Unlike soft-top roadsters, hardtops with retractable roofs have to haul lots of extra mechanical parts that raise and lower the roof. We provide how-to and technical articles, vehicle and build features and examples, plus calculators and lookups that will help you get your ride from dream to driver. Well in the days after that cruise he finished all the little things that needed to be taken care of: Lights, horn, and a quick carb cleaning and this old girl was ready for some miles! How do you find top dead center? What to Buy: Subaru Crosstrek or Subaru Forester? "All the parts needed to build a true convertible can be ordered out of our catalog.". The 1965 Mustang Fastback GT 350 was never available as a cabriolet. Converting an SUV into a cabriolet is dicey and this hideous outcome gives credence to why people shouldn't do it. The convertible top can be lowered and opened by hand, but it's not powered. They include: According to LendingTree, the simplest method for financing your new hardtop convertible is to compare car prices. With the post moved, the rear door was skinned and used as a quarter panel filler. These features make it perfect for commuting around the city during the week and taming the open road on the weekend. Your email address will not be published. Unfortunately, some of the parts pulled off were quarter panel patch sections for another 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. Its in, and ready for the next step of the build. He says Dont even get me started on the exhaust fitment!. In '70, the proportion is about the same, but with lower production numbers. Its actually quite simple section the old inner door structure and weld it in. Performance & security by Cloudflare. With the post moved, the rear door was skinned and used as a quarter panel filler.Up next we slash off the roof! Fixing dents and rust is one thing, but not having a panel to start with is another challenge. Audi TT Hardtop Conversion. Compounding enthusiasts misery, Vipers production ended a moment after. The roof panel is a power-retractable hardtop (PRHT) that neatly folds away with a simple button push. Dan sprung for the cheapest wiring harness Amazon offered! had its turquoise and bare metal roller built from a common and inexpensive '57 four-door sedan. A pleasant surprise is the fuel economy. Mercedes-Benz SL-Class - Not only is the SL range awesome from behind the wheel, but they are as safe as a Volvo thanks to some intricate safety elements. "Everything else is available from us." Apr 26, 2017. It is for an Enthusiastic base model. This modification job was neatly and carefully done, nonetheless, its a job that shouldnt have been executed, anyway. The top speed of the Nissan 350z is 250 KPH. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Ive seen them as low as 1500 on cl. 69 RS/SS vert tourer, LS7, T56, Baer, Hydrooost, GW, etc, etc. The factory convertible frame sure stiffens everything up. But more importantly, he hopes this convertible conversion actually looks like a convertible! It would be a lot cheaper too. The Roadster is equipped with a three-motor Plaid powertrain that features one front and two rear electric motors with an 800-1,000 horsepower total output. Driving in a cabriolet on a perfect afternoon, one can feel the enthralling intensity of the sun and the tingling sensation of the cool breeze on the skin. 1987 Mazda rx7 Fc Hard top cut out panel. We just ask you chose another vehicle to make a convert. There is very little storage space, but then Ferrari has never been known for their accommodations. $158.70. 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. 2019 Mazda Miata RF: A true sports car with no backseat or glove compartment, and has a sport-tuned suspension to make driving quieter. Base price at $49,000. 2019 BMW 4 Series Convertible: All-wheel drive and 4-cylinder engine with a base price of $53,000. How about converting a Maverick or a Pacer or something? Priced at $52,000. 2021 Ford Bronco 4-Door (All Trim Levels) The car is a first-generation Porsche Cayenne that was converted into a cabriolet by the Newport Convertible Engineering team. Or a hardtop that detaches as a single piece and must be stored elsewhere, such as a garage. 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. With the top up, the car should feel stiffer. Despite the powerful engine, the Portofino achieves real-world gas mileage at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Hardtop. Content on E46 Fanatics Forum is generated by its users. The interior of this Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is a bit small, which means the storage space is limited. Come join the discussion about performance, builds, restoration, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, reviews, and more! JavaScript is disabled. It needs all-wheel drive to ensure the 5,000-pound GT can take a corner. You can call me gearheads or petrolheads. But the C.A.R.S. Shes rust-free and ready for bodywork and paint! Base price at $56,000. 2007 Lexus SC430: This curvy 4-seat car handles well and has excellent performance. So we swapped parts and kept the budget low. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. What started out as a rotten 4 door hardtop is hitting the road for the first time in years as a 2 door convertible. Not only is it possible, it's been done already-to the rolling shell you see on these pages. 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. If thats not an option, we would suggest speeding up. Powering this supercar is a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 that has been tuned to produce 562 horsepower. Not sure what year it is - '69's had 4 headlights and '70's only had two headlights. The retractable roof hardtop takes 15 seconds and transforms the 570 into a top-down cruising machine. All you have to do is lower the convertible top in the normal stance and fasten the hardtop in place. Undoubtedly, Nissan 350z has come even better than ever. The fabric shrunk and has separated from the rear windshield, so it leaks and rattles, and there's no way I'll be able to stretch it out. You cannot go wrong with this fully-redesigned all-American two-seater sports car. (050B) Audi TT Hard Top Stand Storage Trolley Cart Rack & Hardtop Dust Cover (Fits: More than one vehicle) $123.52. 2007 Pontiac G6 Convertible: Priced at $30,000, this is one of the more affordable hardtop convertibles available. $45.00. You might be more interested in looking up the below websites. They have pictures of 2nd gen camaro convertables. 