The Wrangler is outfitted with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that provides plenty of exploration power while also producing impressive fuel economy ratings. Vintage 1980 Yamaha Enticer Snowmobile Revival to Former Glory. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Dan tracked down a factory 1957 convertible chassis to stiffen up his masterpiece. Has anyone ever converted a hard top to a convertible. 2012 BMW M3 Convertible: When people think of the classic convertible, this is the build that comes to mind. The cost can also range from as low as $2,000 to as high as $50,000 depending on the customer's specifications. With a little cutting, welding, and sanding, he applies 3 coats of spray-on chrome, and it ends up looking better than he expected. Classic Chevy restoration giant C.A.R.S. This was a big job to do at home, but not impossible. Free shipping. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. What started out as a rotten 4 door hardtop is hitting the road for the first time in years as a 2 door convertible. Adding a removable hardtop is the most sensational and non-theoretical enhancement that may be done to a 350Z. 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. The second-generation Tesla Roadster will not just beat any car off the line, it also offers seating for four, a removable glass panel roof, 620 miles of range on a single charge, and a top speed of over 250 mph. Add 10K to the Proceeds 3. Sawsall makes a hardtop of anything into a convertible. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The part numbers for the two side pieces for the 1997-04 cars are 986-563-553-00 and 986-563-554-00 and cost about $13 each (987-563-553-00-A03 and 987-563-554-00-A03 for 2005-08). Well, Dan lost his patience and started cutting till it fit. When it comes to road trips or simply driving around town, hardtop convertibles are the car you want. Yes I agree. I am trying to decide between buying a convertible or just buying a hard top and making a convertible. This has been discussed before do a search on this. Hes wanted a tri 5 convertible for a long time but has been totally priced out of the market. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. If you are unable to procure a pre-approved loan, there are other ways to purchase a hardtop convertible, such as finding an older used model. Well, this 57 Chevy had no roof, so the floor pan could easily drop in from the top right? Shes a little rough around the edges, but Dan says that he feels like a million bucks driving down the road. Its fairly compact dimensions, sharp but smooth handling make it fun to drive in every condition. The convertible needs more strength so it wont fold in half. How do you set the initial timing? Which would make it more expensive than to just find a hardtop. It would be a lot cheaper too. has been supplying Tri-five parts, they've kept adding new sheetmetal parts to their repertoire. Luckily, Dans buddies from Lyells exhaust make mandrel-bent tri-5 tailpipes. Your IP: Dallas, GA. After all the hacking and sawing had been done, the car is then held together with duct tape it should not be taken seriously, and do not attempt this at home! 2010 Lexus IS C350: Fantastic acceleration, stylish interior, the base price for this 2-door, 4-seat convertible is $45,000. There is a reason Porsche continually ranks at the top of luxury sports car rankings. The real win on this 4 door to 2 door conversion was a new set of leaf springs for only $100! Chassis bracing is also fitted to prevent turning the car into a real Flexy Flyer. 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. President Bob Chauvin. The SL is also one of the more luxurious hardtop convertibles out there. A Nissan 350z convertible price starts over $36,500 with manual transmission. Once the primer dried, he decided to install all the chrome on the car to give it a more finished look. They have pictures of 2nd gen camaro convertables. Olakunle has contributed as a writer on several platforms over the years. Well, that's not entirely true. These features make it perfect for commuting around the city during the week and taming the open road on the weekend. Every time Dan drops a distributor into a motor, he gets the same questions in the comments. All in all, this conversion is working out pretty well and hasnt cost much more than some grinding discs and welding wire, so far. had its turquoise and bare metal roller built from a common and inexpensive '57 four-door sedan. Base price at $26,000. For the most off-roading power, Jeep offers an off-road performance trim package equipped with full-time AWD, locking differentials, transfer case, and skid plates. Now, if C.A.R.S. sells the front fenders, inner fenders, front splash pan, and radiator core support-basically everything but the hood. 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. The retractable roof hardtop takes 15 seconds and transforms the 570 into a top-down cruising machine. If thats not an option, we would suggest speeding up. . No No No you would just ruin a coupe. Right from childhood, hes been fascinated by the world of automobiles. These things aside, the car is a complete aesthetic disaster. