Vinyl Top Trim Piece Differences???

I just had a set of 70-72 vinyl top trim pieces polished and now comparing the side pieces to the ones on my car they are about 3/8 of inch shorter (28 1/8 versus 28 1/2)? Did cars with the upper belt mouldings and vinyl tops have shorter side pieces or is this just manufacturing differences?? It does appear they would still cover the end caps.

Thanks for the help!

Tom

 

Tom, I believe they were the same. Vinyl top cars and hardtop without vinlyl I think were different but would not effect length I believe.

 

GM parts book indicates 70 & 71 vinyl side pieces were the same, 72 different. What the difference was I don't know. I suspect it was in the profile of the moulding, not the length.
The quarter peak moulding is the same all years.
The drip rail was different on a vinyl roof car vs. painted roof.
I can see a mix/match after 40 years as a good possibility.

 

I have 4 70's and there all 28 1/2
2 of them have upper peak moldings
I dont have any 71-2's, so I cant compare/help there

 

Thanks guys! Just seems strange that there would be any difference.

Steve,
What is the difference between roof rail drip mouldings? Are ones for vinyl top cars bigger to accomodate the vinyl?

Thanks,
Tom

 

Tom,
Can't say for sure but suspect it was the a slightly larger opening on the inside edge to allow for the vinyl.
70-72 painted roof had part numbers : 8782460 & 8782461
70-71 soft trim roof had part numbers: 8782512 & 8782513

The 70-71 vinyl roof numbers are superceded by the painted roof numbers in my '81 GM Parts Book. Still, this tells me there was an initial difference.
No listing in my book on the 72 vinyl roof piece.

Members here may have an earlier edition of the book, pretty sure I've heard of one from around '75 or '76.

 

I wonder is maybe there is a difference in suppliers during those 3 years? The only other thing I could think of woud be 4 dr or 2dr?

 

2 & 4 dr. cars had different series of numbers for either painted roof or soft trim roof ( vinyl).
I heard or read somewhere the '72 trim was slightly different in profile.
I have a '72 GS350 parts car with an aftermarket vinyl trim set-up on it.
Two pieces only. Each begins behind the quarter window, wraps around the corner at the trunk & they meet in the middle of the rear window with a joiner. Small plastic clips held on by rivets. First one I've seen.