94-98 used pretty much the same body, but converting yours to a hardtop would be very difficult to say the least. I never did like the looks of them with the tops up. Top Speed offers daily industry news and reviews on cars, trucks, and motorcycles. 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). Usually, a convertible is slightly heavier than a couple due to this extra reinforcements. Another win and another step closer to driving this hot rod down the road. 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. Yes I agree. With either Corvette, you will enjoy responsive handling, attractive supercar styling, and a new upgrade in engine position that is sure to impress. However, in 2012, the fifth-generation of the Viper was released without the Targa top version. Dan tosses in some carpet and a seat before you know it Ill be cruising in style! Chevy also placed the '57 cowl tags in two different locations. If there is a sudden hail barrage or a rainstorm, the driver can quickly put the hardtop roof back in place. The hardtop convertible is not as popular as it had once been. Hes not going for perfection here but trying to flatten it out enough for a coat of primer. First Generation Camaro Info and Tech - 1967-1969, http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102308, http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29254&page=2, http://community.webshots.com/user/angelglozano?vhost=community. It gives its drivers an exhilarating experience, and above all, the wind blowing through you makes it something out of this world. Also, he hopes a proper chassis will help with resale down the road (if he ever decides to sell anything). Sawsall makes a hardtop of anything into a convertible. The convertible variant was introduced for the 2019 model year. The Ford Bronco is another hardtop convertible on this list that is not a sports car but a purpose-built SUV. Cabriolets are fun. Many enthusiasts will agree with this axiom-except for one of our editors, whose fondness for four-door Biscaynes makes us wonder if he hasn't been sniffing too much octane booster! The older the car is, the harder it is to get parts/pieces. 2007 Cadillac XLR: This 2 door, 2 seat hardtop roadster has the classic, Cadillac lines that make it irresistible. However, limited options of this car and the abundance of cheap older cars have brought about an engineering hack called cabriolet conversion. The production of the Dodge Viper started in 1991. $523.15. C.A.R.S. Your IP: If you are ready to invest in a rare convertible, consider the McLaren 570 Spider equipped with a retractable hardtop built from a carbon mono cell tub structure. Best Targa Top Convertibles 8 models Order by Rank Order by Category #1 Mercedes-AMG SL63 $178,100 Price (MSRP) 14/21 mpg City/Hwy 577 hp Horsepower 9.4 Compare #2 Porsche 911 Targa 4 $121,300 -. You bring the gumption. Dallas, GA. Actually, I have a buddy that's putting on together right now.He's cutting up a coupe for it. This way you will avoid being overwhelmed, discover the lowest price you can afford, and you won't rush into making a decision you may regret later. $49.00. Bear in mind, Dan bought this car for $1000 out of a wrecking yard at the end of July as a 4 door hardtop parts car. The Ferrari Portofino has a power-retractable hardtop that stows away in 15 seconds. In a nutshell, the conversion requires the removal of the roof, doors, doorposts, and rear quarter-panels, and the substitution of the convertible-spec parts. Well, you cant ultimately make a 360 shift from a soft top to a hard one. You're not gunna wanna miss that!Leave me a few comments down below, love to read em.Also buy a shirt so I can buy more hood scoops:https://www.teespring.com/stores/dd-speed-shopSend us your Junk:DD Speed ShopPo box 420411881 Portage ave Ferry Road RPOWinnipeg, Manitoba R3J 3X7Send me an email with some suggestions or ideasdan@ddspeedshop.ca Combine this with the removable roof panels, and you will have an ample amount of viewing ability. However, power-retractable hardtops are not widely available and not all of the roof structures in the Mazda Miata MX-5 retracts. Then you are ready to hit the gas and power up the twin-turbo V8 that can achieve zero to 60 mph in just over three seconds. 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. You could easily take your Corvette on an epic road trip with your luggage in the trunk. This two-seater boasts a mid-engined 490 horsepower V8 paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. Unlike soft-top sports cars, once this hardtop is closed, it is virtually indistinguishable from the fixed-roof model. 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Roadster: A 2-seat roadster that offers long-term reliability. It has a glass rear window that can open and close in about 20 seconds. RELATED: Cool Facts No One Knows About Toyota's Sports Cars. The market has seen a decline in the production and availability of hardtop convertibles. Why go through all this. The Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS series convertible is sure to impress you with its roaring engine performance, high-quality interior, and agile handling. $250.00. was still working on reproducing complete doors (right now they offer only outer skins). This may not be a perfect tutorial, but it has always worked for me. There is a large 10.3-inch touch screen with an infotainment system that makes the Portofino feel modern. Dan is at the point of the build that he hates the most Dreaded bodywork! This is your classic Best laid plans situation. this is my first post here, so I don't mind getting flamed to a pile of ash if that's the MO around here. Up to this point, everything has just been tacked into place. Cruising around the block after thrashing for 6 weeks is such a sweet payoff. Unlike the newly popular Chevrolet Corvette, the cargo area in the McLaren is low profile, limiting how much you can stow in it. 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. Verts are VERY different than coupes, underneath. "We also sell convertible material, pads and trim to go with it, but the other convertible hard parts, such as the bows, have to be sourced elsewhere-but we're working on them!". Not all of the Nissan 350z has come even better than ever and 23 on! 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