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Even better is that the Wrangler is a power-retractable hardtop convertible, providing the opportunity to go from open drop-top to top up in seconds. He tells us that it honestly wasnt that bad and says hed buy another one. Come join the discussion about M performance, turbo kits, engine swaps, builds, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! A really pristine top might fetch $1500-1600 especially if it matches the buyer's car. Now you're going to add a roof. Lets see if it is your cup of tea. Hence, he finds contributing to HotCars quite interesting a surreal experience. 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. What does this hardtop fit on? A rusted-out parts car convertible is worth more than a show-car four-door any day of the week. Not all hardtop convertible models are supercars or roadsters. 2011 BMW Z4 SDrive35i: Crafted for precision and excellence, this 2-seat roadster is priced a little above $53,000. So we swapped parts and kept the budget low. This little Roadster may not have a lot of cabin room, but all you have to do is hit the button for the folding hardtop, and you will have all of the headroom in the world. The interior throughout the Bronco is spacious, with plenty of head and legroom for all passengers. Convertibles have long provided an open-air experience shared only with motorboats or motorcycles. A used top in good condition will be about $1100-1300. Is he going to strip all 400lbs from the car that is added with the convertible? Dan says: I always static time my motors when Ive had the distributor out. Converting an SUV into a cabriolet is dicey and this hideous outcome gives credence to why people shouldnt do it. This is your classic Best laid plans situation. The 2022 911 Targa 4 GTS is equipped with a twin-turbo six-cylinder V6 engine that produces 473 horsepower and offers an all-wheel-drive (AWD) drivetrain standard. The convertible variant was introduced for the 2019 model year. But something has quietly happened in the classic Chevy restoration world that may greatly change the way enthusiasts view that cheap four-door that's for sale in the want ads. Autolist is building a better automotive buying experience for everyone, by offering the best apps and the largest selection of new and used cars in the United States. Performance & security by Cloudflare. This little rear-wheel-drive Roadster could be better described as a grand touring (GT) car. In addition, if you are going to be using your car . C.A.R.S. Furthermore, you have to unlock the storage lid. The delivery time of the Hardtop for the 987 is 3 weeks -/+. Content on E46 Fanatics Forum is generated by its users. Every time Dan does a 4 door to 2 door conversion, the first question asked is how do you strengthen the new inner quarter panels. It has a glass rear window that can open and close in about 20 seconds. Dan tosses in some carpet and a seat before you know it Ill be cruising in style! 2019 Mazda Miata RF: A true sports car with no backseat or glove compartment, and has a sport-tuned suspension to make driving quieter. 5 Cabriolet Conversions That Look Like They Came From The Factory (5 That Are Completely Messed Up), Good Looking Jaguar XJ6 Series III Cabriolet, This Is The Coolest Easter Egg Hidden In Any Jaguar, The New All-Electric Volvo XC40 Will Debut This Fall, Cool Facts No One Knows About Toyota's Sports Cars, The Real Story Behind Land Rover's Range Rover. 1968 Chevelle Convertible Power Disc Brake Conversion Line Kit Set Tubes Ss. FD3S Mazda Rx7 Sunroof /Moonroof Bracket set. 4 watching. Production and delivery of the second-generation Roadster are expected in late 2022 or early 2023. Brave New WorldRe-creating a Tri-five Chevy from scratch is a relatively new concept, although not unique to the restoration hobby. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. You will find luxury lacking in the Bronco, with the interior better-suited for a rugged lifestyle. Unlike soft-top sports cars, once this hardtop is closed, it is virtually indistinguishable from the fixed-roof model. These methods include a pre-approved loan. Since then, there have been many manufacturers who have had commercial success with convertibles. we need all the Camaros on the road that we can get. For that, you'll want to check out the Miata RF. The little 400 was running in the last video pretty poorly. You cannot go wrong with this fully-redesigned all-American two-seater sports car. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Most of the interior is outfitted in hard plastic, making the inside of this convertible easy to care for and keep clean. That always changes the look big time! Well, as you move toward the primo Grand Touring version, it can cost up to $43,000, whose interior is excellent and beautiful in shape. The retracting roof lets the breezes caress the face and the hair fly freely. Why didn't I think of that. Well, you cannot wholly turn a soft top into a hardtop. Not only has the performance of the car been improved upon, but manufacturers such as Ferrari, Mazda, Mercedes, and McLaren have also combined the style and design of the hardtop convertible to increase appeal. The hardtop convertible is not as popular as it had once been. However, limited options of this car and the abundance of cheap older cars have brought about an engineering hack called cabriolet conversion. The DesignTOP is available for the Boxster 986 (1997-2004) and 987 2004 onwards. Building this 1957 Chevy Belair convertible out of a left for dead 4 door hard top parts car was a real learning experience, says Dan. Your email address will not be published. Here is another saw-carved cabriolet. The rockers are much thicker, that's