Is there a story to the black roof on Z28's / SS's?

[Jantzen]

So is there some significance to the black roof?

Did earlier generations do this or something? :boggled:

[RelativelyFast]

My 99 has a black roof as well as black mirrors.

[Corp Z]

I believe the black out treatment for the roof and mirrors helped distinguish the Z28 and SS models from the base Camaro.

[FlagSStaff]

Originally posted by Corp Z
I believe the black out treatment for the roof and mirrors helped distinguish the Z28 and SS models from the base Camaro.

Bingo.

[Jantzen]

So this all started with the 4th gens then?

[YankeeZ]

OK here's the story. Are you all sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin. :D

When the 4th gen came out in '93, all Z28s had the black roof, regardless of whether it had T-tops or not. The base Camaros had the black roof only if it had T-tops - if it didn't, it had a body-colored roof. The same story followed in 94. In 95, the situation changed a little. This time, the black roof was still standard on the Z28s, but a body-colored roof became a no-cost option. Now I believe in '96, the black roof was no longer available on the base models, T-tops or not. The Z28 in '96 and '97 was still available in either the black or body-colored roof (the lone exception being the '97 30th Anniversary Z28/SS, they all had a white roof to match the body, whether it had Ts or not). In '98, the Z28s and SSs all had the black roof again, regardless of whether it had Ts or not, and all base models had a body-colored roof (there were a very small handful of Z28s and SSs after '97 that did manage to escape the factory with body-colored roofs, but those are ultra-rare).

Got all that? Class dismissed. :cool:

[MeentSS02]

Originally posted by YankeeZ
OK here's the story. Are you all sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin. :D

When the 4th gen came out in '93, all Z28s had the black roof, regardless of whether it had T-tops or not. The base Camaros had the black roof only if it had T-tops - if it didn't, it had a body-colored roof. The same story followed in 94. In 95, the situation changed a little. This time, the black roof was still standard on the Z28s, but a body-colored roof became a no-cost option. Now I believe in '96, the black roof was no longer available on the base models, T-tops or not. The Z28 in '96 and '97 was still available in either the black or body-colored roof (the lone exception being the '97 30th Anniversary Z28/SS, they all had a white roof to match the body, whether it had Ts or not). In '98, the Z28s and SSs all had the black roof again, regardless of whether it had Ts or not, and all base models had a body-colored roof (there were a very small handful of Z28s and SSs after '97 that did manage to escape the factory with body-colored roofs, but those are ultra-rare).

Got all that? Class dismissed. :cool:

Geez man...you know your shit. That's good info!

[Jantzen]

YankeeZ - thanks for the info.

So it looks like the black roof isn't carrying on some heritage from the earlier generations...

It just looks cool. :cool:

[steph99ss]

All I know is that I love the black top with black mirrors. Makes the whole top part of the car look black, especially if the windows are tinted real dark. :)

[EVILFACE]

I like the black tops better. Goes great with those 5% tint jobs :)

[Nova5]

you can bet there was some fool in a dealership specifiying he didnt want the black roof but a bodycolor roof on a black car!

[dagwood]

I think the black roofs look sweet........but the mirrors have little to be desired. To me it looks like you had a mirror broke on your car, went to a junk yard for a used one and all they had was a black one so you put it on to get by until you get it painted. It looks that out of place to me. That was the first thing I thought of when I went to look at my current car "it's got those damn black mirrors", but fortunately all convertibles got the body color mirrors. :D Whew!

Just my $.02

[triggerjerk]

I'm gonna have to disagree
I HATE THE BLACK ROOF TREATMENT!
I say maybe we should start a poll in bng...

:silverz:

[Jantzen]

The question is who is going to fix the Z smilies???

:redz:
:dkredz:
:somz:
:greenz:
:medbluz:
:nbmz:
:Purpz:
:silverz:
:whitez:

Well black is Ok...
:blackz:

[YankeeZ]

Hey Jantzen, where did you find those? I've been looking for an SOM similie everywhere, but haven't been able to find one.

BTW, where in Pittsburgh are you? I lived in the South Hills up until 2002.

[Camaroguy3800]

I know the first gen big block cars had a black panel where the tail lights are, and thats where GMMG got the idea for their black panel from, but the black roof on 4th gens is for that Generation only like it's been said.

[Evaporate]

Originally posted by steph99ss
All I know is that I love the black top with black mirrors. Makes the whole top part of the car look black, especially if the windows are tinted real dark. :)

That's exactly how i feel. I wish they gave that option for the Trans Ams. I actually saw a White TA with a black top/T-tops.