It’s All About the NUMBERS…… By Judy Badgley

This article is dedicated to weatherproof vehicle. The companies tried new ways to the evolution of “going topless auto soon began to open the top and please their topless”!!!! Have I got your evolve into a user-friendly buyers and insurance attention? Please read on. vehicle. A roof overhead was companies. The answer came The auto industry had its added, followed eventually by in the form of a sunroof, start in the 1800’s. Gasoline, doors, a windshield and then astroroof, moon roof and then steam and even electric cars side glass. This new invention finally, t-tops. were built using buggies was now sealed from the As you all know, the (horse-drawn type) as the elements. Hurst/Olds went into basis. It wasn’t long before Customers can never be production in 1968. This was this new means of completely satisfied. Soon at a time when the canvas transportation soon caught on. they realized how much they convertible top was very In 1897, R. E. Olds liked the feel of the open air desirable, but the insurance organized the first American when enjoying the freedom of companies were raising the automobile company known traveling in this new machine. rates to the owners. The H/O as the Olds Motor Works. The answer to this request was promoted as a luxury Later the vehicle name was was the removable or hotrod but it was primarily changed to Oldsmobile. The collapsible top. The intended to be used at the vehicle they built in the early convertible was born and dragstrip. There were no years was known as the became very popular. production H/O’s built with a Curved Dash Olds. It was the Going “topless” evolved. convertible top. Convertibles vehicle that put Americans on Years went by and auto are a much heavier vehicle the road and it started out manufacturers improved the and not a desirable car to run “topless”. convertibles. Manual tops fast at the track. However, became power tops. Plastic Hurst Performance did back windows became glass. convert 4) Cutlass The popularity of the These vehicles have been convertibles to look similar to automobile grew quickly and nicknamed “rag tops”, “drop the 68 H/O production cars. so did the desire of the users tops”, “going topless” and I’m These cars were used at for a more convenient, sure other names I have left various tracks around the out. Life was good!!!!! country to promote the Hurst Over the years, shifters and other Hurst insurance companies and products. safety commissions The 68 H/O’s were very influenced the auto successful in the sales manufacturers into department. The 2 companies eliminating convertibles decided to proceed with the for the “good” of the same program in 1969. Again, public. Statistics proved these cars were intended to be topless cars were unsafe used at the dragstrip, so the and as a result cost the convertible was not offered as insurance companies a production car. Hurst more. The desire of the converted 4) Cutlass public to go topless was convertibles for promotional still there so the duties and these cars carried the same appearance package sunroof, you flipped the latch removed. With these panels as the 69 H/O production and popped the glass panel up removed, the car appeared cars. about 4 inches. The advantage nearly topless! The Then came 1972. The of this style was you could production cars all had Hurst/Olds was selected to be see the sky above, even in simulated roll bars but no the Official Pace Car at the inclement weather. There are removable panels. These cars Indy 500 race. The Indy no figures as to how many of did not have a sunroof option program required convertibles the 1973 H/O’s had a sunroof available. to be used for parade duties installed. The 1975 model year during the festivities. 130) Hurst and Olds worked brought about an all-new 1972 H/O convertibles were together again in 1974. This topless style. Hurst built. Of those, 68) were used was to be another Official Performance had been at the track festivities. Pace Car year for the Indy working on a design called t- In addition to the 500. Indy still wanted tops. T-tops are 2 glass panels convertibles, 1972 H/O’s convertibles for the festivities supported in the center with a were also available with a and GM was still not building metal strip. The glass panels new open top option called a a convertible on the Cutlass mounted over the front seats. sunroof. This unique option body. GM did build GM introduced this allowed a section of the roof convertibles on the full-size innovation on the 1975 to slide to the rear section of body. 42) Hurst/Olds Delta 88 Hurst/Olds. In fact all 2535) the roof, between the convertibles were used for 1975 H/O’s had t-tops, and headliner and the roof panel. festival activities at Indy in only H/O’s had t-tops. No This particular sunroof was 1974. other GM model offered this powered and was activated GM did agree to convert at option on the production cars. with the push of a button. least 3) Cutlass bodies into a Linda Vaughn perched above Hurst When the sunroof was open, special ”topless” style for the hatches the roof was open to the sky Official Pace Car duties in above. Hurst Performance 1974. These cars had the T-tops were an instant had developed this product as center roof