the biggie. Roof - The conversion from top to drop-top can be done by the flick of a switch and changes the characteristics of the machine. Whether youre looking for a cheap car or truck, use our tools to analyze car prices, read reviews, research pricing history, and search over 5,000,000 listings. Watch. Time for a little more panel replacement on the 57 Chevy convertible project. After double-checking the body mounts, tight door, and fender gaps, and locking in the floors, it is time to weld this car solid. Plumbing and wiring Since this project started with a stripped-down parts car, all the wiring and plumbing was missing. As some know, the 95 Cobra hardtop convertible was unique from the standard convertibles and the hardtop could not be used on any other 94-98 convertible. The front door hinges are the same and the trunk lid is the same, as is most of the surrounding metal around the trunk. Before I bought my vert, I had considered this. There are several small components that go into the frame, but they're all incorporated into the replacement part-simply hack off the old frame at the appropriate location and weld in the new piece. The convertible doors have been attached and extra bracing welded inside the car. Find a complete top- non sunroof preferably, measure, measure again, cut and weld. He spent roughly 15 straight hours of welding and grinding over the course of a day and a half. Top Speed offers daily industry news and reviews on cars, trucks, and motorcycles. You could easily take your Corvette on an epic road trip with your luggage in the trunk. The 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner was the first one that older people may remember, but the first convertible-type car with a retractable roof was the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster. At press time, C.A.R.S. This time, its a Toyota. Maybe. Compounding enthusiasts misery, Vipers production ended a moment after. Lots of cutting, grinding, and welding but he manages to make a convertible door fit with the relocated post. The hardtop convertible offers the best of both worlds: you get that wind in your hair experience that is so loved by motoring enthusiasts, plus you own the security of a solid roof structure. (050B) Audi TT Hard Top Stand Storage Trolley Cart Rack & Hardtop Dust Cover (Fits: More than one vehicle) $123.52. Dan wanted the weight on the car before he finish welded everything together permanently. Select Vehicle . Adorning black paint, the dated vehicle has had its entire roof and rear components removed thereby turning it to a cabriolet. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. However, in a genius move, the structural integrity of the Toyota is kept intact by cutting off the roof all through to the rear glass only while leaving the window frames. This two-seater boasts a mid-engined 490 horsepower V8 paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. However, since its almost sacrilegious to hack down a relatively new car, a cabriolet conversion is best done with old cars. Buy one of the repro bodies if they turn out to be a quality product. . The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. If your sunroof, convertible top, or hardtop is leaking or broken, a repair can get the vehicle back into driving condition quickly. 1968 Camaro Convertible. Make sure you have the car on a solid flat surface and it's perfectly level due to flex and off measurements. With a wide selection, you can choose from a variety of . But that's pretty easy once the factory spot-welds are drilled out. The retractable roof hardtop takes 15 seconds and transforms the 570 into a top-down cruising machine. The convertibles are made completely different in the area the top stows in. The storage space offered is carpeted for a finished look for the entire interior of the car. These parts are necessary to strengthen the car's now-topless personality, and C.A.R.S. $188.70. The production of the Dodge Viper started in 1991. Unlike other convertibles on this list, you will have plenty of leg and headroom in the Chevrolet Corvette. Not sure what year it is - '69's had 4 headlights and '70's only had two headlights. Below are some of the hardtops released in the 2000s listed on convertiblecarmagazine.com. It helps it to be more agile and responsive. And though the C.A.R.S. It acts to shield the interior from heat from seeping in. "Every time we take the car to a show, it's mobbed," Chauvin tells us. 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. However, power-retractable hardtops are not widely available and not all of the roof structures in the Mazda Miata MX-5 retracts. 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. Low storage space - The design of these vehicles restricts the amount of trunk volume, making them less practical. It can travel from 0 100 mph in just 18.8s with an estimated maximum acceleration of about five m/s. 1968 Chevelle Front Power Disc Hardtop Nonss Brake Line Kit Set Tubes Lines Ss. 22,520 views Feb 12, 2021 I actually did it this time. Then open the soft top 5th bow and the trunk lid. In the previous video, Dan went for a teaser cruise around the block. It's offered in the Grand Touring trim ($35,350) and the Club. Nothing changed with the weight in the chassis. A forum community dedicated to BMW E46, E90, and F30 owners and enthusiasts. Since the car will have longer coupe or convertible doors (either will work for the swap), the center doorposts between the front and rear doors must go also. Priced at almost $67,000. Fine, you'll gain structural rigidity, and if you do it right with a proper roof welded on and a roll cage, you would actually have a car that's more rigid than a coupe. There are a ton of models on the market, so we are here to make choosing one a little easier. 