Poll: Factory Roof Options
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Haven't seen one, but, I'd believe it was possible early on.
Remember, in the prior generation GM advertised the Monte as their 'luxury coupe'... but as the 70s gave way to the 80s you saw the century's high trim pkg become its own nameplate - Regal. It also holds with which cars got the different braces and bushings on the chassis to fit into those niches.
Likewise, gm decided to shift the malibu into a budget-conscious offering, even marketing that whole 'slice of apple pie' campaign, not sure if you remember those with a series of ads appealing to size, fuel economy, and low cost value, something they didn't use on the other gbody cars. It even compared it to the economy compacts in terms of mileage ratings and available interior space on the sedans/wagons.
I can't remember those early adds as being 47 & back at that point I only paid attention to toy ads.
But with the Malibu I would think only the Classic's would of had the Sky Roof & it would of only been the coupe.
To be honest, the only reason I remember so many of those ad campaigns is at some of the swap meets the last few years some guys leave out piles of old car mags. When I'm sitting around not traveling the grounds I usually grab some to flip through, it's interesting the stuff you know you must've been inundated with at the time but never remember
I prefer a plain hard top. I really wish mine did not have a vinyl top. I'm kinda scared to pull it off but I know the day it coming. The sail panels have some bubbles at the top. At least I live in AZ where rust moves significantly slower then you rust belt guys.
My 85 has a sunroof, and I am not sure whether it came that way from the factory or got installed as an add on sometime after the fact. Id o know that I have never opened it and have no plans to do so. Personally I don't like it simply because it is just another hole that can rust and let in water. I actually have another roof panel that I salvaged from an about to be crushed 87 hulk and it is solid, no cutouts, so I may trim out the section that i need and graft it into place to return the roof to an all metal state of being.
Nick
Nick
I'm sorry but what a waste, too bad someone else didn't get to buy that car that would truly enjoy having a power sunroof and then to want to cut it out and weld in new metal and then do all of the bodywork and paint to get rid of it, why not just open it and drive around you might even like it but I am guessing probably not.
Before jumping that far I'd question whether it was a factory astroroof, the only true gm sunroof, or an asc post-delivery conversion version which is a bit more of a meh, or some cheap generic sunroof that was the fad in used cars during the late 80s to mid 90s.
But from what ive seen on the work he's been doing on that car, if I'm thinking of the same one, in the lower-48 it would've been made into refrigerators and washing machines years ago so with the work he's put in, I'm fine with anything he wants to do to make it his own style.
I voted hardtop. Less to go wrong and leak. Especially with how flimsy the body structure is.
Every top option has it's plus and minus factors. Without any top option, you have a lot more headliner to droop on you. Also, if you try to get in the car too fast and don't watch your head, that rain gutter hurts like a beeyotch when you whack the top of your head against it. With an astro roof, sunroof, or whatever you want to call it, you still have to worry about head whacks, but you also have to ensure you keep track of that little emergency wrench AND keep your drain hoses clear. Regardless if your gaskets leak or not, which is its own set of problems. Anyone with T-tops knows that while installed, you still have the head whack potential, but you can take them out to elminate that. You also can get major leaks from the T-tops because I have to admit, they gave it a good try, but the drainage system leaves so much to be desired on T-top cars, as well as metal protection underneath. Get the car through a few years and no more warranty to deal with. Advice to anyone rebuilding their car with T-tops....PAY ATTENTION TO RUST PROOF the metal underneath the T-tops as well as anywhere else you suspect rust could form.
You definitely don't want this- an 83 H/O that was virtually rust free everywhere else until the T-top seals were going to get replaced....
You definitely don't want this- an 83 H/O that was virtually rust free everywhere else until the T-top seals were going to get replaced....
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