71GS Top Code Help?

Well, looks like my lime mist green 71GS455 4spd convertible may be making some progress again at the resto shop after another long lull.

I need to confirm the top code. I'm 99% sure I know what it is but my reference books are in storage and after about half an hour of trying to track it down with search engines and no luck I'll just ask the questions.

Paint code 43 G. I'm pretty sure this is a green top. However, I don't know what shade it is, or where to buy one that is correct for the car.

So two questions I have:

1. Does anyone have a picture of a car with the correct shade green top for '71 they could post or refer me to so I can see what it looks like?

2. What is the correct material, and is anyplace selling the correct color/material top for the 71GS convert with glass window in it?

Maybe that's three questions...

Thanks in advance.

 

I think I just found a pic. Murphy's law. You can't find something until you give up and then stumble on it almost by accident.

Anyways, here it is. To my eyes it looks kind of funky and doesn't seem to match the paint very good. Is this the right shade? Looks kind of weird.o No:

http://www.atlantabuick.com/index.p...d=31&page=view&catid=101&PageNo=1&key=3&hit=1

 

G = 71 service code for Dark green convert top.

Mike if you get the 71 dealer book it will have a sample as I recall. Also your better upholstery shops will have books with the colors. I would start with Electron tops which along with Robbins are the best.

 

Thanks Jim. Doesn't look like either one of them carry the dark green color, judging from their catalogs.

Are there points off on concours judging by having the wrong color? I would think so...

 

I would call Electron. I think they can tell you what number from their stuff they say GM used that year.

 

From the 72 Dealer's book which also lists a code 9 top option I would say that the one you posted is similar to the one I see. I would have not have called that dark green myself. But I do not have a 71 book to verify that 72 was the same color.

 

1971-72 Code 9 ( G ) Green

 

I can tell you for sure that the swatch in the 72 Dealer's Book looks nothing like the one David posted. It is much closer to the pic Mike posted of the one mounted on the car. Now the one David posted is what I would call dark green.

 

Ok........ya got me Jim...I forgot to load the 72 ou:

 

David that one is the color and weave I show for a code 9 top on a 72 convert.

 

The one I need is for a '71 as mentioned above. Looks like they're two different colors if I'm following the discussion correctly. The one posted for a '71 looks more like charcoal to my eyes, I don't see any green in it.

If the greens are different each year, how on earth will I find the right one? I doubt that aftermarket suppliers will cater to such subtle differences.

As I asked before, does it make a difference for concours judging? The simplest solution would just be to put a black top on it although doing that doesn't really set right with me for the 1 of 18 GS455 4spd Converts. I was hoping to do it right and match the codes since the drive train numbers all match.

 

Send Brad or Duane an email/PM :beers2:

 

Remember the car in the picture is subject to years of fade. All the original green tops I remeber on GM cars were pretty faded after a few years.