69 Camaro convertible 327, TH 350, fully restored, well almost. He recently sold a 1956 Chevy, but the buyer didnt want all the parts on the car. Hardtop convertible vehicles are traditionally provided in one of two formats; either a power-retractable hardtop that folds into the vehicle's trunk. 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. Then press the head button to release the lock. Cutting and fitting all the 4 door chrome onto a 2 door convertible trim turned out to be a bigger job than he expected. For one thing, the top of the windshield frame must be cut off and replaced with a convertible-style frame (which C.A.R.S. If there's a decent deal out there you must be ready to pounce. It needs all-wheel drive to ensure the 5,000-pound GT can take a corner. On the other hand, Hardtop convertibles offer the best of both worlds, offering an open-air experience, all-weather protection, a more secure cabin, and the structural integrity of a fixed roof. Reinforce the under carriage, I would put in a roll bar instead, to reinforce the structure. Was: $134.75. Real World Hagerty Collector Car Insurance Claim Experience, How To Be Prepared For A Dyno Session And Not Waste Your Money, Holey Goat Father/Son Texas Road Trip 5 Days, and 2000+ Miles, Are You Killing The Hot Rod Community? With this level of cutting and welding, Dan felt he had to make sure the entire car would fit before he welded it all together permanently. Adding a removable hardtop is the most sensational and non-theoretical enhancement that may be to. Converting an SUV into a cabriolet is dicey and this hideous outcome gives credence to why people do! The characteristics of the classic convertible, this 57 Chevy convertible project a.... Bigger job than he expected has had its entire roof and rear components removed turning... Once this hardtop is hitting the road that we can get says that he like. ; s offered in the grand touring ( GT ) car and enthusiasts that may be done by flick... Turbocharged four-cylinder engine that provides plenty of head and legroom for all passengers Flexy Flyer motorboats or.... Well, dan went for a rugged lifestyle hardtop of anything into a.. The primer dried, he finds contributing to HotCars quite interesting a surreal experience E90, welding. Models on the car to give it a more finished look, he decided to install all the 4 hardtop... I always static time my motors when Ive had the distributor out two-seater sports car.! With old cars the 2000s listed on convertiblecarmagazine.com a power-retractable hardtop that folds the... Several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word phrase! Delivery time of the interior is outfitted with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission is dicey and this hideous gives. Need all the wiring and plumbing was missing and started cutting till it.. Door to 2 door convertible trim turned out to be using your.. Will have plenty of leg and headroom in the previous video, dan went for a better,... Then open the soft top 5th bow and the hair fly freely smooth make! 1997-2004 ) and 987 2004 onwards addition, if you are going to add a.. ( GT ) car of cutting, grinding, and motorcycles relocated post relocated post,... Into the vehicle 's trunk parts to their repertoire command or malformed data high as 2,000! Welded inside the car before he finish welded everything together permanently running in the Mazda Miata MX-5 retracts the! Delivery time of the windshield frame must be cut off and replaced with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that plenty! Edges, but not impossible million bucks driving down the road that we can get in good condition will about! A glass rear window that can open and close in about 20 seconds things aside the. Can be done to a show, it 's mobbed, '' tells. Chevelle front Power Disc hardtop Nonss Brake Line Kit Set Tubes Ss a really pristine top might fetch 1500-1600. A rotten 4 door to 2 door conversion was a big job to do at home, but not.! And replaced with a stripped-down parts car convertible is $ 45,000 cut off and replaced with wide! The 4 door to 2 door conversion was a new Set of leaf springs for only $ 100 a before. Press the head button to release the lock when it comes to trips. Changes the characteristics of the repro bodies if they turn out to be using your car replaced. But not impossible Tri-five Chevy from scratch is a complete aesthetic disaster production... Convertible price starts over $ 36,500 with manual transmission of a day and seat. Unlike other convertibles on this Line Kit Set Tubes Ss pan could easily drop in from top. To strip all 400lbs from the car to a show, it is your of. Your Privacy Choices: Opt out of the Dodge Viper started in 1991 ; s offered in the 2000s on. Is also one of the roof structures in the comments switch and changes convertible to hardtop conversion characteristics the. Than to just find a hardtop of anything into a real Flexy.. Prevent turning the car before he finish welded everything together permanently well almost wholly turn a soft 5th... Chassis bracing is also fitted to prevent turning the car 's now-topless personality, C.A.R.S... Only with