If our long-term 2010 Chevy Camaro SS had these, I would've taken them off, stowed them in my garage and told anyone who wanted a roof to drive something less awesome. The first car I ever drove-- not owned, drove-- had T-Tops, I can't help it.
Alas, not only did we not opt for this $6,500 T-Top conversion from Drop Top Customs, but our Camaro's sold.
$6,500 is a little steep for me on a new, $34,000 Camaro SS, but the guy we sold it to paid $28k. Add the roof and we're only up to $34,500.
I'd have a used Camaro with this modification over a brand new one with a solid roof any day.
Drop Top Customs Creates T-Top Kit for New Camaro
Mike Magrath, Associate Editor Inside Line
jeepsrt says:
03:28 PM, 10/21/10
Does it come with a tank top and a mullet?
actualsize says:
06:07 PM, 10/21/10
Epic Fail
a) It looked terrible in 1978. It looks terribler now.
b) The outer edges of the roof are where all the torsional rigidity is found. Slicing a hunk out is just wrong on so many levels. Reinserting the panels brings very little of it back.
c) The outer edges of the roof contain(ed) side curtain airbags. Combined with the wrecked roof, it'll be curtains for the occupants in a side impact or rollover.
d) $6.5 grand is too much, especially considering the conversion company will keep those side curtain airbags modules and turn them into more money on the secondary market.
e) Imagine the potential for rattles, leaks and buffeting.
I hate SEMA sometimes.
e90_m3 says:
07:14 PM, 10/21/10
+ a bajillion, actualsize
The more I think about it, the more I am disgusted. Torsional rigidity is probably Klingon to your typical T-top buyer, but:
1. Would the stress concentration at the roof "stem" cause fracture or fatigue?
2. "Proprietary chassis reinforcement" sounds like an euphemism of "we just welded a few steel channels under the chassis. We don't have a clue what we're doing. Does FEM stand for Freaking Extreme Mullet?"
3. Crash worthiness must have gone to hell. In a frontal crash, can you picture the loads transferring from the front end, up the A-pillars, around the upper window frame, and through the "stem" to the back of the car? Any engineer worth his salt would tell you that if a load path looks wrong, it probably is wrong.
4. Let's not even think about side crash resistance. Air bag or otherwise.
slickersdrip says:
10:54 PM, 10/21/10
Considering that the first gen of Camaro had no t-tops, fail. That's what this model was supposed to emulate, yes?
roadburner says:
06:11 AM, 10/22/10
Bleh; I'd pay $6500 to delete the bloody things...
ptcdawg says:
06:48 AM, 10/22/10
She's got a T-Top Camaro with a scoop on the hood.....
majin_ssj_eric says:
10:19 AM, 10/25/10
Hmm, no comments about the sale of the IL Camaro? $28k is quite a bit lower than what you guys were asking IIRC. It does seem more in line with what the car is probably worth (although I wonder if the buyer had an accurate knowledge of this particular car's history)....