The story behind T-Tops and why cars no longer have them! #80sCars #Ttops
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@ShootingCars2 жыл бұрын
CARS WERE BETTER IN THE 80’s STICKER NOW AVAILABLE! www.zackpradel.com/product-page/cars-were-better-in-the-80-s-sticker
@MarthaRoseMoore415 Жыл бұрын
Regular street cars were better, but supercars are kinda amazing right now, too.
@TheRealMrRoboto Жыл бұрын
You are wrong.... 2015 Jeep Renegade --- T-tops (well H Tops)
@crawl9828 Жыл бұрын
cars of the 80s were literally the 2nd generation of terrible design and functionality, and they were the 1st generation of cars that didnt last 10yrs. geeze talk to your elders before making a video. we know we were there and lived through it.
@DaiBowie Жыл бұрын
I seriously can’t believe KITT wasn’t brought up in this!
@JohnCunningham-sy5ug Жыл бұрын
Cars of the 1980s or turds huge nasty turds holy smokes I owned a few and worked at a car dealership holy s***
@johngaltline99332 жыл бұрын
I feel like the 3 reasons given are completely valid, but there's a 4th big one. Sunroof's caught on and provided nearly the same functionality as T tops with nearly none of the drawbacks. You have slightly less space open to the outside, but get a much stronger chassis. On the down side, older Sun roofs do like to leak from time to time.
@jaron3122 жыл бұрын
25 years my Accord sunroof never leaked but I hear It happens
@1DEADBEEF12 жыл бұрын
A big reason why i like T-Tops is getting in and out of a sports car is waaay easier... due to the non existent roof line. Sun roof is nothing like a T-Top or targa
@1DEADBEEF12 жыл бұрын
@@jaron312 you have drain lines going from the rain gutter in the sunroof thru the A-pilar down to the front wheel area - if that gets clogged you gonna have issues
@johngaltline99332 жыл бұрын
@@1DEADBEEF1 I think that’s valid, but niche. I think most people buy a car they can get in and out of easily. While it is not the same, I think most people as far as making a choice between the two when buying a car prefer the hassle free sunroof operation over having to get out and store t-tops for daily use if they want an opening in the top of the car at all… and if it is an important factor for them, prefer a full convertible over a small opening… with that added bonus that again, convertibles are mostly a push button operation.
@1DEADBEEF12 жыл бұрын
@@johngaltline9933 old convertibles from that era were noisy rag tops and deadly during a rollover... obviously we are Talking sports cars so People do buy them for sport driving not for ease of access
@phillipmarlowe05252 жыл бұрын
I always felt the Sun / moon roof in the consumer’s eyes were more practical. No storage problem, way easier to use. If you were out and it started to rain unexpectedly no need to pull over and retrieve tops and put on in the rain. All you have to do with Sun/ moon roof is push a button. Plus there was the issue of having the t tops stolen.
@knrz25622 жыл бұрын
Damn I commendable this I do like sun roofs on the Porsche
@ScubaSteveM45 Жыл бұрын
This guy at work has a 4th gen Camaro with a broken T-top on one side. For the love of a new glass he's got it with a heavy duty plastic sheet and an ungodly amount of tape holding it down
@laughingalltheway8399 Жыл бұрын
@@ScubaSteveM45 I can't even imagine what a glass shop would charge to replace the glass in a t-top. Perhaps point him to eBay...surely he can pick up a full set from a wrecking yard for a few hundred dollars. LOL!
@ScubaSteveM45 Жыл бұрын
@@laughingalltheway8399 i think that's just the problem. Nobody has one he's looked across the immediate tristate area. Crafting a new piece to fit from a glazier would probably cost as much as current Blue Book for the car as well
@laughingalltheway8399 Жыл бұрын
@@ScubaSteveM45 Probably so. My uncle is still daily drives an early Fox Body with t-tops and every few years one gets busted and he goes on the hunt for new ones. I've seen him buy a set from a wrecking yard just because he saw them while he was there for something else even when he didn't need them. haha!
@joshualaw3752 жыл бұрын
One old car feature you might consider making a video on is the digital dashboard. What makes it so interesting is that it was never necessary aside form vanity and 'futurism' but took off in 80s sports cars, died out in the 90s, and here we are over 30 years later and they're starting to make their way into modern cars again, albeit in a different form. The Buick Reatta instantly comes to mind with its digital dash and touch screen... in 1988!
@BastardX13 Жыл бұрын
The 1981 Yamaha Virago 920 has an integrated digital dash/instrument cluster. The tachometer was circular shaped and the speed was displayed as 55mph, for example. Had odometer, kph conversion, fuel indicator, etc. Was pretty slick back in the day. Digital was everywhere.
@AnonYmous-hu7jo Жыл бұрын
The analog styles of the past are better than today’s digital ones.
@laughingalltheway8399 Жыл бұрын
My dad had an '84 Lincoln that had a digital dash. It was cool then, but its alarm-clock look is far cooler looking back from 2022. haha!
@KameraShy Жыл бұрын
I had a 1992 Cougar with digital dash. Towards the end of its life it started going wonky. Flashed and gauges went berserk. I had to pull over, turn the engine and ignition off and then restart. Like rebooting a computer.
@ScubaSteveM45 Жыл бұрын
@@laughingalltheway8399 that would be advantageous today in the face of today's glass cockpit dashboards of menus and adjustable screens that are complex and too intricate to read quickly. What if we had modern cars with digital dashes that just had simple marks and numbers so you could quickly see anything you needed in a split second 🤔
@jasonlommen47692 жыл бұрын
I grew up in the 80’s. I absolutely loved T-tops, I still do. I wish they’d make a comeback.
@txmade4371 Жыл бұрын
Hell naw, T-Tops are a pain and they freaking leak.
@zarroth Жыл бұрын
@@txmade4371 never had any problems with mine. Of course, I also checked them out each spring. Still don't have any problems with 'em as a result. Like anything, if you don't take care of it properly, it won't last as long. T-Tops are still my favorite.
