I'm in the middle of my restoration and have had the engine rebuilt, car sanded and ready for priming. Now I'm at the crossroad to BUICK HEAVEN. o No: Need some assistants. What all is involved in chopping the top on my 71 Skylark and making it into a vert. A shop in Atlanta says that they can do it for me. Just wondering has anyone ever had it done. I think that its going to turn out great. I've seen some of their work just wondering what yall think. Paul
Paul, trust me, you do not want this to be done. I do not want to burst your bubble but better you hear this now from the guys who know what the car should and should not look like Your rear quarters, for one thing, will be wrong. The convertible rear quarters are shaped diffrently near the rear window. the convertible's looks very different Your rear seat is wrong. Convertibles have the piston panels and a shorter seat You may not have the convertible frame the hardtop and convertible windsheild are not the same- your windsheild will be too high Your side window glass, particularly the rear quarter glass, id completely diffferent Your car can be made into a convertible with time, effort and expense. But do not let anyone tell you your car will appear as a production convertible from 1971. It won't happen. If you really want a 1971 Buick Skylark convertible, go get one. Don't waste your time effort and money on turning your ride into a convertible. It won't be what you want, and it will cost you money you could spend on simply buying the car you want. Do your car over, sell it, and buy a convertible is my advice. I don't know, or care what this shop can do. The car will never be right and won't look right either. You will, in my opinion, spend your money effort and time on a car you don't really want, and which if you try to sell it, may have it's value reduced These are pics of my '70. As you know, the body is the same except for the bumpers, from 1970-1972. Compare these pictures with your car and see what I mean rear quarters pic1:
I would not do that personally. There are lot's of skylark convertible's to be had for a decent price. If you want have a ragtop finish and then sell the hardtop, or just sell it. Just my opinion If you want a nice GS ragtop with a BB and 4spd I'll sell ya mine for 30K :laugh:
Check the chrome on either side of the wiindsheild- another thing you won't have. Also check how short the windsheild is:
yes and no Like I mentioned in my first post, he may not have the correct frame. he probably doesn't, but he may have the heavy duty frame. Unlikely in my opinion, but possible Since the floor and roof are prime stiffening elements in any body on frame car, without the right frame....well, you can imagine how twisty the body will get at the rear quarters. I crack paint on my filler panel as it is; all the convertibles do. That's why I put in the two releif channels you see on the car
No droptop Thanks for all the input. The final verdict is that i'm not going to have it done. :ball: I'll just put that money into the engine, might even upgrade to a 455. Thanks again buick family!!
It's hard to imagine right now, Paul, but I really think in the long run you'll be happier this way. A '71 convertible can always be had later on :TU:
