Gordon Buehrig and the T-Top

Famed Duesenberg/Cord designer, Gordon Buehrig, seen here with his daughter, Barbara, demonstrating the ease at which the tops were removed.

Here, the two different tops for the car are shown. The clear plexiglass panels being installed, and the opaque, fiberglass panels on the hood of the Thunderbird.

1948 TASCO

By the late 1940's, Buehrig was a much celebrated designer, becoming famous for designing Duesenberg bodies and the Cord 810/812 front-wheel drive legend.

The Thunderbird concept was not the first time T-Tops were fitted to an automobile.

Buehrig originally conceived the T-Top in 1948 while he was working at Studebaker. when he was approached to design a new, American sports car for a group of friends in smaller racing events. Buehrig and nine other 'investors' each put up $5000 to start what they called 'TASCO', the acronym standing for "The American Sports Car Company".

Unfortunately for Buehrig and his investor friends, they could not find a manufacturer to build the cars in any kind of quantity and after an exhaustive search, and running out of money, the TASCO idea was scrapped. Buehrig however, loved his T-Top idea and soldiered on with it.

TASCO Patent designs.

The only built TASCO prototype in 1948.

Not only Buehrig's T-Top idea survived, but the original TASCO prototype also had survived and can be seen at Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum.

The Tasco sportscar was a unique concept design from the 1940’s

The T-Top Patent

In 1949, Buehrig moved to Ford, but never forgot about his T-Top. He started his patent process before joining Ford which enabled him to possibly sell his idea to his new employer.

On June 5, 1951, Buehrig was granted his patent #2,556,062 on the T-Top.

The 1955 Thunderbird T-Top Concept

While at Ford, Buehrig fitted his T-Tops to the brand-new Ford Thunderbird. While executives liked the idea, it never made it to production.

In the book, 'Thunderbird: An Odyssey in Automotive Design', the design was "...an idea, whose time had not arrived".

Buehrig had attempted to sell the idea to his subsequent employer Chrysler and Virgil Exner, but again Chrysler and others still didn't have interest despite liking the idea.

The T-Top idea was shelved, but 17 years later, something happened.

The 1968 Corvette and the Lawsuit

In 1968, Chevrolet introduced the C3 Corvette featuring Buehrig's T-Tops. Buehrig sued and settled for an undisclosed amout. After settling, he soon bought a Vette and drove it proudly for the rest of his life.

The T-Top became an iconic automobile feature in the 1970's. Burt Reynolds will always be remembered in his black T-Top Trans Am in 'Smokey and the Bandit' movies.

The T-top has been adopted by many manufacturers and can be seen on a wide variety of makes and models.

• Buick Regal (1976–1987)
• Chevrolet Corvette (1968–1982)
• Chevrolet Camaro (1978–2002)
• Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1978–1988)
• Chrysler Cordoba (1977–1982)
• Datsun 280ZX (1980+)
• Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volaré Coupe (1977+)
• Dodge Charger (1977–1978)
• Dodge Daytona/Chrysler Laser (1986–1989)
• Dodge Magnum
• Dodge Mirada (1980–1982)
• Ford Mustang (1977–1978, 1981–1988)
• Ford Thunderbird T-Roof Convertible (1978.5–1979)
• GMC Hummer EV (2021-present)
• Mercury Capri (1981–1986)
• Nissan NX
• Nissan 300ZX
• Nissan EXA
• Nissan URGE (concept)
• Pontiac Fiero
• Pontiac Firebird, incl. Trans Am (1976+) and Formula 350 (1989–92)
• Pontiac Grand Prix (1977–1987)
• Rover 200 Coupe (1992–1999)
• Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (1976–1988)
• Suzuki X-90
• Subaru BRAT - Actually not a T-top. Just a separated twin sunroof.
• Toyota MR2 (AW11/SW20/SW21/SW22)

The Corvette's Iconic T-Top Was Stolen From A Forgotten 1948 Prototype

The Corvette T-Top Secret GM Didn't Want You to Know !

Buehrig's 1955 T-Tops Today

Somehow, and amazingly, Buehrig's original, 1955 T-Top Thunderbird prototype top survived in the hands of a Detroit collector for decades.

In October, 2026, the T-Tops were acquired by car collector Howard Kroplick. The top and panels will be restored and rejoined to a 1955 Thunderbird.

Keep an eye out soon for the reintroduction of the original, 1955 Buehrig T-Tops back on a Thunderbird after being 'hidden' for 70 years!