@rockzhard2009 Жыл бұрын
@@txmade4371 my '77 Bandit T/A with NON leaking t-tops would like to say NOPE, not always.
@PumaPete Жыл бұрын
@@txmade4371 I’ve had several Camaros with them and none of them ever leaked.
@TheEnd-eg6wq Жыл бұрын
@@txmade4371 the older convertibles leaked way worse.
@jaden.sanderson2 жыл бұрын
My 2000 Camaro has T-Tops, and they are plain awesome! They lock safely into place in the hatch, and it doesn't take too long to take them off/put them off, and yes, they surprisingly DON'T leak!
@jamesnxslewis28752 жыл бұрын
Cool! My '99 had them. Certainly not 30 years either..😄
@bluetyphoon21002 жыл бұрын
Greetings fellow 2000 Camaro owner. Mine HAD to have T-tops and thankfully that was the more common option. I absolutely love the car and the tops. Mine leak lol
@jaden.sanderson2 жыл бұрын
@@bluetyphoon2100 change out those seals! and keep them clean
@eternal91952 жыл бұрын
My 95 Firebird is the same deal. I take care of those seals religiously tho 😅
@thewisebanana292 жыл бұрын
My trans am t tops leak 🥲
@dsdonovan2 жыл бұрын
My 1986 Mustang GT had T-tops. Removing them required that they be stored in dedicated vinyl sleeves in the hatchback area thus reducing what limited storage was available on a trip. Long term maintenance required treating the rubber gaskets periodically to keep them from drying out and causing the dreaded leaking roof. Still, was a cool feature when driving down the beach in Daytona!
@WALTERBROADDUS2 жыл бұрын
That was a pretty rare Mustang option.
@davecaron12132 жыл бұрын
I feel you man. I had an 85 Mustang GT T-top. I had to make cardboard inserts because the Texas sun just beat through them. And, it leaked almost from the day i bought it., But, it did look kool!
@wetoolow87502 жыл бұрын
I had an 85 Mustang GT with T-Tops in Los Angeles, California. I loved them and, for me, putting them in the vinyl bags was a minor inconvenience. Mine only leaked in heavy rain. Otherwise, I had some rattles on rough roads.
@rav-tv3722 жыл бұрын
With today’s technology. All those issues have been resolved. For instance, two sunroofs side by side, a bit smaller of course. Auto retractable. They can be carbon fiber.
@theenzoferrari4582 жыл бұрын
Better stock up on gaskets.
@jeffjackson96792 жыл бұрын
I've owned both, and the other issue with t-tops is they didn't quite have the open air feel convertibles had, it's hard to explain unless you drive in both. T-tops also had a lot more turbulence to deal with as the air would get "trapped" in the back of the vehicle giving you a bit less performance and gas mileage, and more air would blow back on the driver compared to a convertible. You also, had them rattle around as they got older (this simply may have been my experience with a GM vehicle). Lastly, and this is just an asthetic/opinion thing, the convertible simply looked better with the top down.
@kavinskysmith4094 Жыл бұрын
yeah that's right, and also on the Corvette they actually had an optional removable rear window for that reason on the 73 model to help with the turbulence
@placeholder29242 жыл бұрын
I love how the Suzuki Cappuccino is being used as an example here as the only production car capable of having all of these roof types.
@catsaretasty2 жыл бұрын
Electric Hummer brought T-Tops back baby.
@Wizardnil2 жыл бұрын
Hell yeah 🇺🇸 🦅
@TechDove2 жыл бұрын
Yessir it did!
@That-Guy_2 жыл бұрын
If you have $100k + to spend on a vehicle .
@sgtbuttersworth2 жыл бұрын
Yes it did!
@Mathos19852 жыл бұрын
Jeep Gladiator 2021 have t-tops but i prefer my Z28 1982 with them
@christopherlaflam63832 жыл бұрын
Love the T Tops on my 1992 Trans Am! No leaks! Perfect.
@kendallsmith14582 жыл бұрын
I have a 1993 4.3L V6 with 270000. Exceptions to the rule.
@mikewiebel2 жыл бұрын
I had an '88 300ZX with T tops and a 5 speed manual which I kept all thru the 90s. Whipping thru the mountain curves in Colorado with the tops out was a lot of fun. Finding a place to pull over and put the tops back in because a thunderstorm moved in, not so much. I had to store my in bags in the back so there wasn't room for anything else with the tops out. Happier with the sunroof.
@jamesrecknor6752 Жыл бұрын
Tops off drive from Denver to Central City would be tops
@red_bearded_brian2 жыл бұрын
I had an old 1987 Nissan Pulsar in high school. Not only did it sport t-tops, it also had a removable rear hatch. I rarely took the hatch off because it was a pain and it could never be left off for long because of security and weather concerns. But I tell you what, it was a fun car to drive as a semi-convertible. I still wish I had that car today!
@lewiskemp5893 Жыл бұрын
My exwife pulsar did that. I took the hatch off a few times. I love ttops
@jeremiahallyn46032 жыл бұрын
I agree with your assessment as to why they no longer are made. Maybe you can do a video essay on older cars that had bright light switches on the floor boards? I haven't seen those in years. Or, headlight wipers/washers, you don't see those much either on new cars.
@c.l.75252 жыл бұрын
I remember in '93 when I was in the Air Force I got a call out to fix something in the B-52 bombers cockpit that was waiting to takeoff, it was one of those stupid switches on the floor! I guess its used for the landing lights? I was so surprised to see it but it makes sense since they were built in the '50s....
@bwofficial17762 жыл бұрын
I think headlight washers are still common. European-spec cars require headlights over a certain brightness (HID and LED, basically) to have auto-leveling and washing mechanisms. I think the floor-mounted light switch was phased out because putting them on the turn signal stick was slightly cheaper and more convenient. You can't flash to pass with a floor button that's either low or high. I have a car with a floor-mounted switch and it's annoying to flash the lights or even turn the high beams off sometimes because it's a manual.
