a very sporty looking car too, but was not mentioned in this video.
how your not at 100K subscribers is a shame. Clearly one of the best RUclips channels!!! You guys' Rock!!!!!
Similar in concept we had a Fiat X1/9 which had a removable hard top. Loads of fun.
I bought a new 1996 Camaro with T tops, the first brand new car in my life. Miss those days!
Love that era
I have had a few the past 45 yrs...'79 Chrysler LeBaron, '78 Z28, '78 Trans Am, '83 Buick Regal T-Type, '85 Olds Cutlass Supreme, '85 Bandit II Trans Am, '88 IROC-Z & '98 LS1 Trans Am! I was lucky enough to see filming of Smokey & the Bandit around my hometown area the summer of '76 & thats what got me into Ttops & especially Trans Ams ✌💖☮
I had a new '88 IROC-Z with t-tops as a young 20 something. I so miss that car.
@@williamfreeman6935 I only had my '88 for a couple of years, it was red with black interior but I used it as a trade in for a new '90 454SS
I have an 86 IROC with T-tops. Definitely an attention getter.
I’ve never owned a T-top, but I’ve owned a LOT of Convertibles.
Corpus Christi? I was stationed at NAS Corpus Christi. I absolutely LOVED Corpus!! I had a jazz band and we played the Texas Jazz Festival downtown on the T-Heads!! WOW!!!
Great video! Thank you for revealing all the models with T-Tops from back in the day. 🤗
You could get T-Tops on a 1988 Pontiac Fiero also, all 3 models.
yup, chic I was banging in the late '80s had a red Ttop GT V6
I Currently own a mint low mile '94 Z28 with T-tops and would highly recommend them as I Love Em! Never leak, do not whistle and store & lock nicely in the rear hatch area. Love this car.
My friend had an 84 Mustang GT. He made the mistake of going through a drive-thru car wash. We all were soaked!
1977-78 Olds had the toronado XS and XSR with similar t-tops like the Eldorado
You guys Rock.
I enjoy all of your videos !
I grew up in Winnipeg Canada and we had the same weather as Fargo North Dakota, with the super cold winter and hot summers. The temperature shifts took their toll on T-Top cars and I heard many complaints about water leaks during rain or car washes...
Thanks for sharing!
I had a 76 Old Cutlass and a 86 IROC that had T-Tops. I miss them.
The T-Tops were maybe the best feature of my '81 Mustang Cobra (Fox-body). Easily the worst feature was the anemic 4.1L V8 sucking through a two-barrel straw. 😄
I still love my 2 1979 chrysler 300's
I remember those my brother in law back in the day had a T-top Chrysler Cordoba with the rich Corinthian leather a 1978 model I recall it was cool to ride in which you did not mention or it’s twin the Dodge Magnum
I had a 1982 Chrysler Cordoba with T tops and a 1978Mustang ll with T tops
I love the T Tops however I never knew they existed until 2018. In 2018 a New York Oldsmobile with T Top showed up at my apartment complex in Las Vegas and I was astonished as to how cool it was.
I worked for a beer distributor in Ft Lauderdale in the late 70s. They bought 3-4 white on white Thunderbirds in ‘78, decked them out in blue and “Lowenbrau” branding and used them for promotions as well as sales managers company vehicles. One afternoon during college Spring Break my friend and co-worker Bobby were told to take a T-Bird, fill it with promotion items like t-shirts, footballs, cookies, etc. and drive around handing them out. We emptied a tank of gas cruising A-1-A, taking turns driving while the other guy stood up in the passenger seat throwing footballs, handing out t-shirts and setting up dates for the rest of the week. Best job ever, hands down!
WOW, you did do a video on T-Tops. great
Nice 😊
I have a 2002 Camaro Z28 with T-Tops original owner purchased October 2001
My mom and stepdad owned a Datsun 280ZX, T-Top.
They loved the car, but the day my 1/2 brother was born, (he was a “Honey Moon” surprise), my stepdad traded in their 280ZX for a Nissan Maxima. That was in 1984.
I just saw a junkyard crawl with someone filling in for Steve Magnate and they had one of those Cadillacs with T-tops in the background. Being an open air car guy of any type I never knew that Cadillac had T-tops
1978 Grand Prix was awesome as my friends first new car!
A friend of mine bought a Mustang with a T-Top and it leaked so much that she was able to have Ford buy it back under the Lemon Law. I felt bad for her because at the same time I had bought a Mustang Convertible and it never leaked.
