Reutter-Hardtop number x VIN# - anyone???

[Freddy Rabbat]

I know there is little information on Cabriolet Reutter hardtop numbers... I collected a few numbers on cars I am sure were delivered from the factory with a Reutter hardtop as follows:

a 1959 Cabrio VIN# 151925 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 3246
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 152569 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4532
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 153540 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4994
a 1961 Cabrio VIN# 155497 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 66837
a 1964 Cabrio VIN# 160036 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 67745
a 1965 Cabrio VIN# 161781 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 67965

I am sure many others own Cabrios that were delivered with a Reutter hardtop from the factory and could add the number here in order to help us trying to figure out how Reutter used these numbers on our cars.

I am curious to learn (at least approximately) how many hardtops were produced...

or how many cars were delivered with them and on what years...

When pop-out windows first appeared? Golde sunroof? Electric sunroof?

Charlie collected a lot of information on his website,

http://derwhites356literature.com/356Po ... dtops.html

but it is so hard to find anything related to the production numbers...

On the early hardtops the Reutter-Hardtop number is located (screwed) between the left window rubber trim and the hardtop itself... the plate is cut diagonally to fit there as per the bellow picture:



Then they moved the plate to the rear left post:



And finally added the color plate bellow the Reutter-Hardtop number:



Would you guys have more information to add to this post?? I think it would be nice to have more numbers together as a small database for the Hardtops.

TIA,

[Tom Kayser]

Freddy,

My `59 Cab 151512 - COA, built/delivered December 30,1958 hardtop is
numbered 3965 - I can only imagine the pre-new years festivities at
the factory that day.

Supposedly it never had a soft top, nothing on the COA - no surprise.
Seems to have always been a Michigan car where in the day, it was the
daily driver and they wanted warmth in the winter - took the top off
during the summer, not to bother if the seats got wet, or the
floorboards got damp.

Since a complete restoration (of everything) since 2004 it's been on
the road ( three ECH) with a soft top (at more money for the frame
than the purchase of the entire car) and over 17,000 miles since - I
call it my brand new 50 year old car, just because now it is!

KTF,

Tom Kayser #16013
Kalamazoo, Michigan


On Dec 11, 2009, at 4:11 AM, Freddy Rabbat wrote:

I know there is little information on Cabriolet Reutter hardtop
numbers... I collected a few numbers on cars I am sure were
delivered from the factory with a Reutter hardtop as follows:

a 1959 Cabrio VIN# 151925 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 3246
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 152569 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4532
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 153540 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4994
a 1961 Cabrio VIN# 155497 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 66837
a 1964 Cabrio VIN# 160036 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 67745
a 1965 Cabrio VIN# 161781 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 67965

I am sure many others own Cabrios that were delivered with a Reutter
hardtop from the factory and could add the number here in order to
help us trying to figure out how Reutter used these numbers on our
cars.

I am curious to learn (at least approximately) how many hardtops
were produced...

or how many cars were delivered with them and on what years...

When pop-out windows first appeared? Golde sunroof? Electric sunroof?

Charlie collected a lot of information on his website,

http://derwhites356literature.com/356Po ... dtops.html

but it is so hard to find anything related to the production
numbers...

On the early hardtops the Reutter-Hardtop number is located
(screwed) between the left window rubber trim and the hardtop
itself... the plaque is cut diagonally to fit there as per the
bellow picture:

[Image: http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff6/ ... 7525-1.jpg
]

Then they moved the plaque to the rear left post:

[Image: http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff6/ ... G_4778.jpg
]

And finally added the color plaque bellow the Reutter-Hardtop number:

[Image: http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff6/ ... 8b3d_3.jpg
]

Would you guys have more information to add to this post?? I think
it would be nice to have more numbers together as a small database
for the Hardtops.

TIA,

------------------------
Freddy
http://www.356carrera.net

1959 356A T2 Carrera Cab
1959 356A T2 Coupe
1995 993 Carrera 4 Cab

Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have the
radiator in the front, that's just not very intelligent
Ferry, PANO 10/73

Post generated using Mail2Forum via email.

[Duncan Cameron]

I was working on my 1960 Cab hard top today Freddy. Car is 153197, Top -(from memory today, I believe this is correct.. ) #4863. Tag is on the roof like your first photo. Appears to be originally Ruby red. Car was Ivory with Red/ Bordeax cord inserts. No mention of hard top on COA. COA says April 06 1960 production date. Looks consistant with your 1960 numbers.

[Freddy Rabbat]

a 1959 Cabrio VIN# 151512 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 3965
a 1959 Cabrio VIN# 151925 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 3246
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 152569 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4532
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 153197 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4863
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 153540 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4994
a 1961 Cabrio VIN# 155497 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 66837
a 1964 Cabrio VIN# 160036 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 67745
a 1965 Cabrio VIN# 161781 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 67965

anyone else?

[Brad Ripley]

Over in the Projects forum Bill Sargent described repairing hardtop. He shows a photo of the hardtop number plate. So here's another data point for Freddy:

Car chassis #151489
December 1958
Hardtop number 3728

Any other updates since 12-12-2009 when Freddy posted?

[Harry Geddes]

I have chassis # 151126 with hardtop # 3690

[Freddy Rabbat]

a 1958 Cabrio VIN# 151126 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 3690
a 1958 Cabrio VIN# 151489 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 3728
a 1959 Cabrio VIN# 151512 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 3965
a 1959 Cabrio VIN# 151925 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 3246
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 152569 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4532
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 153197 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4863
a 1960 Cabrio VIN# 153540 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 4994
a 1961 Cabrio VIN# 155497 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 66837
a 1964 Cabrio VIN# 160036 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 67745
a 1965 Cabrio VIN# 161781 was delivered with Reutter-Hardtop Nr. 67965

The list is growing!!

Anyone else?

[Thomas Tuccillo]

re :hardtop.purchased my 59' a cab in 1989. came with orig. hardtop# 3961. recently did total resto. on it via paterek bros. total cost 6k. hope it was worth it! originality more important!

[Edwin Ek]

Thomas, thanks for mentioning Paterek. I have a Meinhart Roadster metal hardtop I am trying to put back together, and I completely forgot about them.

[Steven John Groh]

1965 356C Cabriolet 161933, mfg'd 4/65; Reutter Hardtop w/ electric sunroof option #67967

[Alfred Knittel]

Vin #152004 can be added to the list. Top #32## will add the last two #when I find were I Layed the plate down. Soon I hope

[steverestelli]

I have Reutter top number 67108.
Does anyone know what this top went to?

[Bill Sargent]

Steve - Based on the info so far It would appear to be for a late 64 or early 65 C/SC cab. Does it have pop out rear side windows?

[steverestelli]

Bill,
Yes it does have the rear pop out windows.

[Allan Hunt]

VIN 160124 has a removable hardtop with electric sunroof. Hardtop number 67622.

Can anyone tell me the dimensions of the identifying plates? Mine went missing during restoration and I would like to get them reproduced.