@moldyapples2 жыл бұрын
@@bwofficial1776 My '67 Volvo also has the hi/lo switch on the floor, agree it's a pain with a manual trans! You can flash the hi-beams by pulling the turn signal stalk, so it's a little bit of both!
@OlegAryutkin2 жыл бұрын
Headlight wipers phased out when glass was substituted for plastic - you can’t rub plastic with wipers without damaging it The washers are mandatory on all Xenon headlights where I live Maybe other types like matrix LED not sure
@jonathonrossebo17832 жыл бұрын
You mean floor mounted headlight dimmers? In practice I never seen anything wrong with them. They made for a less cluttered, complicated, and busy looking steering column.
@scarymsmary2 жыл бұрын
I had a 95 Z-28 Camaro with T-tops. It was so much fun to drive that thing on one hand. And on the other hand, I constantly had a stack of towels in the car because the passenger side T-top leaked EVERY TIME it rained. The first time I drove it through one of those gas station car washes, my brother was in the passenger seat. When the spray hit that side of the car it shot inside like someone turned the hose on us! It wasn't just "leaking," it was SPRAYING in on both of us! Luckily I had those towels in the backseat already. We each grabbed one and used it as a shield! LOL Man, I miss that car! haha
@the_kombinator2 жыл бұрын
I had an 88 IROC - yup, leaked too. That and the A pillar started rusting from the inside out.
@TomTom-qm4mq2 жыл бұрын
I had a 91 Camaro. My t tops didn't leak. Well if you used a power washer at the right angel they dripped but in the rain they were fine. I got rid of the car because the girl I was going out with didn't like it. That was a stupid mistake. Also had a fiero with t tops. Rare option for that car. Those leaked. Also if you took them off they had to stay at home. No place to put them. The good old days.
@TomTom-qm4mq2 жыл бұрын
@Shawn 🏴☠️ Stafford yeah. We all make mistakes. Keep the gta. Love those cars.
@the_kombinator2 жыл бұрын
@@TomTom-qm4mq LOL my gf in high school had to deal with at least 6-7 shitboxes (maybe even more) over the course of 4 years of dating. She didn't like the cars, but liked that we could go places at any time with them, so there weren't many complaints. Even gve her a few lessons on manual, resulting in a bent rim and an alignment ;) And because it was a POS, I didn't even care too much.
@WhaleRacer2 жыл бұрын
I had a few 3rd and 4th gen camaros with T-tops and my complaint is that it felt like I was pulling a parachute after like 40mph. The extra drag is noticeable especially on a v6 car.
@kevinintheusa8984 Жыл бұрын
I bought my wife's first car with T-tops and they leaked, someone tried to steal them twice, and they took up the entire trunk when they were removed. It became such a pain that she never removed them and they simply leaked in the rain. We now have several cars with a sun roof which don't leak, offer much better sun protection when closed and allow us to open them up while driving which we do once or twice a year. Great video.
@ElMatador-ws3in2 жыл бұрын
I got a 73 corvette stingray, and the T tops are why I love it!! Semi convertible at my convenience!! Love it!!
@dj71282 жыл бұрын
Love T-Tops and wish they would come back! Had a couple of Trans Ams and a MR2 Turbo with T-Tops and really enjoyed them. The 78 Trans Am had a bit of a rattle but I discovered if you removed the decorative trim piece of the T-Top handle area the brackets that held the retractable pins could be adjusted. Slightly adjusting the angle that the pins came out took the slack out and tightened them up. The cars were pretty tight though spirited driving over a railroad track would give you a little cowl shake. Surprisingly one of the most rigid open-air cars I owned was a Fiat X19. It had a targa top but seemed as rigid as a coupe. No shakes, leaks or rattles, it's like it was made out of granite. I miss those cars and wish I would have kept a few of them.
@reitsmaassociates2 жыл бұрын
T tops were so cool, as a teenager in the 1980’s, my friend and I loved taking his dads “T” top 280Zx out for a cruse , oh and getting a bit sun burnt too :). Thanks for the trip down memory lane - cheers from Brisbane Australia
@bleachgarage2 жыл бұрын
That is the best t-top car :)
@_WHEELMAN_2 жыл бұрын
I think this finally answers the question that I had for over 40 years as to why, on the bill of sale for a Trans Am, Pontiac would list the TTop roof as an “H” roof. GM didn’t own the patent to call them TTops.
@beingjohn3922 жыл бұрын
Dude! I LOVE your creativity and sense of humor! Keep the videos coming
@KenBober2 жыл бұрын
2 out of my 4 firebirds had them. Loved every minute of them off. My 84 and 85 had them. My 79 and 87 didn't and they also had no A/C. I will own a 88 or 89 formula with t tops someday.
@Lawrence3302 жыл бұрын
I feel ya, Ken. I had an 85, 86, and 88 Camaro at different times, as well as a 95 Firebird V6. The t-tops in my 86 Z28 always leaked, but on a nice day, ooh, they're neat to have.
@KenBober2 жыл бұрын
@@Lawrence330 lol my 84 leaked but my 85 never did. But my 87 was the only of the 3rd gen that the hatch glass motor still worked.
@PeekabooGram2 жыл бұрын
Of the 4 Camaros I've owned over the yrs (79 6cyl, 82 Z28 Crossfire, 84 Z28, 88 5.7 TPI IROC Z) only the 88 had T-tops. When I 1st got it the question was always "are we taking the T-tops out?" whenever someone else was going somewhere with me (summer months). They had the effect of making each trip an event of sorts. Sold the car in 06 after falling for the whole "You can't have that car with a baby on the way, it's time to grow up" advice. Today? The baby has turned into a 6'1" 300lb destroyer of groceries, without T-tops. And I'd gladly trade him for my IROC back.
@KenBober2 жыл бұрын
@@PeekabooGram I know the feeling. I sold my 87 supra turbo I rebuilt from scratch for the baby. A week after I sold it she miscarried.