It had a 5.0L (302) V8 and a 5spd manual transmission. It was White on White with Red Leather interior. That was 1 fast car. I replaced it in 92 with a Miata that was also fun, but not nearly as fast.
I never knew the dodge diplomat came with t tops. I kinda want one now
You forgot the '77-'79 Mercury Cougar, very few had the t-top option.
Thank you for the video. You pulled out some interesting cars. I know the Oldsmobile model that was supposed to get it. It was the Oldsmobile Toronado. It was going to be called Oldsmobile Toronado XSR. There was a a photo if it that is still online. They did have a Toronado XS. I have a 1:64 scale model Toronado with the t- top. I really recall the Pontiac Grand Prix with them and Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal and Chevrolet Monte Carlo with them well into the 1980's. Thank you for the video.
The regal the cutlass and trans am the first t top car I saw when I was 9 years old was a metallic green and white 76 cutlass and the second car was a red 76 regal
Ah yes. The Plymouth Grand Prix. Forgot about that car...... 🤔
very very very very very rare
The T top is a product of it's time (from 1968 until 1995) from then on never saw a T top anymore..not sure if I am mistaken but the 1977/78 Dodge Magnum had a T top also and I think there was a 1990s supra that tried something similar as a T top. Hope your brother had recovered from COVID-19. Have a nice weekend.
I have a ‘78 Dodge Magnum with T tops. Magnums were 78 and 79. The Mopar sales literature called them “T bar roofs”. 77 and 78 Chargers could also be optioned with T bar roofs. I am pretty sure the Mirada could have them too. Mopar T tops were subcontracted to American Sunroof Company for installation.
One thing I don’t believe was mentioned in the video is about the Hurst T tops. By the late 70s GM did T tops themselves at Fisher Body instead of Hurst. I believe they renamed them to a new name then, skyline or sky view roof maybe.
I have a 2002 Camaro Z28 with T-Tops
2002 was the last year for Trans Ams & their Ttops
T-tops were around til 02. Dodge did offer them as an option on the Magnum. That's one particular model, that still remains unchecked, on my "bucket list".
Oh, and the Supras, you mentioned, were equipped with "Targa" roofs, like the classic Porsche 914's, Ferrarri 308's, the Fiat X-19's, or the C-4 Vettes. (to name only a few examples)
My 1976 Buick Century Indy Pace Car replica had T-tops. I can't remember for sure, but I want to say that they were made by Husrt and they were very heavy. I got the car in 1984 and by then breaking in the rain meant having water pour on the floor board. Had to special order the gaskets and they were not cheap even back then but that fixed it. Those tops were out any time the weather permitted.
Don’t forget the 78 toronado xsc
7:47 Chrysler didn't make the Grand Prix. That would be Pontiac.
I miss Pontiac.
I have a '87 Monte Carlo Aerocoupe with T-tops. I took them off/out the day after I bought it and they've only been on twice since. Both times to go to the shop for repairs. Never driven unless it can go out WITH the tops out.
Fav? 1986 1/2 -1992 Toyota Supra Mk3
I had a 1986 Mercury Capri 5.0 with T-tops.
I had an '84 Capri RS 5.0. One of my favorite cars ever...next to my '89 Taurus SHO.
@@jaypeterson7637
The Taurus SHO was on a whole other level. Those were high tech compared to our 5.0’s. Totally unrelated, but my whole name is Albert Jay Peterson. Jay Peterson was my grandfather on my dad’s side.
@@AJP2565 Wow! It's a small world!
You are correct on the SHO...beside the fact the SHO was much more comfortable.
As an aside, where are you from? I reside in Southern Minnesota.
@@jaypeterson7637
Johnstown Pennsylvania.
will they ever return? i hope so.
my 99 camaro SS has them. while not as convenient as sunroofs and you cant use them as often theyre a lot more enjoyable.
Chrysler Grand Prix.....Soooooooo Rare. Almost as rare as the Pontiac Cordoba.
I had an ‘89 Camaro for a few years. Part of the reason I bought that particular car was because it had T-Tops. I actually took the roof panels off like twice. They also leaked in the carwash. I still like the look of them, though.
Check out the GMC Hummer pickup. The rear section has t-tops, and the front section is a targa roof. Not sure if Porsche still offers a targa roof on their 911.
The mustangs and the Thunderbird
I just learned that dodge did so many t tops. 😮
Dodge Mirada!
