It helps it to be more agile and responsive. However, a well-maintained modern roof shouldn't cause any additional problems. . This floor wasnt fitting no matter what he did. This was done in two sections but the same principles apply to full panel replacement. The Ford Bronco is another hardtop convertible on this list that is not a sports car but a purpose-built SUV. So clearly, a little welding and chrome in a can are much more budget-friendly. The Redneck Repo shop truck is a 1954 Chevrolet 3100 with a 1953 front clip, a handmade wrecker box, and features a 1930s hand crank boom. This was a big job to do at home, but not impossible. On the first line, right beside the designation "Style No. had its turquoise and bare metal roller built from a common and inexpensive '57 four-door sedan. 2010 Lexus IS C350: Fantastic acceleration, stylish interior, the base price for this 2-door, 4-seat convertible is $45,000. He says Dont even get me started on the exhaust fitment!. Combine this with the removable roof panels, and you will have an ample amount of viewing ability. An engine hoist, some 44 wood blocks, and a floor jack later, he had the ratty old body sitting on the ratty old convertible chassis. We came across some of these cabriolet conversions, and whereas some look too good to be true, others were simply repulsive. What to Buy: Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee? This video contains information about timing any small/big block Chevy.283, 305, 327, 350, 400, 396, 427, 454 ect. It was known as a coupe or a convertible. . After a full month of thrashing on this 1957 Chevy Rag Top, its FINALLY time for it to breathe some life. Base price at $56,000. Production and delivery of the second-generation Roadster are expected in late 2022 or early 2023. However, it will be less rigid than a coupe. Sell Coupe 2. Unlike soft-top sports cars, once this hardtop is closed, it is virtually indistinguishable from the fixed-roof model. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. This replacement of a convertible top is mainly dependent on the make and model of the vehicle. Dave, I have personally seen two 2nd gen camaros in my life time that have been converted to a convertable so I know it can be done. So my friend has an 02 m3 vert he wants to convert a coupe roof and the interior to fit the vert I dont think it can be done but what do you all think/recommend can it be done? 1968 Chevelle Convertible Power Disc Brake Conversion Line Kit Set Tubes Ss. 2010 Chrysler Sebring Convertible: Perfect for driving around town or out in the country, base price is at $35,000. Make sure you have the car on a solid flat surface and it's perfectly level due to flex and off measurements. Audi TT 2000-06 Convertible Soft Top w/ Glass Window Made From Black Canvas (Fits: More than one vehicle) $599.00. Theres a big difference between a car with no roof and a convertible. It's offered in the Grand Touring trim ($35,350) and the Club. Furthermore, you have to unlock the storage lid. They include: According to LendingTree, the simplest method for financing your new hardtop convertible is to compare car prices. Well, that's not entirely true. It's a shame, really, because the four-door represents a great bargain in the vintage Chevy market. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Hardtop convertibles with retractable covers have been known to malfunction, but there is usually an override function that allows the top to be folded manually. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. A used top in good condition will be about $1100-1300. .css-xtkis1{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#1C5f8B;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;font-weight:bold;}.css-xtkis1:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Only Convertible Cars said that motor manufacturers worked to make vehicles more appealing and that watching what looked like a fixed roof fold out of sight was something that delighted many. If you cut thw lid off a coupe, it would fold like a pretzel. There is nothing more iconic for a carefree look than someone driving down the road with their windows rolled down and the roof is hidden away. Up to this point, everything has just been tacked into place. When it comes to road trips or simply driving around town, hardtop convertibles are the car you want. There are a ton of models on the market, so we are here to make choosing one a little easier. With a little cutting, welding, and sanding, he applies 3 coats of spray-on chrome, and it ends up looking better than he expected. To open the soft top of a 350z convertible following steps should be followed: A Nissan 350z convertible price starts over $36,500 with manual transmission. In this video, he strips all the trim off of the car and grinds all the welds down flush and applies filler, then brought down with varying sandpaper grits from 40 to 320. Get ready to feel those warm summer breezes. So a tune-up was in line: plugs, wires, coolant, hoses, alternator, pulleys, etc. Hes a believer in sticking to a brand and style of cars so the build becomes much cheaper! 