@gnarzen87412 жыл бұрын
I drove a ‘97 Camaro RS with the t-tops. Absolutely loved that car and in my experience the fit and finish was tight, no leaking even during outright monsoons.
@305ayeee2 жыл бұрын
T-top gang here.. my lil x90 has em and I do love em, I love nothing more than cruising with around topless. I'll give it you tho because they do leak and putting them in their bags to keep them protected is a bit of a pain but still... Love em
@tommartin23602 жыл бұрын
My Toyota MR2 had a removable sun roof. You could pop it up or optimally remove it and there was a dedicated storage compartment in the front trunk. This was 1986 so yeah. Same kind of thing really. Loved that feature
@Hedmac2 жыл бұрын
Love the content man, you should do one on the old floor mounted foot dimmer switch. A lot of people probably haven't even heard of them. I have a 73 GMC pick up and an 81 Z28 that both have them. Old school tech for sure 👌
@rotarded19832 жыл бұрын
Yea my fathers 66 Triumph TR4A has that as well. Was always super convenient idk why it didn’t stick
@johngalt52052 жыл бұрын
How about floor-mounted windshield washer bulbs?
@ChristopherBurtraw2 жыл бұрын
Idk where one would fit comfortably on a modern manual car.
@johngalt52052 жыл бұрын
@@ChristopherBurtraw The big problem is cost. My Model 3 uses Mercedes turn signals and left stalk, and the dimmer is built into that stalk, so the incremental cost of putting the dimmer in the stalk is functionally zero. To put in a floor dimmer, with, parts, wiring, carpet trimming, installation, etc., could add $100 to the price of a car today.
@Mechadondada2 жыл бұрын
My Grandma’s Dodge Aspen had that.
@isaks32432 жыл бұрын
I absolutely love the targa top miata. they look great both with the roof up and down. and having that roll hoop just makes it feel so much more secure. porsche targa are also among the coolest cars where you can take off the roof for the same reason. looks great with the roof up, loogs great with it down.
@jeffwertz29532 жыл бұрын
They really aren't targas as the rear window goes away as well. And there is no structural safety added there. They still have the supports behind the headrests the same as the soft top. But I def agree about the looks. I have a 2020 polymetal gray RF. LOVE IT! 😀
@isaks32432 жыл бұрын
@@jeffwertz2953 rear window stays in place with a targa with a roll hoop over the occupants of the vehicle
@jeffwertz29532 жыл бұрын
@@isaks3243 Correct, but NOT on the Miata. So that is why Miata is not technically a targa. 😏
@howardm26422 жыл бұрын
Reason #4: In the 1980's it was extremely common where I lived (Providence RI) to have a car side window smashed out to steal the T-tops. They apparently sold for a lot at the junkyards and were very easy to steal. Remember it happening outside my apartment window. The thief saw me looking at him but still smashed the window, stole the T-tops, and drove away before the 911 operator even answered.
@AtomicReverend Жыл бұрын
My 1978 vette actually has factory locks so you can't easily boost them. I inherited the car when my father passed away in 2003 I think I've only had the t top off twice in all those years. Definitely fun to drive without them installed but honestly it's kind of a headache because you got to store them in the car if you go out more than a few hours.
@chickenmuffin Жыл бұрын
My 2001 camaro had locks? Not a rocket science solution.
@drone-time2 жыл бұрын
4:26 Bill Blass edition Lincoln Continental - that thing was a 2 door land yacht! My grandmother had one. She was a tiny old lady with this crazy fear of a car crashing down on her from an overpass. She figured the larger the car she drove, the better the odds that a falling car would impact her hood or trunk, thus improving her odds of survival. For being as big as it was, the thing only had 2 doors, 2 huge, heavy doors! Not a T-top, not even a convertible, but it was cool to see one in the video. Brings back memories!
@bwofficial17762 жыл бұрын
There used to be (and maybe still is) a company that would convert the newer Camaros into t-tops. I think it was the same company that did the Trans Am conversions. Another video essay idea: high-end sound systems. Back in the 80s you could spend as much as a small car and get a system with a couple modules put in your center console. Head unit, equalizer with sliders, tape deck, maybe even a CD player. Look at some of the Mercedes-Benz customs and you'll see. Today all of that can fit in a single-DIN head unit and sound just as good.
@Rapscallion20092 жыл бұрын
Back in the day you could upgrade a car stereo significantly for a few hundred. A good head unit, a couple of speakers and the sound was transformed. Many cars didn't even come with rear speakers. Now. Virtually everything has at least adequate sound from the factory. A typical setup is a pair of 6.5" components up front and 6.5 coaxials in the rear doors and a reasonably powerful 4 channel head unit.
@Lawrence3302 жыл бұрын
American Sunroof Company (ASC) did the original T-tops in a lot of GMs, including some year Monte Carlo and F-body.
@SammyM007822 жыл бұрын
I think they still do. If I'm not mistaken, they have a piece of equipment that's specifically designed to cut the t-tops in perfect.
@will7its2 жыл бұрын
@@Rapscallion2009 In 1981 I paid $500 for a cassette deck with 2 speakers for a 69 camaro, Not installed. I still have the deck. Have to get it out and see if it works...
@fortheloveofnoise2 жыл бұрын
except the "sound just as good" is subjective...smaller speakers can never sound as good as larger ones to me...regardless of quality or brand
@kjdickson2 жыл бұрын
My favorite was the late 80's Pulsar NX (with pop up headlights), oddball little car, could be a hatch with a t roof, a little wagon with a t roof or a full on sort-of convertible with it all removed. Would love to find one for sale that isn't rusted out or beat to heck.
@my1vice2 жыл бұрын
The Pulsar with the wagon hatch rocked..... I loved that car!
@shannonp40372 жыл бұрын
I had forgotten about those.
@artsmith1032 жыл бұрын
I owned 2 '88 SE models with bigger engine and hydraulic clutches. Clutches had short life but the car was great.
