Posted By: RTshaker
Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/09/13 07:11 PM
Why were vinyl roofs required on the Superbirds??
Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ?
Posted By: 6bblgt
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/09/13 07:32 PM
After Chrysler found out what it cost to modify & refinish the roofs on '69 500s & Daytonas - they figured it was cheaper to put a vinyl top on the Superbirds.
Posted By: RSNOMO
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/09/13 08:10 PM
Quote:
After Chrysler found out what it cost to modify & refinish the roofs on '69 500s & Daytonas - they figured it was cheaper to put a vinyl top on the Superbirds.
I'd agree with that...
To lessen the amount of roof body work required is the popular notion...
Posted By: DAYCLONA
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/09/13 10:03 PM
Quote:
Why were vinyl roofs required on the Superbirds??
To induce aerodynamic drag, to keep them just a tad under 200 MPH...
JK
Posted By: mastiffd
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/09/13 11:04 PM
I was under the impression the vinyl tops were put on because of a time crunch to ensure the race versions would be approved in time for 1970 Daytona 500.
Due to the rear window plug a lot of bodywork and paint was needed and would have taken far more time than slapping vinyl tops on.
Due to the rear window plug a lot of bodywork and paint was needed and would have taken far more time than slapping vinyl tops on.
Posted By: DAYCLONA
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 12:01 AM
Quote:
I was under the impression the vinyl tops were put on because of a time crunch to ensure the race versions would be approved in time for 1970 Daytona 500.
Due to the rear window plug a lot of bodywork and paint was needed and would have taken far more time than slapping vinyl tops on.
The biggest "time crunch" the Superbird production faced was to get all the cars required, built before Jan 1 1970 to skirt the new Federal front bumper law that was about to take place...the vinyl top was just cost/time cutting measures as Chrysler had no intention of building street consumption/production units, NASCAR forced their hand with that, along with prodding from the "other" manufacturers, as well as Richard Petty jumping ship in 69 to FORD, as he had no "wing" to ride in 69
mike
Posted By: 1970A13
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 01:04 AM
I read in a old mag another reason that all superbird had to be completed by jan 1 1970 was mandated end of vacuum headlights?
Posted By: Twostick
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 02:18 AM
I would assume it was for the same reasons they did it on the RT/SE Challengers. MUCH cheaper than tooling up for a different roof to take the small window and less time consuming than finishing the plug so it would be invisible (cheaper).
Kevin
Kevin
Posted By: jcc
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 02:23 AM
OT did anybody see the recent Red Salt flats Daytona with the seriously revised nose, painted black to at least mimic the original look?
I would not have thought that would be a preferred shape for the Salt flats relative to the factory nose.
I would not have thought that would be a preferred shape for the Salt flats relative to the factory nose.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 02:23 AM
CHEAPER
Posted By: BulletBob
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 02:26 AM
Quote:
After Chrysler found out what it cost to modify & refinish the roofs on '69 500s & Daytonas - they figured it was cheaper to put a vinyl top on the Superbirds.
You pull that top off & you can really see what would be involvedI have pics of that area that I took when I looked at one to buy at "Mopars at the Battleship" ten years ago or so
I'll see if I can get them posted from floppy (I had a Mavica then)
Posted By: MAVERICKSHEMI
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 03:46 AM
Quote:
I was under the impression the vinyl tops were put on because of a time crunch to ensure the race versions would be approved in time for 1970 Daytona 500.
Due to the rear window plug a lot of bodywork and paint was needed and would have taken far more time than slapping vinyl tops on.
Read or saw something about that on TV or in a book.
Posted By: MI_Custumz
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 01:32 PM
So why were the chrome pieces on the A pillars? Guessing smooth for less drag, but not sure.
Posted By: DAYCLONA
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 07:07 PM
Quote:
I read in a old mag another reason that all superbird had to be completed by jan 1 1970 was mandated end of vacuum headlights?
Don't think so, never heard that one....how would you explain 70-1 Ford Torinos with vacuum operated hidden headlites
Posted By: 1970A13
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/10/13 10:08 PM
I was wondering about that,think i read it in a 69 car life mag,do 70 Corvettes have electric headlight openers?
Posted By: Golden-Arm
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/11/13 12:58 AM
i wouldn't put much weight into that theory. they are designed to open, in the event of a vacuum failure. the vacuum holds them shut. not having to do hours of bodywork to make it presentable is obvious. the a-pillar moldings are to reduce drag/turbulence across the windshield. 
Posted By: BulletBob
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/11/13 02:09 AM
Quote:
I was wondering about that,think i read it in a 69 car life mag,do 70 Corvettes have electric headlight openers?
Corvettes got vac headlights in 68' & ended in 82'
Posted By: bdusted440
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/12/13 04:07 AM
It was to make them faster. The little bumps break the grip the wind has on the roof causing minor turbulence. A smooth top causes drag at high speeds. From Mo-par itself. Same with a boat bottom.
Posted By: DAYCLONA
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/12/13 05:17 AM
Quote:
It was to make them faster. The little bumps break the grip the wind has on the roof causing minor turbulence. A smooth top causes drag at high speeds. From Mo-par itself. Same with a boat bottom.
So that's why Petty couldn't break the 200 MPH barrier, they deleted the vinyl roof on his car,... "restrictor roof racing" ...Dam Bill France!
Posted By: RSNOMO
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/12/13 05:22 AM
Quote:
So that's why Petty couldn't break the 200 MPH barrier, they deleted the vinyl roof on his car,... "restrictor roof racing" ...Dam Bill France!
LMAO...
Posted By: 62maxwgn
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/12/13 01:26 PM
Quote:
After Chrysler found out what it cost to modify & refinish the roofs on '69 500s & Daytonas - they figured it was cheaper to put a vinyl top on the Superbirds.
They missed mine !!!
Before !
Posted By: 62maxwgn
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/12/13 01:29 PM
After.
Posted By: cknight
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/12/13 01:36 PM
Quote:
It was to make them faster. The little bumps break the grip the wind has on the roof causing minor turbulence. A smooth top causes drag at high speeds. From Mo-par itself. Same with a boat bottom.
Smokey's Yunicks's 7/8 scale Chevelle had the vinyl roof a few years earlier, to break up the boundry layer drag. Regards, Chase
Posted By: Rug_Trucker
Re: Vinyl roofs on superbirds.. why ? - 08/12/13 02:04 PM
Quote:
It was to make them faster. The little bumps break the grip the wind has on the roof causing minor turbulence. A smooth top causes drag at high speeds. From Mo-par itself. Same with a boat bottom.
The old "reverse golf ball skin" trick?