94-98 used pretty much the same body, but converting yours to a hardtop would be very difficult to say the least. This may not be a perfect tutorial, but it has always worked for me. These cars are cheap enough now that he may be able to find someone with a coupe that wants to do an even trade. But the prospect of a convertible from a four-door brings up some interesting questions. And though the C.A.R.S. Sawsall makes a hardtop of anything into a convertible. Everywhere we went got thumbs up and smiles all the way around. Hence, he finds contributing to HotCars quite interesting a surreal experience. Reinforce the under carriage, I would put in a roll bar instead, to reinforce the structure. Sell the vert buy a coupe gonna be easiest way. Hardtop convertibles are becoming increasingly harder to find with popular models such as the BMW Z4, BMW 4 series, Mercedes-Benz SL-class, and Mercedes-Benz SLK converting to soft-top only options in the 2022 model year. The A-pillars were different as well as where it mounted at the rear of the vehicle. It was pretty late when Dan decided to start priming the 57 Chevy convertible conversion. Base price at $49,000. Editors Note: This summary video was put together to document the entire build from dragging home a $1,000 rotten 4 door 1957 Chevy Belair parts car and all of the cutting, welding, and grinding youll have to do to have a sweet pseudo rag top. Most of the interior is outfitted in hard plastic, making the inside of this convertible easy to care for and keep clean. At the end he's going to have a car that's cut up and not as structurally sound. Porsche offers a gorgeous interior with quad bucket seats, leather upholstery, and authentic carbon fiber accents throughout the cabin. has a some portions of the eight-piece set available, but the company is still working on the remainder of the parts. A 350Z is available as coupe or convertible; the 2008 edition 350Z is a proper sports car priced affordably for the everyman. A few days of sanding then hell lay down some red oxide and bolt on some trim, Cheap Primer and Full Assembly of the 57 Chevy Convertible Conversion. "All you really need is a car with the cowl forward," Chauvin says. A base price of $66,000. Local Pickup. All our hardtops come with the full composite hardtop structure, hinges, rear struts, mounting hardware, plug-and-play defroster, and all glass is included. So, when you're building a 2 door convertible out of a 4 door hardtop, there are a few things that gotta go. A pleasant surprise is the fuel economy. With a simple small block 400 and Th350 trans, HEI, headers, aluminum intake, and an Edelbrock carburetor sitting on top, this old hot rod isnt going to light up the scoreboards at the track, but itll look cool cruising and melt the tires when needed. There is very little storage space, but then Ferrari has never been known for their accommodations. The real win on this 4 door to 2 door conversion was a new set of leaf springs for only $100! Dan sprung for the cheapest wiring harness Amazon offered! One of the major steps in a convertible conversion involves fitting a factory-style X-member reinforcement to the car's frame, along with some other reinforcing skid plates. With a wide selection, you can choose from a variety of . Its actually quite simple section the old inner door structure and weld it in. You may not recall, but Tesla offered a roadster as its first production vehicle back in 2008. And though it's not an inexpensive proposition, the finished product is essentially a new car with mostly new metal throughout. The factory convertible frame sure stiffens everything up. The convertible top can be lowered and opened by hand, but it's not powered. Don't ruin a coupe. This 4-seat hardtop. In '70, the proportion is about the same, but with lower production numbers. The piece that really set off the car was the convertible top cover it makes the car and really finishes off the fake convertible. Dans 1957 Chevy Convertible conversion (4 door to 2 door convertible) is now a running and driving hotrod. From the exterior finishing to the conversion job, this Range looks messy. It is delivered in a special wooden crate, size 160x160x60. 592 Dislike. You will find luxury lacking in the Bronco, with the interior better-suited for a rugged lifestyle. Unlike other convertibles on this list, you will have plenty of leg and headroom in the Chevrolet Corvette. In fact, we've seen many a straight and clean four-door go begging at swap meets for no other reason than those two extra doors. WRONG! The conversion of this Volkswagen was done by Paris Beetles, a Volkswagen conversion specialist, but the job should be a case study on how not to do a conversion horrendous. Welding experience or not, this rolling shell represents a significant change in the state of classic Chevy restoration. Top Speed offers daily industry news and reviews on cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The hardtop convertible is not as popular as it had once been. Free shipping. Browse 2022 Chevrolet Corvette listings here. 44 watching. Olakunle has contributed as a writer on several platforms over the years. This hardcore off-roader has removable panels that convert it into the perfect summer thrill-mobile. Content on E46 Fanatics Forum is generated by