@my1vice2 жыл бұрын
@@artsmith103 I knew a guy with a black one. I was selling Nissans at the time. Never sold one, and we rarely even had one on the lot. Too bad. Everyone wanted a 240. LoL
@jdwht24552 жыл бұрын
Along with another commenter had an '86 Mustang with T Top. Loved it, never leaked and never had a storage problem since the car was seldom taken on a lengthy trip. The downside was chassis flex. Oh my did it flop around - that is until I added Ford accessory frame stiffeners along with strut tower to firewall braces, better shocks and way better tires. Took a bunch of car show trophys with it too since I kept the entire car spotless. My wife hated it with the 'sporty' very stiff ride so we ended up with a T-Bird in '94.
@overlando282 Жыл бұрын
I've owned my 88 IROC-Z for 15 years, and I'm one of those "can't believe they don't leak" guys. Funny your video appeared on my feed just now, as my daughter and I just got home from a sunny afternoon drive around downtown Tampa with the tops in the trunk.
@kenkooldad89002 жыл бұрын
As a fellow car enthusiast, I love your documentaries brother. Great quality! Great information!!!
@Pauley_in_GP2 жыл бұрын
I owned a second gen MR2 for 26 years, and really liked having the t-tops. They were usually stored, but they were nice to have on those cold mornings on the way to a car meet. Toyota's storage solution - against the bulkhead behind the seats - was excellent. I don't know if mine leaked as I never drove the car in rain, but they did rattle a bit. OTOH, my pop-up headlights looked good when retracted, but seeing them sticking up in my field of vision at night always reminded me of why they went away. BTW, the designers of the original Miata didn't want to use pop-ups, but the smaller headlights they wanted (more like the NB) weren't available yet. Having also owned an NB since 2003, I'm real glad I didn't have a pair of 7" sealed beams sticking up at night. YMMV. Sorry.
@quillmaurer65632 жыл бұрын
Likewise, those 7" sealed beams are not particularly good lights, especially the original non-halogen ones. I've seen halogen ones that are more comparable - better perhaps - than most halogen headlights of the 2000s though. And the good thing is that - mostly thanks to Jeeps still using something similar - there are tons of nearly plug-and-play aftermarket options that are better than most other cars' stock headlights - I have such LEDs in my classic Beetle, but that's a more recent option.
@lockunknown57192 жыл бұрын
I still rock my second gen mr2 2.4L Turbo, still in love with it!...
@stevedeleon8775 Жыл бұрын
I once owned a 1986 IROC Z CAMARO with T- TOPS...Really liked it
@jamesodell30642 жыл бұрын
My first new car was a 1977 Olds Cutlass with T-tops. Loved that car and the T-tops even though they leaked. That was a small price to pay for the pleasure the T-tops gave me.
@badapple652 жыл бұрын
The t-tops in my 1979 Camaro leaked every-time in car washes I owned from 1982-1985. My Friend had her Camaro detailed and the guy failed to lock the latch in place on the passenger side and it flew off. She turned around to go back and a pick up truck was pulled over in that area and the guy was about to get out to look for whatever it was that he saw fly airborne off her car. Said no joking it shot straight up 6-7 stories high then flew a half circle like a boomerang and then shot at the ground. They found it together all shattered. It was an insurance claim to get it replaced because of the cost to get just one replaced.
@copper5892 жыл бұрын
My 02 Trans Am has T-Tops and honestly I like them a lot more then I thought I would. I take them out as often as I can. They have a spot in the trunk to out them so I always have them with me
@c.l.75252 жыл бұрын
I miss the days of taking out the t-tops of my '87 MR2 on a very hot summer day in Kentucky and nearly getting 3rd degree burns on my fingertips from the glass. Or when we would have a massive hail storm and almost going deaf from all the ice hitting the glass. Really I do.
@PeekabooGram2 жыл бұрын
Got caught in a bad hail storm one spring on the Gene Snyder in Louisville in my 88 IROC Z. I remember looking thru the T-tops overhead and knew it was a matter of time before that hail was going to come crashing in on me. It still seems amazing to me how they withstood that onslaught without breaking.
@c.l.75252 жыл бұрын
@@PeekabooGram Good times.
@rushnerd2 жыл бұрын
I have no experience with T-Tops (though my 88' Supra does have a removable targa top, and it can drip a tiny bit depending.) But one while I was checking out my local mechanic's yard, he has an 80's MR2 that was there for about a month or two and the passenger seat was puddled with water from the glass T-tops. They seem kind of like a sealing night mare to me. Removable hard roofs I think are the best of both worlds (though they do flex a lot.)
@TheTruthKiwi2 жыл бұрын
It's kind of strange how car makers have no problem sealing doors and trunks but targa-tops are a problem. I guess it's because the tops don't have the heavy duty hinges and latches that doors and trunks have.
@andrewdonohue18532 жыл бұрын
i had a 89 camaro, they leaked.... then a i had a 96 they didnt leak. it seems like they improved the designed and then phased them out
@2pugman2 жыл бұрын
They leaked !
@darylkik62042 жыл бұрын
In the early 90s I had a 280ZX and then a 300zx and neither ever dripped a drop of water. You had to keep the door and t-top seals from drying out or replace the entire set for about $200.00 back then. (Loved my tops, was always jealous of the Supra and the Targa top.
@rushnerd2 жыл бұрын
@@darylkik6204 Lol yeah the targa top is cool, but more so when it was new. Now it's something you have really work with the seals on. But you know what else? At least in mine the drivers side bolt likes to walk itself out (from all the major flexing) and if you don't tighten it in a long enough time , you'll have wind noise and a gap. Most the targa top kinda sucks because it has so much flex and noises to the chassis. The doors are reenforced to deal with the top being I've (I've never tried it yet, I've heard it's a little scary with the flex. So yeah, it's better than T-tops and sunroofs, but still has some issues!
@donaldroehrig78172 жыл бұрын
Had a 79 Cordoba with factory T-tops. Loved it and they never leaked. It even had carry bags for the tops to store in the trunk.
