Help with vinyl top code?

[snowballfisher]

This is my cowl tag.  I was trying to figure out the original vinyl top color which should be 2- for black, but mine is -0 for   I got the 0 for the Corvette Bronze body color, but what does this other 0 stand for?  Anyone?

[lakeholme]

The second O means your top was also Corvette Bronze.  So according to your tag the car did not have a vinyl top from the factory.

[snowballfisher]

Hmmm... didn't think about that being an option, 2nd owner of car, had it since '69, and always had a black vinyl top.  This thing sure looks factory to me, might be worth researching I guess.  Thanks.  Any more advice from anyone?  Possible late change at factory?  Mistake made on the line?

[1968RSZ28]

snowballfisher -

Read this:

http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml#CowlTag

and this:

http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml#ExteriorColors

Paul

[KurtS]

Nope, it came without a top from the factory....

[lakeholme]

Yes, originality is important...

But lots of cars in the late 60s and early 70s got vinyl tops before they left the dealer or within a few months of purchase.  Many dealerships were glad to do it, because it was popular and profitable.  There were even independent shops that advertised as "top shops".

Have you seen this thread?
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=487.0
1 out of 4 said yes to vinyl, even if not original...

[sam]

I have a 1969 Z/28 (Norwood) with a vinyl top. My non X code trim tag says 57-57. When we went to repaint the car we noticed that the trim around the vinyl top was held on by the spot welded studs from the factory. The fellow painting my car worked at Wolfington Chevrolet (Roxborough, Pa) from 1967 to 1971. He said he installed many vinyl tops at the dealership and NEVER spot welded the studs onto the roof. So was it missed on the trim tag or did some dealership spot weld the  trim studs with a stud gun when the original vinyl top was added at a previous dealership?  The roof to the car is original.

[snowballfisher]

Wow, thanks everyone.  I guess this must have been a dealer installed top.  That just blows me away.  I wonder how most 1st. gen. camaro enthusiasts would feel about this being considered original?  It has had it since it was new, but not from the factory... hmmm.  I do appreciate the feedback.  This is very interesting to discover.

[Z71]

From 1971 to 1973 I worked part time for a used car dealer. Mostly I went to the auctions and to the dealers with the buyer and we bought cars to sell.   Many times we had vinyl tops put on cars and also body side moldings.  What ever the boss thought would help sell the car. 

ps - one of things this dealer would do it roll back the odometers.  I seen cars with 99,000 miles go to 29,000 over night.  Lots of them were Chevelle's and Camaro's as they were popular cars to sell.  We often got 5 cars and when one sold it paid for all 5.  Seen that many a time, lots of money to be made in the used car business back then, no laws to stop you from doing a lot of things.  We would hit the big car dealers in the Chicago and but 10 cars at a time for next to nothing.