what would it take to convert a sport coupe?

I have seen a couple good deals on model A sports coupes. What would it take to convert it to a steel top? Or is this a total waste of time.

 

If that is your shop the top should be a piece of cake. No different from doing a Carson top. Reinforce the daylights out of the "B" pillar and fab the top I used marine latches with a cam lock....good luck and warm up the shop

 

One I just did for Henry..... Aluminum top.









Took a tad bit of metalwork and some carpet padding.

 

I realized the other day I have a 30-31 cabrolet. I have been thinking about a 5 window top. Carson top just isnt the look I would want.

 

I'm building one for my sport coupe like the one Koz built. $105 for a sheet of 6061T6 it's pretty cheap to try. After it's covered it'll look sweet...

 

I started with a sport coupe and then found a 5 window top. It took every clamp I had but it fit close and I just welded it all together. Worked out well. Search "The tale of two coupes" mines the '29.

 

did it to mine....rear stuff bolts on , then go from there

 

If all fails.. They look just as good without a top.

 

Been wanting a '31 Cabrolet. Maybe we can find you a coupe and let the carbolet remain a convertible?

Don't have a coupe to trade. Do have a '31 Deluxe roadster restored to original that is for sale.

 

agreed!

 

Not trying to piss on the party, but they look great with the Sport/Business coupe top too.

Just sayin'....

 

have a nice? running 30' Cabriolet....still looking for a 30/31 Roadster to build my uncles 1950 Bonnieville car...

 

Look at my avitar...it used to just be one.

 

Thanks guys. For some reason I see them for sale all the time down here and they're usually at really good prices but I wanted to know if I would be wasting my time if I got one. That is my shop in my signature and its a project I'm contemplating


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I like that


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Why would it be a waste of time???? It's a model A, it's never a waste of time

 

The cabrolet was chopped way to much then had a messed up top put on it, PM me and I will see about getting pic to you. Its a projects for sure.

 

Man that looks good ! Nice job
Is there a build thread or more info some place on this one ?

 

There is. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=741762

Unfortunatly a lot of the pics were lost in a computer crash. I'm trying to get them up again.

 

do you think that the car would look funny without the top due to the windshield frame?

 

I have been looking for a rear roof piece for four years. And I am not without resources! I see alot of special coupe roofs show up, and guys have been successful at converting them. I gave up and i'm just gonna fix the panel I have.

 

This may not be what you were asking about, but I'll post it anyway...

My Roadster is part Sportscoupe ( rear 1/4 panels, sectioned to get them to line up with the lengthened Roadster doors and Roadster cowl )
And I made a lift off hard top for it.

I did that before I had my English Wheel, so I started with pieces of sheetmetal that were already close to the shape i wanted.
( I used pieces from Model A Sedan, '32 Sedan, '67 Camaro, and the rest was hand made.)

There is a Thread about it in the Tech Archives.

 

DUDE THATS KILLER METALSHAPES! whats with the windshield frame? it looks skinnier than a sports coupe.

 

Thats nice I really like that. So can anyone answer my question, are the quarters on a cabrolet the same as roadster ?

 

Thanks, man...

Its a regular reproduction Roadster windshield frame that I chopped and reversed the angles on.

( tapered to narrower at the top, instead of tapering out to wider at the top of a stocker )

I also layed it back quite a bit...

 

No, I dont think they are.

I believe Sports Coupe 1/4's are the same ( or at least really close ) as Coupe 1/4's.

Roadster 1/4's have their own shape.

 

Ok Im trying to figure out what I have. The cowl is definantly cabrolet and I think the doors are coupe or sedan. The quarters may be coupe or cabrolet. I need to figure out how to up load my ****ty pics from my phone.

 

Definitley agree!

 

There were some pics of the car without the roof on the build thread that were lost. I think the car looks as good, if not better with the roof off. The posts being laid back give it better lines in my opinion only. With the stretched frame and respectivly hood, 2 3/4", the car takes on a decidedly "deuce" look as opposed to the more boxy "A" lines. This was a fun exercise in metal whacking.

It should be noted that we are running a '28 Chevy dash in there and as such I flattened the cowl by about 5/8" and added 2" to the lenght to accept the dash. This also changed the appearance quite a bit. I made some transition pieces up to get the windshield posts to flow into the reworked cowl. This one runs flush gl*** because we didn't have a frame and it was built on an extremly tight budget. If in the future Henry decides to use a frame it can easily be added without screwing with anything that is already done.

 

Very, very nice! Killer look on that ride.