@mr.woowoo88262 жыл бұрын
Early 90's...85' Firebird w/ T-tops, 20's years old, and music rocking...GOOD MEMORIES. Loved my T-tops.
@AaronSmith-kr5yf2 жыл бұрын
Man how could you not have a picture of the Camaro, that car along with the Trans Am is what people associate with t-tops, I mean they had them from the late 70's until both models were discontinued until 2002. Speaking as somebody who owned a 1999 Camaro Z28 t-top and a 1998 Camaro Z28 convertible, my vote goes convertible. Granted if you drive the car every day, t-top is the way to go, way more room in the hatch, doesn't leak(mine never did), quiet on a highway cruise. But if its garage kept and only taken out on nice days, convertible all the way, there is less wind buffeting than t-tops, you have a lot more open feel. At least on that 4th gen Camaro both felt pretty solid and didn't rattle. Never taking apart the interior is the secret to no rattles though lol.
@AaronSmith-kr5yf2 жыл бұрын
@Shawn 🏴☠️ Stafford I guess so, but t-tops were a big deal in the 70's/80's/90's. Even Mustangs had t-tops in the 1980's.
@mitchkelleher79722 жыл бұрын
The BRAT T-Tops were called "Fun Roofs" IIRC and they could be held partially open like a sunroof in vent setting, though sideways like gullwings. Kind of neat, but it required the roof structure to remain on the open side, though that was probably a good thing with how flexible those chassis were. I wonder if the unusual vent setting might have been the result of someone trying to make a positive out of the need to retain the outer roof to prevent losing too much structural strength (and maybe to help prevent leakage). I think with modern chassis strength, T-Tops could come back, but people have lost their sense of fun and would complain about having to remove the panels by hand. I actually preferred the old manual sunroofs where the panel had to be removed to have it fully open to the power roofs of today as it leant a sense of occasion to the simple act of having an open sunroof. I usually tossed the glass in the rear seat footwell. If more people were in the car, it just stayed in the roof, but I wouldn't have wanted it out with passengers as it would make it too noisy to talk to everyone, anyway. Funny that you show a BRZ as I was thinking how the double bubble roof of my GR86 could have used a T-top with the bubble sections being removable body-color panels with the center section remaining fixed. Of course, it would be me and maybe 5 other people who would actually want them like that....
@fubaz2 жыл бұрын
The safety sticker inside the BRAT called it the “Fun-Roof,” but the owner’s manual also called it the “Subaru HALO-TWIN” (all caps in every instance) roof.
@MountainHomeJerrel Жыл бұрын
I don't even care about cars but your videos are so well made and interesting, I have to keep watching them.
@whiskyguzzler9822 жыл бұрын
I literally thought of Bandit when I thought T-Top. You nailed it.
@Sal8342 жыл бұрын
Other items no longer found, power antennas, floor mounted switch for bright lights, vent windows to name a few.
@glennso472 жыл бұрын
In addition to affordable prices. 🤑
@KuberX12 жыл бұрын
Do one on the digital dash? Also love the videos pretty good keep up the good work
@reecelogan82662 жыл бұрын
I agree digital dash would make a cool vid
@mortenjorck2 жыл бұрын
Whoa yes, digital dash is 100% one of those “why didn’t this catch on” (at least until full screen-based dashes 30 years later) automotive mysteries.
@zlinedavid2 жыл бұрын
@@mortenjorck They weren’t exactly rare in the mid-late 80s.
@ElmoUnk1953 Жыл бұрын
“Close your eyes…” Smokey and the Bandit. You were spot on.
@y87_99Firebird Жыл бұрын
I love my 4th gen Firebird for its T-tops. I don't use them as often but the sun coming through the glass is such a great way to drive.
@bongerman420692 жыл бұрын
I know they aren't cool anymore for most people, but this is one of my favorite car designs of all time. My best friends dad growing up had a 69 Vette tuned for thebtrack and to this day it's my favorite car even if it wasn't all stock I saw this thing blow the doors off Vipers and Lambos as a kid and to do that with a T-Top is just extra style points 😂
@xp89692 жыл бұрын
Is there a vehicle with a T-top and automatic seat belts AND pop-up headlights with wipers? 🤔 🤔
@zlinedavid2 жыл бұрын
Don’t think they ever doubled up and made pop up headlights with wipers. T-tops, auto seat belts and pop up lights? Sure, mid 80s Firebirds.
@peteeastwood16352 жыл бұрын
You needed way more TransAm and or Camaro pictures in this video. I kept waiting for it. Finally one!
@doncnunez62312 жыл бұрын
I am the original owner of a 1987 Buick Grand National 31,000 miles, with T-Roofs, Love the breeze in the Spring, No leaks or rattles !
@garrettraakman64652 жыл бұрын
They are so neat!
@remo1wodmnetwork96052 жыл бұрын
Topic suggestion: The Air Cooled Motor! One of the nice things (among others) from the Corvair models were their rear located air cooled motors. I'd like to see you do a feature on them.
@raulcastro76332 жыл бұрын
Well done for a young man who was not alive in those times, well done.
@grimson Жыл бұрын
Got a '93 MR2 with t-tops and love them. Yes, they leak a little. Yes, it's sometimes a pain when you get home to have to put them back on. But on a nice day, it's great to have open sky and fresh air.
@squirrel82962 жыл бұрын
I feel like factory sun roof technology rendered t-tops unnecessary. When t-tops were a thing, a sunroof was pretty rare, typically solid metal, and in most cases an aftermarket addition. As factory sunroofs became a more common option t-tops fell to the wayside.
@DS-wo8wr2 жыл бұрын
T Tops fell out of favor and have been replaced with panoramic sunroofs. More glass area for todays sedans and SUV’s. So much easier to hit a button than manually removing and storing 2 separate panes of glass.
@preciadoalex1232 жыл бұрын
Panoramic only benefits the rear passengers
@bitemyshinnymetalass15692 жыл бұрын
True I still like t tops but now I want a car with a panoramic sunroof.