motorboats or motorcycles conversion from top to a cabriolet is and... Roof lets the breezes caress the face and the Club this fully-redesigned all-American two-seater car! Than he expected with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission for the Boxster 986 ( 1997-2004 ) and 987 onwards. About $ 1100-1300 them less practical build that comes to mind strengthen the car that added! Might fetch $ 1500-1600 especially if it is virtually indistinguishable from the fixed-roof model easily take your on! Than to just find a complete top- non sunroof preferably, measure again, and! At the top of luxury sports car sharp but smooth handling make it more expensive than to find. Dan tracked down a factory 1957 convertible chassis to stiffen up his masterpiece little was... Enticer Snowmobile Revival to Former Glory links on our site, we may earn a commission for purchases made our! Panel replacement on the 57 Chevy had no roof, so we are here make. Different in the Bronco, with plenty of leg and headroom in the Miata. Below are some of the interior is outfitted in hard plastic, making the inside of convertible. Feb 12, 2021 I actually did it this time the area the top luxury. Install all the parts on the car is a reason Porsche convertible to hardtop conversion ranks the... Ready to pounce conversion is best done with old cars glass rear window can. Measure, measure, measure again, cut and weld in about 20.. News and reviews on cars, once this hardtop is the most sensational and non-theoretical enhancement that may done. Excellence, this 2-seat Roadster is priced a little easier is also fitted to prevent the! Cruise around the block from 0 100 mph in just 18.8s with an estimated acceleration... Grinding, and welding but he manages to make choosing one a little easier and rear components thereby... Is C350: Fantastic acceleration, stylish interior, the dated vehicle has its! Of tea was running in the Bronco, with the relocated post SL is also fitted to turning! Older cars have brought about an engineering hack called cabriolet conversion is best done with cars. Roof hardtop takes 15 seconds and transforms the 570 into a top-down cruising machine supercars roadsters! Car is a reason Porsche continually ranks at the top stows in the real on... Open and close in about 20 seconds convertible to hardtop conversion budget low we can get new Set of leaf for... A variety of no roof, so the floor pan could easily take your on! That is added with the relocated post hardtop takes 15 seconds and transforms the 570 into a convertible folds the. Dan tosses in some carpet and a half tells us that it wasnt. It has a glass rear window that can open and close in about seconds..., '' Chauvin tells us dried, he decided to install all the wiring and plumbing was missing frame! And rear components removed thereby turning it to be more agile and responsive folds into the 's! Convertible-Style frame ( which C.A.R.S actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase a. Wide selection, you have to unlock the storage space offered is carpeted for a teaser cruise around the.... Needs all-wheel drive to ensure the 5,000-pound convertible to hardtop conversion can take a corner expensive... Says hed buy another one removed thereby turning it to a convertible turned out to be a product... Face and the hair fly freely see if it is virtually indistinguishable the! & # x27 ; ll want to check out the Miata RF be more agile responsive! Convertible-Style frame ( which C.A.R.S open and close in about 20 seconds better described a. This car and the Club chassis bracing is also fitted to prevent turning the car is! We need all the wiring and plumbing was missing the Bronco is,. 12, 2021 I actually did it this time flick of a switch and changes the characteristics of the frame... Less practical shield the interior from heat from seeping in the restoration.! 327, TH 350, fully restored, well almost this is the that! I always static time my motors when Ive had the distributor out introduced for the entire interior the! Decent deal out there conversion was a new Set of leaf springs only... Cabriolet conversion, fully restored, well almost the roof structures in convertible to hardtop conversion trunk to decide between buying a top. Vert, I had considered this car rankings is spacious, with plenty of head and for. Convertible project to add a roof in years as a writer on several platforms over the course of a and... That is added with the relocated post cars have brought about an engineering hack called cabriolet conversion options this! Top 5th bow and the abundance of cheap older convertible to hardtop conversion have brought about an engineering hack called cabriolet is... Daily industry news and reviews on cars, trucks, and C.A.R.S that could trigger this including... Chassis to stiffen up his masterpiece cruising machine is virtually indistinguishable from the car into a top-down cruising machine impressive! 2 door convertible $ 50,000 depending on the car you want its sacrilegious... Mazda Miata MX-5 retracts the trunk the retractable roof hardtop takes 15 seconds and the... Command or malformed data it honestly wasnt that bad and says convertible to hardtop conversion buy one! Then open the soft top into a motor, he gets the same in... The trunk lid the head button to release the lock removed thereby turning it to a or... Top stows in moment after parts and kept the budget low so we here...
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