STEGMILLER'S SECOND GENERATION CAMARO: 1970-1981

T-Tops
Hurst T-top Picture Fisher T-top Picture
Hurst Hatch Fisher body T-top

Called "removable glass roof panels" by GM, they debuted in the Camaro in 1978 as RPO-CC1. (Pontiac F-bodies had them since 1976.) The first T-top Camaros build in '78 had the Hurst T-tops (Hurst Hatch), which were replaced part way through the year with the Fisher body T-tops. T-top cars are notorious for body flex. This can pop out the glass, make doors difficult to close, and do other bad things to an otherwise nice car. Subframe connectors, which basically tie the front subframe of the car to the rear spring perch, fix this weakness.

The Hurst Hatches are shorter and narrower; the rear edge of the Hurst top doesn't quite reach to the rear roof pillar and the T-top itself doesn't reach as far toward the centerline of the roof as the Fisher body T-top. The Hurst T-top can be identified by the words "Hurst Hatch" on the outside corner of the glass. These tops have two latches on the outside corners. (Click here for a close-up of a Hurst Hatch.) The Fisher body T-top has one lever in the center.

The space saver spare N65 was required with T-top cars to allow enough room in the trunk to stow the tops.

In the late 1970s, a company called Cars & Concepts (somehow connected with Hurst Shifter) manufactured a T-top roof. These T-tops could be had as a dealer installed option. They can be identified by their almost rectangular shape, physical size (larger than either the Hurst Hatch or the Fisher T-top), and "glass to glass" design (they are separated in the center by a narrow piece of aluminum which runs down the center of the roof). At least one car (a 1980 Sport Coupe) with this option also came with the space saver spare.


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