@markshaver3138 Жыл бұрын
I bought a brand new black Formula Firebird in September 2001. It had t-tops and loved it!! I drove it for 16 years and put 229,000 miles on it. Super fast and fun car!!
@floatpvnk2 жыл бұрын
That first prototype T top looks like something I wouldn’t mind driving. Seriously cool design.
@cva11222 жыл бұрын
The current Jeep Wrangler hardtop has a front roof removed with two panels, much like a t-top.
@dwevors2 жыл бұрын
I love my 3, 300ZX's with T-Tops! Among of the best cars ever made!
@phillhuddleston94452 жыл бұрын
When I went to buy my first car around 1990 I went to a dealer and was looking at a 1977 or 78 Firebird Formula with T-tops and asked the used car salesman it leaked or not, he said "I can guarantee you that it does leak, all T-tops start to leak when they are a few years old." I passed on that and got a fourth generation 1982 Trans-Am instead. I kind of regretted that decision but I thought the girls would like the newer T/A better and ended up having a sun roof installed on it.
@heathmorris6100 Жыл бұрын
My 95 trans am has both t tops and pop up headlights. Even has a little storage spot for the t tops in the trunk. My favorite features on the vehicle by far
@danielkapp94682 жыл бұрын
Jeeps technically still make removable T tops (without the center T). With their removable hard tops the forward section of a 4 door wrangler is two removable sections (very similar to a T top), and for the renegades their removable roof is all based on T the tops concept (though rotated 90 degrees), I know those aren't the exact same as a T top in the traditional sense but if you look at what they are doing its the same concept. And on the concept of cars feeling new, the old saying goes, there are no new ideas, just old ideas recycled into a new product. With the new ford bronco and hummer I think we may soon see some of these older concepts like the T top actually coming back just due to consumer nostalgia.
@quillmaurer65632 жыл бұрын
Of course the Wrangler itself is one of those retro designs you talk about. It's lineage can be traced back pretty much to the WWII Military Willies Jeeps, it was fully re-designed several times (and it's probably at least twice as big now) but the aesthetic was kept the same all that time. It's probably stayed true to its origins more than most other long-running names like any of the muscle/pony cars that have only vaguely stayed the same in concept (unless you count the Mustang Mach E, in which case it didn't stay the same at all in any regard).
@oramirez775132 жыл бұрын
The Jeep Renegade still has the center brace, so technically still a t-top, but they call it something else.. Jeep branding.
@BallisticGhast62 жыл бұрын
Also, that new Hyundai concept EV looks like it traveled from the 80s with its boxy design and stainless steel finish with modern looking tech. Would be sick to see those on the road
@LuckyDogGaming2 жыл бұрын
I think a cool video would be the history of turbos how they came on strong as a performance option, then went away in favor of displacement and are now back to make cars more economical. #torquesteer
@ronde1135 Жыл бұрын
I had a 93 nissan NX2000. It came with T tops. Ooooh it was a such an experience to drive! I loved it. (Bought in 2002, sold it in May 2021) I missed that car the second the keys left my hand.. When I had my tops off there was nothing like it on the road (except for a 300Z) and I modified it too. Had a NEO vvl motor, Vodtland lowering springs, strut bar front and back.. I loved when I would come bearing down the road knight rider style and people would look "what the hell is that?", Mustangs and suped up civics would get no mercy from me.. My nephews and cousins that were little during early 2000s LOVED to ride in it with tops off. All i would hear is WOW wow so cool, this is nice while they put their hands up in the air... TTops = FUN FUN FUN
@imderrickjed2 жыл бұрын
Theory 1: Because car manufactures are forced to give warranty's a t-top that will always end up leaking is seen as a liability. Convertibles dont fall into this since they always receive less coverage since the owners at some point will forget to "pop the top" and the inside floors will get soaked. T-tops (I love them) are notorious for ruining rocker panels.
@vintagecapgunsatyourmomshouse Жыл бұрын
I will never forget the time I lost a driver's side t-top at 75 on the freeway. I saw it detonate behind me in front of a semi. The semi almost jackknifed, but thankfully he was able to correct and continue driving. I did not wait around to make explanations.
@JakeyyFD2 жыл бұрын
I think a lot of why T-tops died is similar to why targa tops died, namely convenience. With a convertible top, you stow it in the rear deck area. With a t-top, the user has to leave the car, remove the tops, and stow them away. The fact that it is less convienient probably means consumers are less likely to purchase the option, and that influences manufacturers to cut it from their models, reducing manufacturing complexity. Plus, at least for car guys, the hard top is the desired option, so why produce t-tops?
@pdennis932 жыл бұрын
Targa tops aren't dead. The corvette has had a targa top for almost 40 years.
@JakeyyFD2 жыл бұрын
@@pdennis93 One car has a targa top. Thats effectively dead.
@automation72952 жыл бұрын
@@JakeyyFD Targa tops aren't really dead, Porsche still produce Targa models for the 911
@bwofficial17762 жыл бұрын
@@automation7295 Two cars, plus the new Hummer makes three. Not dead but barely alive.
Had a 1981 Datsun 280zx Turbo. The most reliable part of the car was the T top. Never leaked, but maybe that was because the car itself was so unreliable it rarely left the garage.
@WALTERBROADDUS2 жыл бұрын
Oh I miss my 1979 280ZX. Very first car I ever bought. Off of a used car lot for $900 bucks. Rusty floors. Actually had a hole under my left foot. The fuel injectors leaked. Glad it never caught fire. But I still miss that car.
@brycepiontek161 Жыл бұрын
Growing up my dad had a 98 firebird with t-tops the nostalgia of being in a car with one is unreal 😅
@MacedoinaChoirs2 жыл бұрын
My 1979 T-Top Monte Carlo was the Bomb. When I had that car I was the Mack Daddy. I still have dreams of having that car.