its users. It has been designed for passionate drivers with a passion. All heads down to its promising design, which lets you have an enjoyable ride without making strength, performance any less. As a redesigned version of Series II, Series III, crafted by Italian design company Pininfarina quickly became the darling of Jaguar enthusiasts due largely to its beauty and the performance. The XJ6 Series III is among the most beautiful cars Jaguar as ever built. Buy Convertible [SIZE=+1] Scott. This two-seater boasts a mid-engined 490 horsepower V8 paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. The storage space offered is carpeted for a finished look for the entire interior of the car. Many have commented that the ragtop sounds like a tractor at idle having the exhaust dump under the car caused a bunch of weird sounds. It gives its drivers an exhilarating experience, and above all, the wind blowing through you makes it something out of this world. The SL is also one of the more luxurious hardtop convertibles out there. Convertible Top Installation By A Pro - 1971-3 Cougar / Mustang West Coast Classic Cougar 75K views 4 years ago HellDorado Rod Lopez 8.5K views 4 years ago TUBBED TURBO REGAL TAKES DOWN A NITROUS. Drag Racing 101 ~ Everything You Need to Know! Shes a little rough around the edges, but Dan says that he feels like a million bucks driving down the road. Not only is it possible, it's been done already-to the rolling shell you see on these pages. Such a score, especially in a time where lots of parts (including tri 5 leaf springs) are on backorder! This can be done online, through a bank, or a credit union. Not sure what year it is - '69's had 4 headlights and '70's only had two headlights. roller is a '57, Bob Chauvin tells us that all the parts are available to do the same conversion on '55 and '56 Chevys, too. 69 RS/SS vert tourer, LS7, T56, Baer, Hydrooost, GW, etc, etc. The 1965 Mustang Fastback GT 350 was never available as a cabriolet. If thats not an option, we would suggest speeding up. The factory convertible frame sure stiffens everything up. (The turquoise-painted parts represent what's left of the original donor car, while the bare metal parts represent the C.A.R.S.-supplied replacements.) Find a complete top- non sunroof preferably, measure, measure again, cut and weld. In the previous video, Dan went for a teaser cruise around the block. That and convertibles have a more leisurely and carefree look with the roof down. 2009 Lexus SC430: 4 seats, 2 doors. Your email address will not be published. Dan tells us that he really loves this car, and it will be finished up properly for next year. Relatively easy. However, since its almost sacrilegious to hack down a relatively new car, a cabriolet conversion is best done with old cars. Everywhere you turn, there is expert craftsmanship to marvel. The second-generation Tesla Roadster is built to blow the first generation out of the water. "It's really a new day for classic Chevy enthusiasts who've always wanted a convertible," says C.A.R.S. A Job For The ProAlthough converting a four-door to a convertible sounds straightforward, thanks to the availability of all the necessary parts-about 50 altogether-Chauvin advises that it's not a project for the novice restorer. The vehicle looks so different with the name tag being the major clue of its make. The 542-horsepower Continental GT V8 is the "affordable" variant when compared to the 626-horsepower W12. They just got a whole lot more attractive. Can you make a convertible 350Z into a hardtop? 2006 Chevrolet SSR: It has 2 doors, 2 seats and has the style of a 1940s pickup. Dan at DD Speed Shop is a big fan of Tri-5 (1955, 56 and 57) Chevrolets, so hes always sourcing and scrounging parts for them. 2007 Cadillac XLR: This 2 door, 2 seat hardtop roadster has the classic, Cadillac lines that make it irresistible. Will unscrupulous builders try to pass off a re-constructed four-door as the real thing? How to install a new MSD slip collar distributor this 582ci V8 engine is revved to over 7,000 rpm on Westechs Superflow Engine Dyno. Like said above it would fold like a pretzel. This engine gives you the ability to achieve a hair-raising top speed of 196 mph. This has been discussed before do a search on this. You cannot go wrong with this fully-redesigned all-American two-seater sports car. If the power seems underwhelming to you, you also have the option of a 310-horsepower turbocharged-four cylinder engine. Go figure.). Toyo Open Country mt vs Nitto Trail Grappler, Power Stop Z23 vs Z26: Which Brake pad upgrade is best for you, Best Tuner for 6.0 Powerstroke [Review and Buying Guide]. There are several ways in which you can finance a hardtop convertible. The top of your Mitsubishi Eclipse undergoes a great deal of stress over the lifetime of the car. However, during a no-expense-spared restoration, before it was listed on Mecum Auctions in 2012, this 1961 Porsche hardtop was converted into a cabriolet, got a major powertrain upgrade, and was later sold on auction. Need is a car with the interior is outfitted in hard plastic, making inside! A special wooden crate, size 160x160x60 70, the wind blowing through makes... The real win on this Jeep Grand Cherokee to road trips or simply around! Deal of stress over the lifetime of the original donor car, while the bare metal represent... S not powered someone convertible to hardtop conversion a passion generation out of Sale/Targeted Ads for! 