Twin Grill 1960 Coupe?

[Brett Johnson]

Here's the revised (not edited!!!!) text for Authenticity IV. The dual grille coupe lids were steel and I've never heard of a factory installed louvered lid that was anything but aluminum. I have seen steel ones that were louvered by well meaning previous owners...

January 1958 is when the louvers first appeared, but I do not have the date of the addition of the sixth louver -- anyone????

Three coupe lids were listed in the 356A parts book. The first was the standard lid shown in illustration 51. The two others were for Carreras. One was aluminum, single-grilled with louvers for GT cars after January 1958. The 1958 models had five louvers on each side of the vent. A sixth louver was added in 1959. The final variation of the 356A lid was the dual vent version used on the 1959 Carrera Deluxe (GS).

Moving along to the 356A cabriolet/Speedster, there were again three rear lids. The first, again, was the standard lid. The second was the aluminum variety used on Carrera GT Speedsters after January 1958. The six louver version of this lid was also found on the pushrod and Carrera GT Speedsters built in 1959. The part number for the dual vent Carrera GS open car lid, 644.512.001. 26, was the same number later used for the T 6 Roadster and cabriolet lid.

[Don Ahearn]

Bill I have a factory image of a S90 Cabrio with a louvered rear lid. Obviously not a GT with full bumper trim too. Send me a note. I will send it to you.

[Michael Doyle]

If anyone out there has seen a factory original steel louvered decklid, I`d be interested to know that. Brett, anything to add?

Hi Bill,

This is an old thread, just saw your question. Yes, a few of the very first early 1957 factory Werkes steel bodied Carrera 1500 GT cars had hand cut and shaped louvers. 5 on each side of the deck lid. When the late 1958 Carrera 1600 GT model came out there were 6 louvers on each side of the then Aluminum deck lid. /MD

[Mike Horton]

IIRC, The late Roy Lock once sent an e-mail, to those of us fortunate enough to be on his e-mail list, about this very subject, IE, '61 dual grille coupes. I lost my copy, in my company computer, when I left Bell, in 2010. Any body Else have such a recollection?

[Eric Lenius]

Mike,

I am a little unclear as to if we are talking about very early T-6 bodies. Or T-5s equipped with twin grills. I don't think there is any evidence that there was a deliberate run of T-5 coupes with twin grills. But, as we have discussed, it was an available extra cost option. As on the 1960 coupe that is pictured in this thread (which, by the way was equipped with a fantastic array of other cool options. I wish we knew if the car still existed).

Regards,

Eric L.

[Jim Breazeale]

Adam's lid is a Carrera 2 Cab lid and won't fit a coupe.

Jim

[Adam Wright]

Adam's lid is a Carrera 2 Cab lid and won't fit a coupe.

Jim

Jim-
I thought the cab lids had the attachment bars farther apart, like this. The one I pictured looks like it was closer like the coupe ones are.

[Jim Breazeale]

Adam's lid is a Carrera 2 Cab lid and won't fit a coupe.

Jim

Jim-
I thought the cab lids had the attachment bars farther apart, like this. The one I pictured looks like it was closer like the coupe ones are.

Good thinking, Adam, but Carrera 2 Cabriolets had the "narrow" spacing of the rear hinges. Due to the Air Cleaners on the 4cam engine, the hinges had to be relocated to clear.

Regards

Jim

[Adam Wright]

Jim is still teaching me, ladies and gentlemen, still teaching! Thanks Jim.

[Adam Wright]

Adam's lid is a Carrera 2 Cab lid and won't fit a coupe.

Jim

Jim-
I thought the cab lids had the attachment bars farther apart, like this. The one I pictured looks like it was closer like the coupe ones are.

Good thinking, Adam, but Carrera 2 Cabriolets had the "narrow" spacing of the rear hinges. Due to the Air Cleaners on the 4cam engine, the hinges had to be relocated to clear.

Regards

Jim

Jim,
I found proof you were right, not that I was doubting you, but now people can see what you're talking about.

[Richard Emerson]

In comparison here’s a deck lid from a 1959 Carrera Cabriolet, with wider spacing.

91257CFB-57E2-4354-8E88-72C3BD8A9F92.jpeg (2.59 MiB) Viewed 1507 times

[Joris Koning]

In comparison here’s a deck lid from a 1959 Carrera Cabriolet, with wider spacing.

91257CFB-57E2-4354-8E88-72C3BD8A9F92.jpeg

The former Walker car. How is Henry doing? Have not seen or heard of him in years

[Max Handley]

2D80829B-6248-4828-BF73-9EC3EA22C48B.png (4.02 MiB) Viewed 1487 times

Thanks for the picture Joris.
Not to hi Jack the thread but happy to find a 59 cab painted the same light Ivory as my previous 59 cab. I got a few so called experts telling me my Ivory was the wrong color, but I’ve seen a few pics of period 59 ivories that were more like light ivory of the later cars.

Anyone else agree.

[Brett Johnson]

Did I miss the part about coupe and open car lids not being the same shape?

[Jim Breazeale]

Did I miss the part about coupe and open car lids not being the same shape?

Coupe and open car lids are not the same shape.

Regards

Jim