[vtirocz]

Originally Posted by Number 3

First, I don't think that is what he was implying.

I think he saying that 1) they are possible although not feasible and 2) if no one bought a Camaro because it didn't have T-tops then GM would be forced to develop T-tops.

Also, there was a replacement for the Camaro in the works that DID meet the safety standards. It never came to be because sales SUCKED. So it is likely that the Gen 4 architecture didn't/couldn't meet safety standards. But the architecture that it's replacement was supposed to come off did. I know this because other cars went into production off of that architecture.

And from Wikipedia (consider the source) here are Mustang v. Camaro sales for the last few years before being cancelled.

2001 was DISMAL and 99 and 2000 were what sealed the fate. Note Mustang sales remained healthy and even increased.

94:*123,198/ 119,934
95: 185,986/ 122,844
96: 126,483/ 66,827
97: 100,254/ 95,812
98: 170,642/ 77,198
99: 126,067/ 42,098
00: 218,525/ 45,417
01: 155,162/ 29,009

And all of those years of Camaro had T-tops

Thanks for that info. Can you tell us what that replacement platform was?

[90503]

I know they are not the "same" but I believe it's a pretty big gamble for the manufacturers to even produce convertibles....The public is fickle and they can be a big loser very quickly....

Even before crash tests and tight regs there were years when convertibles weren't available....Don't know all the specifics, just a fading memory recollection...lol...

Just sayin' T-tops are probably too much of a "tweener" to take a gamble on....Sunroof and convertible numbers are probably deemed to fill that small "niche" demand that are die-hard t-top fans....Just my $.02....

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by vtirocz

Thanks for that info. Can you tell us what that replacement platform was?

Sigma. Went into a conference room for a meeting in the late 90s. There were tape drawings of the F-body replacements. On another wall a tape drawing of the new Cadillac Sedan they planned to also build off of the architecture.

CTS lived...................Camaro not so much.

Fbodfather may have a different view on that point in history, but from what I recall they were planning for a new Camaro/Firebird in the late 90s.

If you want some other history, Google GM80 program.

[DenverTaco07]

6th Gen Camaro with T-Tops spotted!!!

http://m3.i.pbase.com/o6/39/611339/1..._2_800x600.jpg

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by fastball

You are implying that people would rather reduce safety ratings to have their t-tops.

Until the last 4th gen F-body rolled off the line, how important were roll over and side impact safety ratings? Not very if any. In fact I think I'm pretty certain at that time the safety ratings for cars were only front impact. Side and roll over did not come into play until maybe 2006 or 2007. By which time side and curtain airbags were becoming standard safety equipment.

You can ask fbodfather, but I do believe one of the reasons the Camaro/Firebird were discontinued in 2002 was that the F-body platform did not have provisions to meet upcoming safety standards, no matter how the engineers modified or altered it. It was impossible for that car to meet current safety standards. Period. End of story.

So we are now in 2015, almost 2016. Do you think people who buy a new car don't care about safety? Would rather have t-tops than safety? You're suggesting people would forgo their curtain airbags for coolness. That's not going to happen today. Not when footage of crash tests is readily available to every single person on the planet at any given moment.

Yes, I would rather have T-tops than an airbag that blows shrapnel at me in a crash. I've totalled two t-top cars and survived both. I understand that won't happen anymore for all the reasons already stated over and over again. That's why I have kept a couple that have them. I'm not fearful of dying when I drive them either just because they don't have hidden hand grenades in them.

[AZCamaroFan]

Now i gotta to know what those SIGMA Camaro's looked like.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by AZCamaroFan

Now i gotta to know what those SIGMA Camaro's looked like.

Not sure it ever got that far. Just some preliminary packaging studies a lonnnggggggg time ago on a conference room wall.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by DenverTaco07

6th Gen Camaro with T-Tops spotted!!!

http://m3.i.pbase.com/o6/39/611339/1..._2_800x600.jpg

LOVE IT!!!!!

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by AZCamaroFan

Now i gotta to know what those SIGMA Camaro's looked like.

+1. The Camaro community would get a kick out of seeing sketches of the Camaro that never was. It's part of the Camaro story

I have no interest in t-tops anymore. Cars perform so well now. Why compromise that

[L&M CAMARO 6]

Not a fan of SUN-MOON roofs Targa Tops, converts. So no interest, modern air conditioning has made these obsolete.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by '68Z28

Not a fan of SUN-MOON roofs Targa Tops, converts. So no interest, modern air conditioning has made these obsolete.

Oh, come on man. Riding around with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face will never be obsolete.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Oh, come on man. Riding around with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face will never be obsolete.

I've had 6 convertibles starting in 1979, love them then and still love them now, even though I no longer have hair to blow in the wind

[z28pat]

I'm a fan of the open top not specifically the t tops themselves so if they could do a targa top that would be the best of both worlds. I look at the 650hp convertible z06 and think that anything is possible.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by motorhead

. I don't care about airbags and would take t-tops over them.

Then that is what you should have said instead of this...

Originally Posted by motorhead

Yes, I would rather have T-tops than an airbag that blows shrapnel at me in a crash. I've totalled two t-top cars and survived both. I understand that won't happen anymore for all the reasons already stated over and over again. That's why I have kept a couple that have them. I'm not fearful of dying when I drive them either just because they don't have hidden hand grenades in them.

There is a big difference in those statements, but evidently you cannot understand .
I have no problems with you not wanting airbags, its the shrapnel and hand grenade statements I took issue to..