We all have opinions, right? Discussion and discourse about the numerous ways designers and enthusiasts interpret classic cars is a big part of what makes this hobby great. One enthusiast’s garage queen is another enthusiast’s junkyard orphan, just as one enthusiast’s muse is another enthusiast’s snub. So, without further ado, here are my picks for Chevrolet’s most successful application of the vinyl roof. Feel free to email us or find us on Social Media to tell us your picks!

The colonnade Chevys are vastly underappreciated.

10) The 1973 Monte Carlo

Painted roof, landau or full vinyl, the 1973 Monte Carlo is one cool-looking Chevy! A big part of that aesthetic is an airy greenhouse that perfectly aligns the car’s B-pillar and top with its distinctly ‘70s fender sculpting. Add in those cool opera windows, a nod to the colonnade theme that was storming Chevy’s line-up, and you get a visually unique classic that’s vastly underappreciated by enthusiasts and collectors alike.

1969 Impala Custom Coupe.

9) The 1969 Impala

Impala is a name you’re going to see on this list multiple times. Maybe that’s because Chevrolet’s bodacious line-topper has, for the most part, always showcased the best of the brand’s design. Or maybe it’s because, in this author’s opinion, large cars are far more suitable for ornate styling treatments like vinyl roofs. Either way, while the 1969 Impala tends to be a bit slab-sided, it is certainly one of Chevrolet’s better designs. Long, low, and wide, the car is a tour de force of 1960s style that, thanks to its simple, fastback-inspired roofline, looks great finished with a vinyl roof–and even better if you stumble across a Custom Coupe with Chevy’s trick concave backlite.

1971 Impala Custom Coupe.

8) The 1971 Impala

While some enthusiasts might think the 1971 Impala is a bit more mainstream and, possibly,  more lackluster than its 1969 brethren, it’s hard to argue against the car looking better under vinyl. While the 1971 Impala, the largest passenger car Chevrolet had produced at the time, was an early adopter of 1970s heft, the car’s streamlined profile and thinner quarters create a more cohesive appearance than its fourth-gen predecessor.

7)  The 1968 Nova

The third-generation Nova is a timeless Chevy muscle car, and one reason it looks so good is because of its semi-fastback silhouette. Despite being considered a compact car, the third-gen Nova’s increased width and tall quarters made it look like a hulk. That’s probably one reason the car became the go-to choice for affordable American muscle. Not surprisingly, its sporty profile, broad quarters, and tasteful trim work exceptionally well with a vinyl roof. Why did I pick the ‘68 over the other candidates, you ask? Because clear marker lamps will always be cooler than amber marker lamps.

Look Ma, no vent windows!

6) The 1968 Camaro

Some enthusiasts might be surprised to see an early version of the “Best Chevy of All Time” this low on my list, but the simplicity of the first-gen Camaro’s design is sometimes also its downfall. Sure, the original Camaro is one of those designs that’s so classic it seems to defy time. But it can also be argued that the car’s simplistic style looks best without a vinyl roof. The added detail of no vent windows definitely ups the 1968’s appeal, creating the coveted pillarless coupe effect. Of course, vinyl plays much better on both 1967 and ‘68 Camaros, as the 1969, perhaps comically given the exaggeration of the car’s panels during its facelift, sports a roof that looks like it’s outgrown its vinyl cover.

Chevrolet’s first Personal Luxury Coupe looks best in vinyl.

5) The 1970 Monte Carlo

Speaking of vinyl roofs that don’t go all the way to the drip rails, my number five Chevy is the 1970 Monte Carlo. The difference here is that the Monte, with its squared lines, added heft and a more luxurious feel, actually pulls off incongruence. Like the Impala, the Monte Carlo is an instance where size and purpose matter. As a full-size car that sold on style and amenities from day one, it seems like a natural for the vinyl treatment. 

Fenders matter.

4) The 1966 Nova

The stocky lines of the second-generation Nova are some of the best lines GM Design ever penned. Yet another entry on our list that features a visually light and airy greenhouse (see a theme?), the car screams 1960s American optimism, featuring simple proportions that look great under a vinyl roof. Even in comparison to its almost identical 1967 counterpart, the 1966 Nova’s straighter fenders and simple lines flow exceptionally well with its light greenhouse and basic roof.

3)  The 1967 Chevelle

The 1967 Chevelle: give me pillars, give me style! Who can argue with the 1967 Chevelle’s killer C-pillars, and who can argue that wrapping them in vinyl doesn’t improve the car’s already great looks? Looks that are especially appealing on this Chevy’s large, flowing profile. Honestly, who can argue with any aspect of the 1967 Chevelle’s design? This Chevy is prime Motor City metal and prime American muscle!

2) The 1965 Impala

There’s that Impala name again. How could anyone with a pulse not love the rear three-quarter view of the 1965 Chevrolet Impala? Everything works, from the car’s jet-inspired taillights and massive backlite to its angled front valance and buff quarter panel stampings–a styling element Chevy actually revisited with the final Impala. The ‘65 Impala is so good that many enthusiasts believe it is the most attractive Chevrolet ever created.

1) The 1969 Chevelle

The number one… The grand champion… The Great Poobah and perhaps best application of a vinyl roof that’s ever been fitted to a Chevy: the 1969 Chevelle. The visual effect of the third-generation Chevelle’s expressive C-pillars and pointed roof trim simply isn’t surpassed by any other vinyl-clad Chevy. And the fact that GM Design successfully blended that flair with styling that doubles as both mainstream conveyance and unapologetic muscle speaks to just how strong the look truly is. I specifically chose the 1969 Chevelle over its 1968 counterpart because I thought the car’s more intricate grille played better with a vinyl roof.

Some of the best quarters on a Chevy!

Honorable Mention: The 1965 El Camino

It’s difficult to love an El Camino with a vinyl roof. Whether it was the car’s utilitarian nature or its simplistic style, the El Camino generally looks its best in solid paint. Maybe that’s because vinyl roofs simply weren’t that common on trucks, and with the El Camino technically having a truck profile, the car’s proportions just aren’t a great match for the vinyl treatment. Still, the 1965 version, which received updated Chevelle styling, is the exception to that rule. The combination of the car’s slim greenhouse, heavy overhangs, and thick, beautifully sculpted quarters creates a linear aesthetic that, with the right set of wheels, almost feels like a throwback to 1950s customs.