@plap.2 жыл бұрын
Just like pop up headlights I believe T tops are still cool. Hope for a comeback of both. Think about no more yellow plastic covering your lights and way less hair to get messed up by the wind. The final nail for t tops was three things. One you said,leaks. Two was rattles, noisiest part on the car. Lastly was weakness. Like the mustang in 87 and earlier. More horse power more issues. Cars were breaking. Especially if a lot of performance after market exists. But placed in the right cars these things could still be a hit. What's old is new and it's been long enough that many noobs to cars have never seen them and will be amazed
@Lawrence3302 жыл бұрын
T-tops are also explicitly prohibited in a lot of sport racing classes. They're great for cruising, especially before fuel economy standards increased and AC became ubiquitous. But they are a liability for anybody purchasing a car (especially used) for a track car, even part time.
@plap.2 жыл бұрын
@@Lawrence330 very true, cars with them are still weaker and they can pop off under loads. More helmet room tho. lol The only other thing is I have never seen a t top car that didn't have A/C. well optioned cars are the ones that had them.
@my1vice2 жыл бұрын
The Europeans made pop ups illegal.... "Pedestrian safety"
@plap.2 жыл бұрын
@@my1vice because when I get hit by a car I always worry about concealed lights making it really hurt. Lawmakers gotta luv um
@vominator2 жыл бұрын
@@my1vice Same as the US...no hood ornaments either.
@donrobinson5662 Жыл бұрын
I had T-Tops in a brand new 1989 Chevrolet IROC-Z that I purchased. I rarely removed them, but it was cool when you did!!
@andreashauschild7757 Жыл бұрын
I had two different camaro with T-Tops. I loved them. Driving with the T-Tops off was a completely different feeling then with a sunroof. I miss them.
@robertchandlerjr56722 жыл бұрын
This video made me shed a tear for my Iroc of my younger days... man I miss that car... and the leaky T-Tops. Went well with Van Halen, Busch Light, cutoffs, and my mullet
@TheGuitarman19682 жыл бұрын
I really miss T-Tops. They were like having a convertible and double sunroofs simultaneously, without the ugly cloth roof. I had a 1989 IROC-Z Camaro with T-Tops back in the day. It was a fun car, and the T-Tops made it even more fun. Luckily, the T-Tops never leaked in the rain, and I always hand-washed the car (no leaks then either), so I never tested the T-Tops at the car wash. The T-Tops came with two padded and fur-lined faux leather zippered storage bags that fit down inside the cubby hole (vertically) under the rear hatch back. That cubby hole eventually became the twin 10-inch subwoofer box, so there went the T-Top storage....lol. Although, the T-Tops could still be laid flat under the hatchback, as long as you had nothing else to tranport in the car at the same time. The T-Tops were about $500 a piece (back in 1989), so you didn't want to damage them. I had a friend with a Trans Am that found this out the hard way, when he dropped one of his T-Tops and the glass cracked. Who knows, maybe T-Tops will make a comeback someday, but for now I'll have to stick with my sunroof. 👍👍
@batmaster752 жыл бұрын
My first car was a 91 Firebird, with both pop up headlights and t-tops!! Miss that car!
@Superion866 Жыл бұрын
I thought "T-top" was just short for Targa top, I never really thought about the difference. I learned something today.
@jt72502 жыл бұрын
Although I approve of your Smokey and the Bandit as the "what did you think of as a T-top" For me my first thought was: -A red light on the front moving back and forth. -A talking car -A car that jumps over any object at the push of a button.
@jzimmerman284 Жыл бұрын
I was fortunate enough to end up with a 79 Z28 Camaro right after high school, taking it up the street with no tags, no exhaust past the headers, and the t tops down was a lot of fun 😂
@rogeredwards35632 жыл бұрын
I had an 82 Z-28 with T-Tops...in Texas. While they didn't leak (very much), they BAKED the inside of the car on hot summer days. I always had issues with the a/c on that car...as in, if I ran it too much on those hot summer days, my car would overheat. SO, I just left the T-Tops off most of the time because it was cooler with them off than on. Lots of good memories and fun times in that car tho! Ahh...the 80s were such a special time! LOL
@Hamsteak2 ай бұрын
I love this channel and his humor
@FJRyder Жыл бұрын
My 1987 Nissan Pulsar NX SE has both, pop up headlights and T-tops..... and I love it.
@laughingalltheway8399 Жыл бұрын
The convenience of a modern sunroof cannot be beat, but there will never be anything more "80s cool" than a Fox body Mustang with t-tops.
@melvinpretlow79212 жыл бұрын
And here I thought T-Top was just short for Targa Top. Great vid!
@mathewjones7663 Жыл бұрын
I literally pictured a firebird lmao. Spot on! Nice job👍😂
@lostpony48852 жыл бұрын
The 70s-80s game music background gives it a big T-top feel
@MarcG74242 жыл бұрын
Had a 1981 Pontiac Trans Am I loved taking the tops off in the spring summer and early fall months
@Richie5480 Жыл бұрын
We use to install T-Tops in the late 1970s, this was in Vegas at a place called Trim Line, we also did body side molding, and pin-striping.
@necrotoaster942 жыл бұрын
When I was a young man I had that exact 1977 Trans Am. Those T-tops were awesome and friggin HEAVY. I remember wrestling them on and off many times. It's part of the charm of the vehicle as well as a period feature for sure.
@austindevejian40442 жыл бұрын
Got t tops on my 84 brat. Very much needed ~ given the AC equipment is far antiquated and cannot be charged LOL no regrets
@9ALiTY2 жыл бұрын
T-Tops are awesome, first car was a 77 firebird with T-Tops
@aubreyleonae41082 жыл бұрын
Always wondered about that. Everyone in high school wanted one of those TAs.
@rlb1388 Жыл бұрын
In 1995 I bought a brand new Z28 with T-tops. And I still drive it every summer. Of the 20 cars I've owned. This is still my favorite car to drive. Rocket on wheels.
@77chevy4x42 жыл бұрын
8:04 The only one it’s a great feeling in . Ty for the historical and write up of the T tops