The Corvette’s T-Tops were so well-liked they were cited as the reason Chevy didn't make Corvette convertibles for '76 through '86

the guy that invented the T Tops, worked at Ford, retired in 1965, sued GM for stealing his patent on the T Top and won. 

He started teaching at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in 1965 and was there until 1970 

https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/car-of-the-week-gordon-buehrigs-1971-chevrolet-corvette