I was out the other day looking at the Riv with its vinyl top thinking how sharp it would look if it were a vert. With some fabrication, does anyone know if a donor Eldorado could be used to complete something as crazy as this sounds and still maintain factory looking functionality? Just a thought for the future if I can find a Riv with a swiss cheese top to begin with.:Brow:
The X-frame scares me; with no roof I'd be afraid there'd be big torsion issues where the frame sections come together. Was Eldorado an x-frame? I'm thinking not. Devon
Years ago, there was a 2nd generation Riviera convertible in a television commercial for a cleaning procduct here in Europe. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FgoxikPSSOI&hl=nl&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FgoxikPSSOI&hl=nl&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
The Eldo didn't come in a Convertible until 1971 so if you were thinking of a 67-70 donor, that won't work. I've seen a couple 66-67s converted over the years and neither of which had working tops. they were fulltime convertibles. While it was definitely a novelty and looked cool. After that I can't say I was real crazy about them. The 65 riv looks much better as a vert IMHO.
Jay Leno has one in his garage: Click here :Comp: Here's another one: (it looks the same as Leno's car above...? Click photo for more :Comp:
I dont thin that black car is actually Jay Leno's. That website allows you to upload pictures of your car to Jay Leno's "garage" a virtual garage of everyones cars
You're right about that, so chances are big that it is the same car in both links :TU: ! Here's another 1965 Riviera convertible, also found on that website: Click here :Comp:
I'd say it was a bad idea Tim. There is a lot of rigidity and structure in that roof. Plus our frame and no bracing is asking for trouble. I've heard of guys who welded their doors up for rigidity and they would break the welds! :shock: God only knows what it would take to do it structurally correct. o No:
X frame Cadillacs ended with the 65 model year. What that is supposed to say is 64 was the last X frame year. Also, 67 introduced the FWD Eldorado.
GM built many convertibles on X frame cars and got away with it. I'm sure they engineered additional structural rigidity to the bodies though.
There was a '67-'69 convertible at the ROA Nats several years ago. You might be able to come up with a pic by searching the internet.
Go with a custom,purpose built frame. End of problem. We have access to many types of high strength materials and bonding/fabricating techniques that did not exist 40 years ago. That car is too beautiful-someone will do it!:TU: Robert
There was a red 67 Riviera for sale on ebay a couple of years ago that was a homemade convertible but it was never completely finished. The cutting was done, but the convertible top was never built and installed. It really didn't look as good as you might think. I would look at a late 60's Wildcat convertible for parts if you were going to do a conversion on a Riviera. You will need the top of the windshield frame as well as the top and hydraulics to make it work. The Eldo idea might work if you use parts from a 71-76 model, but that car is even bigger than the Riviera, and the top might be too wide. I would give alot of thought to how it would need to be done before I fired up the plasma cutter. The X-frame Rivieras do have some extra bracing along the outside of the body (underneath) to make up for lack of support with the X-frame, and to help hold up those long heavy doors. That said, I have seen pictures of a 67 Riviera that flipped, and there isn't as much strength in the stock roof as you might think, as the roof was level with the top of the doors in the crash photo's. Later, Randy
Other than the structural issues, building a convertible and having it come out looking good is a huge project. There are companies that convert hardtop cars like the Chrysler 300 and the Cadillac deville, but the work that goes into those cars is huge. Have you got a lot of fabrication and body work experience?
Tim, if nothing else, I'll help you screw it up-but good!!!! (Yeah, it's supposed to do that:error: ):beer