So easy to get in cars that had t tops
They were a nice option but I owned 1978 Hurst top trans am an 1980 fisher t top I like the hurst more , for some reason mine never leaked in light rain but would in heavy down pours if driving along , I never saw water damage if sitting still but always kept a aluminum 10” pan bout four inches deep in those care just in case , I sold both for a nice profit but if I had waited till now I’d really got some bucks Out of them , stunning cars they were all trans am’s were just beautiful even the odd colors , the style of those cars were spot on an even a pink one is beautiful to me any way but I’d Pre fur a black or metallic blue t top 1977 or 78 best of the bunch
The Grand Prix was not a Chrysler…it was a Pontiac!
You forgot 1978-79 Chrysler Cordoba and 300 also Dodge Mirada
How about a show on Hood scoops/different styles and functionality?
What's the difference between T Top and Targa Top, like on Porsches? Just curious
Targa- one piece.
Well, you almost got it right, the Eldorado T-top was developed by ASC and meant for the Olds Toronado special edition, to go with the unique wrap around rear glass. Olds, when with the conventional power moonroof instead. And yes, the remaining bucks were installed on some Eldorados. In the end there are about 10 Toronados and 10 Eldorados produced.
I dont know if anyone else has mentioned but the Nissan NX2000 had T tops.
You forgot about the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator
No mention of both Gen1 and Gen2 Toyota MR2
I have a 1987 Nissan 300zx T-Top
pontiac fiero
Another Great posting Guys👍👍👍👍. Hey do you think you could look into the Cadillac pickup that were a production model in the '70's I believe maybe early '80's and thanks again for this channel I wait for Saturdays 🍻✌️👋
Thanks for the Super Thanks Kyle! Cadillac pickup? Wow, let me research. Thanks again man!
Didnt Toyota offer them on the Celica or early Supra? I seem to remember something like that but may be wrong.
targa tops
I remember Hot girls driving iroc z's with them
Hm...den mit nem FM Acoustic Klon kombinieren...?😊 Preis geht ja klar, aber über 200 Maak Versand?!😳
it would be totally cool if the Dodge Charger had T-Tops
vette capri granada
monte n dodge magnum
You forgot the Fieros.
One from Europe. The FIAT X19?
targa top
I'm still looking for a nice 3rd gen Camaro Iroc and they always have a t-top, an option I would do without it because it leaks all the time due to poor sealing even when new. In addition the body is always more rigid without this awful crappy option. Btw 7:52 I didn't know that the GrandPrix was produced by Mopar...
T-Tops. Leaked.
I see what you did there with the thumbnail
I never had one. I always feared they would leak. Uaaaaaa. The GRAND PRIX was a Pontiac, NOT a Chrysler.
@ 7:52. Grand Prix is not a Chrysler.
All T-tops leak.
Yeah you forgot about the monte carlo s s
My 1976 Buick century Indianapolis 500 pace car has t tops
Why did they go away?
Hold my beer, you said Dodge made a grand prix? Pontiac people just sharted.....LOl
I've never understood the advantage of t-tops. You had to stop, unbuckle the roof pieces and then put them somewhere (trunk, back seat). My two Pontiac Grand Ams had sunroofs that could be opened and closed while driving, with a turn of a crank (1973) or touch of a button (1977). And they never leaked. 👍
Knight Rider K.I.T.T. 82 Pontiac Trans Am. Because if you do your history firebird Trans Am wasn’t until 1985.
The Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am debuted in 1969.
@@johnh3476 yes sir 67 was the first Firebird. My ultimate dream is a 69 Hardtop. White with blue racing stripes. 400 w auto.
@@clintkeene1146 Yes I'm aware. I think you mistyped with first Trans Am in 1985, when it was 1969. I'm partial to the 73 TA SD 455.
@@johnh3476 no I said in 1985 they combined Firebird with Trans Am. Sorry for the confusion
@clintkeene1146 Trans Am has always been a sub model (performance and trim package) of the Firebird just like Z28 was for the Camaro.
IN MY EXPERIANCE STAY AWAY FROM T-TOPS AND MOON ROOFS!!!!! THEY ALWAYS LEAK OR MALFUNCTION!!!!!
THE GRAND PRIX WAS PONTIAC….”NOT” CHRYSLER/DODGE.
Corvettes do NOT use white wall tires
they did in the '60s
Corvettes had whitewall tires until 1973.
@@tedlym.3390 around the same time they started with the plastic fronts & rears instead of bumpers
I’d much rather have a Convertible over a T-top any day
Waa on tje nissan nsx