:laugh: p I will take that as a complement! Pinto, Vega, Pacer etc...they're all good!:laugh: Thanks to all for the encouragement! I will be able to work on it for the next 5 days...will post more pics of my progress. It's coming along! :TU: David
I think David Buick would like it called a Shooting Break; instead of a Sport Coupe. Refernce the English tradition from Jaguar, etc.
Hey guys, thanks for all the words of encouragement! As for where I came up with this idea...some background. I have always loved the way the GM clamshell wagons looked with their sleek and highly styled rear glass roof. But the pillared doors on these wagons turn an otherwise fantastic design into something stodgy and cluttered looking...it's obvious this was a GM bean-counter's compromise. I always felt these wagons should have been hardtops, at least the top trim level of each division. Since all the hardtop parts are available on the 2 and 4 doors, I knew I could turn my Buick wagon into one. I bought my CA wagon off of ebay in June, had it delivered to TX in July, found my Limited Coupe parts car in August and started this in October. I purposely bought a 6 passenger wagon because I didn't want a 70/30 split rear seat...the Limited's back seat wouldn't work with that. I am fortunate in that my wagon is a rust-free and damage-free example. It doesn't need much in the way of bodywork, so once I work the quarter panels, the rest will be simple. This week I strip all of the paint, work the panels and hopefully get it in primer. Pics will follow! :kodak: David
Do the 2 cars have similar wheelbases? This will be a cool car when done. Have you chosen the color yet?
Yeah, they have the same wheelbase and share so much. I plan to do this in Royal Blue Metallic, with Sandalwood (cream) top and interior. It will have full Sandalwood Limited trim in cloth and vinyl, with dark Covert (dark brown) dash and carpet. The backseat will still fold, and it will have the coupe rear side panel armrests and trim in place. Cargo area will have Covert carpet and painted flooring panels with cream vinyl sidewall panels. It will have chrome road wheels, cornering lamps, Limited script on roof B pillar, Limited shields on wheels and rear lock cover to match the one already on the hood. No bodyside moldings or door-edge guards. David
Excellent job. I had a Wild idea about mating a sportwagon roof with a Wildcat...of course part of the vision was the dual quad 4-speed! I'm Sticking with stock builds, they are difficult enough! Cheers,
You are so right ... that these wagons would have looked so much better and sleeker with no door pillars and all that wrap-around/curved glass. These years were when the Fed Gov. was continuously adding safety and emmission standards ... and the roof strength requirement no doubt left GM little alternative for the heaviest passenger car (wagon) GM offered. If memory serves, the roof had to withstand something like 1.5 or 2 times the weight of the car ... I think. ... but thanks to David, we are gonna' find out. David, you might just start a trend here.
Who am I kidding!? I got all of the paint stripped, but that's it! Next week for any metal conditioning, bodywork and priming! Panel by panel, it will take at the very least the rest of this year, working on it when I can. This is my progress on the body. The tailgate storage area panels, most of the lower rear panels, in fact, are made of galvanized steel. It is a good thing, because the General sure didn't put much paint up in these areas. The red in these pics is actually a seam sealer...very tenacious stuff. No stripper was used in these areas, just a PPG metal conditioner and a PPG metal cleaner with Scotchbrite pads and a scrub brush. I am very pleased with how nice these panels really are. The tailgate panel is in good shape with the exception of the lower LH mounting point. It had broken due to fatigue and rust. I cut it out, and welded in new steel. Happy with this fix, and now the tailgate will finally line up and fit right. My fenders were in pretty good shape, but I added the openings for the cornering lamps, and welded up the holes for bodyside moldings. The RH fender had damage to the leading edge, in fact, the entire forward-most area of this fender was quite damaged and distorted, so I cut the area out and sourced a perfect cap from a parts fender, and welded it in place. It is now a perfect, undamaged fender that lines up wonderfully. Now for working the body, and getting it in primer! David
:TU: :TU: OMG!!! FREEKIN AWESOME!!!!!! I have wondered about doing something like this (although, sadly, I lack any talent like THIS!!) since I saw a similar conversion of a '77-'79 Chevy Impala/Caprice Wagon with the same panels from a '77-'79 Chevy Impala/Caprice Coupe in a hot rod type magazine many years ago!! I can't wait to see it finished in color!!! wish I could see it in person!! Dana Bennett. Forestville,NY '72 Buick LeSabre 4dr.H/T '73 Buick LeSabre 4dr.H/T '75 Buick Century Wagon 4x4 '76 Buick Estatewagon (yellow) '76 Buick Estatewagon Hearse (Superior/ArmbrusterStageway-white) '76 Buick Estatewagon Hearse (Superior/ArmbrusterStageway-black)
are you wanting a pair of "on panel" lock switches or "in the armrest" lock switches? im still lookin for the chrome door handle surrounds. i wont charge for any of this stuff i can come up with ... but i might need help covering some of the shipping.. any estimates on shipping costs?.... erik, what have some of you shipping costs been from the states on things you bought?
Thanks Dana. This has been a fun project to do. Wish I could just work on it constantly, everyday. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a car project more, and I have been doing them for 30 years! p yuk, thanks, but I already have my lock switches. 75Riv(Rob) located some for me. You are nice to offer some to me. Suicide doors...hummm:idea2: lol...maybe my next one. :TU: David
