Conv Top Color 61 Starfire

bjtstarfire · 01-18-2008, 02:55 PM

Is there a way to determine what color conv top came with my car. Would it be on the cowl tag?

I have a shop manual but the info does not seem to be in it like it is for the car color, style, etc...

Thanks
Ben

Starfire61 · 01-18-2008, 04:30 PM

Top colors were coded onto the cowl tags only in certain body plants. For instance, 1962 convertibles built in Southgate, CA typically had a stand alone number on the right side of the tag that indicated the top color. I don't know if the Southgate plant also did this in 1961. As far as I am aware, tags on Lansing-built cars of this era did not have a top code.

The default top color on all 1961 convertibles was black unless something else was ordered. Available top colors were white, black, green, blue, fawn, & red. These colors were respectively coded 1 thru 6. If your car had a white top, it would have a top code of 1, etc. The absence of a top code does not necessarily indicate that you had a default black top: my Lansing-built '61 came with its original white top & it had no top code. Therefore, in the absence of a code, your car could be authentically restored using black, white, or any of the other colors if it's appropriate to the paint or interior.

Remember that the 1961 Starfires were unique in that their tops had a colored accent band about 2-inches wide that bordered the tops of the side windows. This was done ONLY on the 1961 Starfire, & very few are found today with this color band intact. Most folks don't even realize it's supposed to be there. On white-top cars, that band was silver/grey- I'm not certain what other colors were used on different-colored tops.

Chuck

Starfire61 · 01-18-2008, 08:22 PM

BTW- Another thing about colored tops. I believe that original, colored tops from the factory had colored interior liners and colored bows.

I've only seen this once. The car appeared on Ebay about 6 or 7 years ago. It was a white '61 Starfire with a blue interior, blue-accented wheel disks, a blue top & blue bows. The car was rather tired, but eminently restorable. It was located in New Jersey. I was very tempted to bid on it, but I didn't want to do it without seeing the car in person. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to NJ on such short notice, & the car ultimately sold. I've always wondered what happened to it.

Chuck

bjtstarfire · 01-19-2008, 03:17 AM

Thank you very much for your detailed response. This was both educational and helpful.

01-18-2008, 02:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
bjtstarfire Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Philadelphia, PA area Posts: 64	Conv Top Color 61 Starfire Is there a way to determine what color conv top came with my car. Would it be on the cowl tag? I have a shop manual but the info does not seem to be in it like it is for the car color, style, etc... Thanks Ben __________________ Ben '61 Starfire

01-19-2008, 03:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
bjtstarfire Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Philadelphia, PA area Posts: 64	Thank you very much for your detailed response. This was both educational and helpful. __________________ Ben '61 Starfire

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01-18-2008, 04:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Starfire61 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 59	Top colors were coded onto the cowl tags only in certain body plants. For instance, 1962 convertibles built in Southgate, CA typically had a stand alone number on the right side of the tag that indicated the top color. I don't know if the Southgate plant also did this in 1961. As far as I am aware, tags on Lansing-built cars of this era did not have a top code. The default top color on all 1961 convertibles was black unless something else was ordered. Available top colors were white, black, green, blue, fawn, & red. These colors were respectively coded 1 thru 6. If your car had a white top, it would have a top code of 1, etc. The absence of a top code does not necessarily indicate that you had a default black top: my Lansing-built '61 came with its original white top & it had no top code. Therefore, in the absence of a code, your car could be authentically restored using black, white, or any of the other colors if it's appropriate to the paint or interior. Remember that the 1961 Starfires were unique in that their tops had a colored accent band about 2-inches wide that bordered the tops of the side windows. This was done ONLY on the 1961 Starfire, & very few are found today with this color band intact. Most folks don't even realize it's supposed to be there. On white-top cars, that band was silver/grey- I'm not certain what other colors were used on different-colored tops. Chuck

01-18-2008, 08:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Starfire61 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 59	BTW- Another thing about colored tops. I believe that original, colored tops from the factory had colored interior liners and colored bows. I've only seen this once. The car appeared on Ebay about 6 or 7 years ago. It was a white '61 Starfire with a blue interior, blue-accented wheel disks, a blue top & blue bows. The car was rather tired, but eminently restorable. It was located in New Jersey. I was very tempted to bid on it, but I didn't want to do it without seeing the car in person. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to NJ on such short notice, & the car ultimately sold. I've always wondered what happened to it. Chuck