[Mr_GTO]

But with a half vinyl roof? I don't recall ever seeing a LeMans with that option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY2NpiBZbdI&t=318s

[steve v]

Aftermarket ~ used car dealer added option.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by steve v

Aftermarket ~ used car dealer added option.

Exactly, this is how they, (used car dealers) take a plain jane car, and make it look to the untrained eye, like it was something special. Make it a luxury model, from a base optioned car, without spending any appreciable money on the car. After ford started putting opera windows, and landau roofs in lincolons, the race was on.

Whoever did that conversion drilled the hole for the window too low in the C pillar...........Opps...

[Lee]

This is Kenny Gregrich's car. I believe his aunt bought it brand new, and now he has it in his collection.

[Greg Reid]

Those opera windows really look like crap on that car. Never seen anyone add them to a GM A-body.

[importsmasher]

I've seen the half vinyl roof on Grand Prix of that Era, but not a LeMans. I have seen the awful opera windows on a 70-73 Firebird in a Phoenix junkyard years ago. Never understood the appeal....

Importsmasher

[Greg Reid]

The half vinyl was available from the factory on some cars. My Mother bought a '74 Monte Carlo brand new that way. That particular series also had a small window in the C-pillar...but it was not round or oval. It looked ok.
The Grand Prix had the same roof and window.

[KS circutguy]

My 1973 Buick GS Stage 1 had one from the factory as well.

[TAKerry]

I saw a lemans/tempest a few years ago of that vintage with a half vinyl roof. Guy bought the car new. It did not have that horrible opera window though.

[Greg Reid]

Back in 1980 there was a guy that lived in the apartment next door that had a Buick Regal with a stainless steel top. I can't remember for sure but I think think rear portion was vinyl, front two thirds stainless. I've never seen another one like that.

['ol Pinion head]

As far as half vinyl roofs go, other than the half vinyl roofs installed by ASC on quite a few of the mid '72 model intro Buick SunCouoes, seriously doubt before thay time frame anyone is going to find a factory installed half vinyl roof on any GM A-bodies. Having extensively boneyarded through the mud 80's & 90's up into the 00's, have examined a bunch of oddball roof treatments. Near all being aftermarket installed well after new car delivery to the original selling dealer.

Regarding the opera window installs, they were definitely a product of the times.
Like pop up sunroofs & aftermarket vinyl top installs, these "roof installs" kept the local vinyl top shops busy. The butchered B pillar treatment also had little bounds, have pulled parts off both a '73 Camaro & a '74 Firebirds as well as several mid 70's 2 door Caprices & at least two '72 GrandPrixs that all had this butchery.

[trophy421]

I remember a lot of those oval opera windows on 1973-74 LTDs. I guess the owners though it made it look like a Lincoln Mark IV.

[kingbuzzo]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

Back in 1980 there was a guy that lived in the apartment next door that had a Buick Regal with a stainless steel top. I can't remember for sure but I think think rear portion was vinyl, front two thirds stainless. I've never seen another one like that.

I seen an Oldsmibubble like that but it was stock...

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by kingbuzzo

I seen an Oldsmibubble like that but it was stock...

This one was stock also.

[TAKerry]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

Back in 1980 there was a guy that lived in the apartment next door that had a Buick Regal with a stainless steel top. I can't remember for sure but I think think rear portion was vinyl, front two thirds stainless. I've never seen another one like that.

I have seen at least one of those as well. Cant remember if Olds or Buick.

[Greg Reid]

It's possible that his was an Olds. Been over 40 years ago!

[77 TRASHCAN]

Lol, thinking about it now...if I had owned a shop that performed such mods...
A sales angle in Oklahoma could have been, Save your roof from hail dents, get a vinyl top. Now!!!.

May not have been the end all for hail protection, but might sell. Also, seems like some upholstered tops had a fairly thick spongy pad underneath them, mainly Chrysler???

We had some hail.from a mesocyclone in 2013, Late May that went THROUGH roofs, decking AND ceiling structures.

[Greg Reid]

Many GM cars also had that upholstered half vinyl roof. I had a '78 Bonneville with it.

[george kujanski]

'85 TORO here.. padded 1/4 rear roof. In retrospect, I don't know about the whole idea of a vinyl roof.

What I really hate is the aftermarket fake convertible top with the metal snaps drilled into the body. What the hell is the purpose of that?

George

[necdb3]

I highly doubt that roof, or any vinyl half roof, during that era was factory installed. Seems when the Collinade body came out, that's about where those tops hit the scene from the factory. That particular roof I have never seen before with the curved trim towards the front.

I own a 72 SSJ which obviously has a half vinyl top but we all know they didn't run off the factory assembly line that way. Even the Buick Sun Coupes were sent out to ASC to have that roof installed (not factory installed) I always wondered how those type of vehicles would be treated in a Concours Class, would it have to go into a modified class?

JMO