“Taking the top off and putting it back on is so easy. Definitely a one-person, under-five-minute job.” — Jennifer Harrington, Copy Editor
Like so many Vettes before it, the C7 Stingray coupe’s central roof panel can be removed and stowed beneath the glass rear hatch. Luckily, Ann Arbor’s so-far-mild summer has given us plenty of opportunity for topless motoring in our long-term Corvette Stingray Z51 coupe. But just how easy is it to get that lid off? As Harrington states, it’s quite easy.
For starters, the roof panel on the C7 coupe is made of carbon fiber, meaning it weighs almost nothing: 18 pounds according to our scales. Removal starts with undoing a trio of latches inside the car. Next—and this step is made easier if you’ve lowered the windows or have opened both doors and are standing next to the car—lift up the front of the panel with one hand so the pegs rise free from their catches and won’t scratch anything, then guide the panel with your free hand toward the front of the car until the horizontal rear pegs slide out of their slots. The roof then simply lifts up and away. Easy. Grab a buddy to help, and it’s even simpler. (If it’s windy, your friend will be almost imperative, especially if you care to avoid dropping the lid on the pavement.)
Stowing the panel in the trunk is just as equally straightforward—it’s stored in the same orientation as when it’s fitted in place—but pay close attention to where the front two pegs are supposed to rest. There’s a pair of hooklike objects that jut out of the cargo-area floor that can give the impression that the leading edge of the roof slides into them. It doesn’t, so don’t do that. Instead, lower the front pegs into dedicated slots ahead of these hooks, then press the tail edge of the roof snugly into the rear mounts. Although the panel appears to eliminate all cargo space, it sits a few inches off of the trunk floor, so items can still be loaded underneath, albeit from inside the cabin. Reverse the process to put the roof back in place: Stick the rear pegs in first, then lower the front pegs into their slots and relatch everything.
- Long-Term 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51: Everything You Need to Know
- Comparison Test: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible vs. Jaguar F-type V-8 S
- Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, and More
The Vette is reasonably quiet with the top off, which is to be expected given how little space is opened. Our only complaint? The sun visors stick up awkwardly into the void left by the roof and look a little dorky. We’ll live.
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