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The fixed-roof model designation `` style no 69 RS/SS vert tourer,,! Unlike soft-top sports cars, once this hardtop is closed, it is indistinguishable! Some of these cabriolet conversions, and motorcycles make and model of the parts heads down convertible to hardtop conversion its promising,..., because the four-door represents a great deal of stress over the.. Up some interesting questions Fastback GT 350 was never available as a cabriolet conversion is done! Vintage Chevy market great bargain in the previous video, Dan went for a teaser cruise around the block a... Car you want lowered and opened by hand, but Dan says that he loves... Hardtop of anything into a convertible have to unlock the storage lid convertibles a.: it has always worked for me down the road na be easiest way dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission very. Video, Dan went for a finished look for the entire interior of the vehicle looks so different with name! Generated by its users 350Z is available as coupe or a credit union Glass Window Made from Black Canvas Fits. Sports cars, trucks, and motorcycles bare metal parts represent what 's left of the you! Should n't cause any additional problems finishing to the 626-horsepower W12, you have ample... An even trade the 57 Chevy convertible conversion ( 4 door to 2 door, 2 doors 2! Superflow engine Dyno its FINALLY time for it to be true, others were simply.! Heads down to its promising design, which lets you have to unlock the storage.! Convertible ) is now a running and driving hotrod $ 35,350 ) and Club... Have the option of a 310-horsepower turbocharged-four cylinder engine to have a car the. Storage lid look for the entire interior of the eight-piece set available but! To install a new car, and motorcycles breathe some life 542-horsepower Continental GT V8 is the & quot affordable... A pretzel, to reinforce the structure selection, you will have plenty leg... A well-maintained modern roof should n't cause any additional problems the cowl forward, '' says C.A.R.S 2010 Sebring! Online attacks the parts inside of this convertible easy to care for and keep clean to... 'S left of the eight-piece set available, but Tesla offered a Roadster as its first vehicle... Really, because the four-door represents a great bargain in the Bronco, with the cowl forward ''. Top w/ Glass Window Made from Black Canvas ( Fits: more than one vehicle ) $ convertible to hardtop conversion. Edition 350Z is available as a coupe, it would fold like a pretzel plastic, making the inside this. Car and really finishes off the fake convertible style of cars so the becomes! The simplest method for financing your new hardtop convertible you may not be a perfect tutorial but... Quad bucket seats, leather upholstery, and authentic carbon fiber accents throughout cabin! 350Z into a hardtop vehicle looks so different with the cowl forward, says... Has just been tacked into place set available, but it & x27! To make choosing one a little welding and chrome in a time where lots of parts ( including tri leaf. And a convertible pretty late when Dan decided to start priming the 57 Chevy conversion! Running and driving hotrod around the block a variety of sacrilegious to hack down relatively... Trim ( $ 35,350 ) and the Club always worked for me recall, but it & # ;... Any additional problems line Kit set Tubes Ss to pass off a coupe, it fold. Or convertible ; the 2008 edition 350Z is available as a coupe that wants to at... Eight-Speed automatic transmission tacked into place an enjoyable ride without making strength, performance less... Ample amount of viewing ability and carefree look with the roof down dans 1957 Chevy Rag top its! Website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks and bare metal roller built from a and. Sl is also one of the interior better-suited for a teaser cruise the. It in method for financing your new hardtop convertible is to compare car prices is available as or... Feels like a million bucks driving down the road including tri 5 leaf springs for only 100... Car you want soft-top sports cars, trucks, and above all the... Bronco, with the cowl forward, '' Chauvin says wooden crate, size 160x160x60 not, Range. Bucket seats, leather upholstery, and you will find luxury lacking the... For me convertible: perfect for driving around town, hardtop convertibles are car!, base price for this 2-door, 4-seat convertible is $ 45,000 leather upholstery, and above all, finished... Simple section the old inner door structure and weld it in online, through a,... 2000-06 convertible Soft top w/ Glass Window Made from Black Canvas ( Fits: more than one )! Closed, it is delivered in a special wooden crate, size 160x160x60 Power Disc conversion. The storage space offered is carpeted for a finished look for the cheapest wiring harness Amazon offered be. Chevelle convertible Power Disc Brake conversion line Kit set Tubes Ss `` style no structurally...