What do you think of this make-shift convertible?
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4545419959&fromMakeTra ck=true

Just curious on opinions. It's quite the bastard, but I have to admit, it looks like it's nicely finished. (..or at least well presented)

Fire away...

Looks like a well done and well taken care of conversion. On the other hand I personally don't care for the mixing of early and late parts on that car.

Wow, a long hood CAB!!!!!!!! I guess if you're gonna basterdize a long hood, this one was well thought out. I would question putting 2.7 head on a 2.2 engine? Not sure if the 2.7 heads have a large combustion chamber, but if so, you'd be lowering the cr......Would make a good starter car if someone could get it for the current bid of 7 K....

seems like a lot of work went into it and well taken care of. A LOT better than the "thing" my brother is unfortunately looking at :rolleyes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10156&item=4545807 577&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

I really like it......


I would change the name of the paint though. Mitsu whatever does not sound good on a vintage Porsche :)


-Chris

I think it is pretty cool. I would rather make it a speedster like the car in the back of Bruce Andersons book. But that is just me.

if you can ignore the bastardization and the CIS motor it's not TOO bad..

Loose the mirrors and I like it - probably pretty flexy.

I wonder which "well known shop in Southern California" built/owns this car.

I'd also lose the white gauges instanly. Cool car nonetheless.

Something is wrong with the mounting of the cab top pivots, the black trim piece should go over the metal work. This example, it looks like the metal is over the trim? Regardless, I like the look, minus the aero mirrors. I would loose the rear chrome trim and go to a look more like "Scruffy". In fact, I was thinking of doing the same thing for a brief period.

There's several technical innaccuracies in the description.

Looks like a decent car, and yes, the hinge area is done wrong. the 'tab' that the plastic piece appears to be inserted under should be flush, and the plastic goes on top.

I'd drive it........:cool:

I shouldn't like this car, but I DO. It's like really hot chick with a peg leg and a long skirt...

I like the car but the "wet underside" of the engine bothers me...maybe the car didn't get driven enough to keep the seals lubricated? Looks like the car was well cared for and the conversion looks like it was done well...

I'd like to see more details of the area around where the targa bar was cut off and the cab top mounted.

The white gauges are ugly.

ianc

I like it. That paint color certainly looked familiar. Then I realized that my early 90s Plymouth Laser (first car in high school) was of the same shade. Rasberry is right. Please be advised that the color isn't a deep marroon by any means.

Car looks like it was finished well though. If the color is to your liking, I'd jump. Can anyone say 3.2-3.6 swap?

Oh, and kill off those 993 mirrors and drop something period correct on like factory 72 mirror or a talbot.


db

Cool! My car has an older sister! :D

as some of you know I sold all my P cars in the last year and I am looking. Someone already mentioned it, this car is a candidate for a mtor swap in my book. I have sent an email and awaiting a reply. By the way how large a sized Fuchs can you fit under those fenders?

trader,
First of all, I am with the majority here, and LIKE the car with a few reservations, mirrors, top mechanism, radio, etc..
Depending on the price, the car has unique style and a lot of possibilities.
You cannot put very large tires/wheels under that body without doing some serious flaring. Also with the targa bar gone, that early chassis is surely a flexy flyer. Maybe with a tasteful roll cage, and a stock 3.2, and some period correct mirrors, it would be a great weekender...;-)

I like it too. You neve know how well the top works tho. Also check carefully for flex on bumpy roads.

There is a reason why PAG didn't come out with a cab for a while -- and why they braced the chassis when they did...

it's pretty.

I think it's great. The color...well, I'm not sold, but not hating it either!
I would worry about the rigidity of the chassis. A roll bar with some forward diagonals down to the front rocker box might be needed.

And yes, the mirrors have to go, along with thr weird rear chrome thingy.

All in all though, it could be a cool ride. But with 4 days to go, the price is already up there...

No matter what, THIS car, more than most, is 'SEE/DRIVE and think before you buy' kind of car!

Love the "Ping Driver" hood shock!!

I really like the color. I've been looking for a different color for my '85, currently grey. I'm afraid the low performance from the "T" motor would get old quickly. My fix for that would be an "S" conversion in keeping with the early look. Weber's a "S" cam, 9.5 CR pistons. I like the mirrors and H4's. The wheels need something, I haven't put my finger on it. Overall, I'm thinking this will go around $10K. These long hoods get better looking every day.

Two of you have mentioned concerns about chassis stiffness. Why? What's different from a Targa? I disected a Targa and I don't see the cross over being all that much help. The floor pan reinforcements should be enough to go ahead with a cabriolet conversion, IMHO. This is all relative speak. Of course a cage would add desirable stiffness.

Real nice paint work and panel matching on the car.

I would like to see one of the custom hard tops being manufactured by a fellow pelicanite on that car. The big blob of folded up soft top doesn't please the eye. I was considering the same thing for my 71' and may now do it since I like the look, but would look to something fully removeable.

Okay, so now my mind is wandering...I wonder what any of the fiberglass masters on this site think of the idea of creating a removable rear top section. Basically a one piece section that takes the place of the targa bar and rear glass and maybe clips down maybe similar to a jeep. Then you could end up with a cab/targa. Just remove the targa top or take it ALL OFF.

Very nicely done, this looks like a real fun car....no its not original but who cares..........

"I don't see the cross over being all that much help" on a targa.

- I thought that was important for the torsional flex(?) Maybe the factory was wrong, tho. It wouldn't be the first time. Did you measure it? Or do a comparison drive over surfaces that would induce this? Or just an evaluation based on estimated forces?

- Also, the targa has a bar over the top....

Having personally done a cab conversion, I can say the targa bar doesn't do a lot for stiffness. If you want to add low-key stiffness to a cab/targa, get a set of these:

http://www.rennlight.com/gallery/image/5000115h.JPG

Those Michelin tires haven't been manufactured in a decade or so... they'll need replacing.

I expected to hate this thing, but after reading and looking at the pics, it's not that bad!

I like it to - sure wouldn't pull up to a stop light and see one just like it in the other lane...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by widebody911
[B]Having personally done a cab conversion, I can say the targa bar doesn't do a lot for stiffness. If you want to add low-key stiffness to a cab/targa, get a set of these:

Thom: Are those sill plates commercially available, or did you fab then up for your car? Kinda interested for a long term project I have in mind.. (can you say 73 3.3 Speedster..)

We need to be clear what we're talking about - I am talking about 'twist' from the LF corner to the RR corner, say.

The sill plates look like they will mainly reduce longitudinal flex. I don't doubt that they are a good idea tho.

I also don't see the difference between a cab and targa in terms of stiffness. I don't think the factory was 'wrong', it's just that up until 1983, the factory never made a cab, period.

I don't know the differences in the construction of a targa and cab chassis, but if someone does, that would be authoritative...

ianc

http://home.gci.net/~rickn/17.jpg
I like it and would rip around with the top off. I am with everyone else on the mirrors. Stick the period mirrors back on.

Although, with the rest of the quasi-vision I would have gone totally against the grain and shoe-horned in a 3.6ltr. :D

Hey, come on... while you're living why not live large?! SmileWavy

A 3.6 would mean ditching those dinky wheels, which would require flares, which would require...

ianc

The sill plates are available from euro-tek in costa mesa. 714.549.3211

I could be done. There's probably not enough demand for a mass-produced piece though, so you'd have to pay someone to one-off it for you.

Maybe a snap on soft top with a roll bar or removable supports. Can you tell the big pile of canvas is the part I like least. Any idea how must it would cost to have a top made?