section reinforced success. The car buying an answer to the growing into a type of roll bar. The public loved the idea of pressure from the insurance area between the windshield removable glass panels. By companies and safety top and the roll bar removed. the introduction of the 1976 commissions. The sunroof Also the area between the roll Oldsmobiles, t-tops were an was a lower cost option to the bar and the rear deck option on some model in all buyer, both in the actual cost of the GM carlines. Also by of the car and the cost of the introduction of the insurance (it was considered 1976 models, several to be safer). dealer bulletins had been In 1973, the Hurst/Olds sent out on program was introduced on how to adjust or replace the all-new Cutlass body. GM the weatherstrips to had redesigned the midsize compensate for air and Cutlass and eliminated the water leaks! Although the building of a convertible on public seemed to be this body. A new style of entranced with this new sunroof had been designed for design, the leaks plagued General Motors new car line- the dealerships and the up. This sunroof offered on mechanics that worked on the ‘73 was a pop-up style. It them. was a single glass panel with There were other a center latch. To open the complications with trying to repair the t-top leaks. Hurst options. GM and Oldsmobile to developing a quality was making changes trying to were not interested in keeping product that will work for improve the t-top design. track of these figures for MOST applications. They also made their own collectors. They were only Steele Rubber has created a Hurst Hatches that were interested in selling cars. description of their t-top seals installed by themselves rather As popular as the topless that should help you decide than at the factory. Nearly options are, they are a which kit to order. every change required a constant battle with trying to Additionally, their staff is different weatherstrip. keep them sealed. The 75 willing to help us solve the Going topless with t-tops H/O’s had 2) different styles problem of which kit will was a popular option on the of t-tops. Some had a chrome work. PS…..they also offer rear-wheel drive Cutlass edge around the glass and the weatherstrips for doors, trunk, beginning in 1975 when they others were just the glass etc. Check their ad elsewhere were introduced until 1988 edge. Each of these styles in our magazine for contact when they quit making the required a different information. rear-wheel drive Cutlass. This weatherstrip. Over the years, Do you remember the was the only way buyers at least 3) different styles of mention of a moonroof? I could enjoy the “topless” weatherstrips were used on can’t find any reference to a Cutlass. the Olds factory cars, plus moonroof in the Hurst/Olds or In 1978, Olds introduced an those used for the Hurst Oldsmobile literature. I all new Cutlass design. This installed units. contacted members Ken and basic style would remain Weather-strips for the Chris Arbic about this also. through the end of the rear sunroofs, astroroof, etc were They have a lot of literature wheel drive Cutlass in 1988. not as complicated, but there on these options in the 79-84 Although the body style had are many different types. H/O era, as well as having yearly changes, the frame and Hurst and many other owned cars with these basics were the same. There aftermarket companies made options. They also could not were still no convertibles. sunroofs, etc. Each and find any “official” reference Olds did offer a confusing everyone are different! to a moonroof. Do any of you number of new ‘topless” All of these changes have have proof? Let me know if options. been a nightmare for owners you do, please. Perhaps it is 1978 was the introduction trying to restore or maintain just a slang term. of the astroroof. This was a their car. Car owners in need As you can see, although glass panel that operated of seals or glass panels can going topless is a great way to similar to the sunroof in 1972. easily buy the wrong type for travel, it is not without It moved electronically to the their car. GM quit making problems. As the evolution of rear of the roof, opening the some of the earlier styles topless cars improved both in roof to the sky. This was an many years ago. Companies appearance and safety, they option that was available from wanting to provide the market continue to be a frustration 1978-1988. The metal with the correct seal have had when we want to have them electronic slider panel was a difficult task. Many hours of closed and sealed. I guess the still offered from 1978 research went into this only solution is to find the through 1980. Also available project. Many people have perfect climate so we don’t in those same years was the been instrumental in helping ever have to worry about glass removable roof that was to solve this problem sealing our H/O’s! the same as the ’73 style. including H/OCA member Now we have 4 roof 924C, Steve Dalton. He and LET THE SUNSHINE IN!!! options! There are no figures others have worked with the available as to how many of people at Steele Rubber (one the 79, 83 or 84 H/O’s came of our advertisers) and Views below are an Astroroof. with any of these particular devoted many research hours