Customs 1959 BelAir 4DR to 2DR conversion?!!

I just picked up a 1959 bel air 4dr. And I'm planning on converting it to a 2door. BUT I do not like the post look and I do not like how high the 4door roof is. I want to have that "Panoramic view" and slim smooth look of the impala roof. I just wanted to know if anyone has accomplished or attemped this kind of 2dr conversation?.....

 

Sedan roof will be longer than 2 door ht from front to back as well, roof will be different than a ht one, but if you want to do a custom maybe????maybe someone will chime in with first hand specific knowledge about this but I will be glad to watch if you are the first that wants to try it!
....or maybe some of us can convert you to liking 4 doors

 

Suicide the rear doors and lose the post

 

Which 4 dr Bel Air.... There were 2

 

Make it a 4 door vert with a Carlson top.

 

Sounds like you don't have the right car to start with.

 

Not sure if this is your exact model or not
But that thing is a big fat ***y beast!
With the way the fin goes into the door the rear vent window and post I’m thinking this would be an enormous job to complete.

Shave the rear door handles and maybe paint the door tops and b pillar white or something so they are not as obvious?!?

If I owned that it would get lowered with some snazzy wheels no rear fender skirts and not much else!!

 

I could totally be happy with this one just as it is but I understand the wanting a 2 dr


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paging Squablow.

 

This.....


Or This?


I would do the conversion if it was my car!!!!
But I like the post.........it makes the rear side window look proportional.

 

no, he wants this:



and as I suggested the first time he posted it, he might want to sell the 4 door sedan and save up some money and buy the 2 dr hardtop.

 

I like that one too [emoji1303]


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If I had a 4 door that I wanted to cut up I'd try to turn it into an El Camino instead of a 2 door sedan.

 

I like this roof

 

I would like to see a 2 door sedan chopped just enough for the impala windshield to fit. has anybody done this before?

 

Basically, you want to turn the car into a 2 door hardtop. There are a few guys who have done this conversion on 58 Plymouths, starting with a 4 door sedan and adding in the hardtop roof, doors, and forward sections of the quarters, and it is possible, since they all have the same wheelbase. Windshield and rear window are both different.

But to make it work, you're going to have to find a 2 door hardtop donor car with a good roof and other parts, which might not be easy. You can probably make any 59-60 GM full size 2 door hardtop work but a '59 Chevy would be the ideal donor.

To make it into a 2 door post sedan like the second car in post #10 would be much easier, then you just need a pair of doors and B pillars, your windshield and rear window would remain unchanged, you'd still have the post but it's a much more straightforward swap.

I've done a bunch of 2 door conversions and they do work out nicely (and honestly aren't all that hard to do) if you have the right donor parts, and if you take your time. But a 4 door sedan to 2 door hardtop swap is a very involved process. I'd say the 2 door post conversion would take a good bodyman 80-100 hours if you have the right pieces, the 2 door hardtop swap would probably be more like 300+ hours.

Lots of body reinforcement is necessary before any cuts are made, any floor or rocker repairs need to be made before anything is cut out, and you also want to study the differences in the sedan and hardtop frames and make those changes also before you start cutting.

Here's a few examples of the easy way so you can see what I mean. There's a video series going around about a 1960 Plymouth Fury hardtop getting transplanted onto a '60 Dart Seneca floor, that would be a great example of what it'll take to make a 2 door hardtop.

 

If you are going to look for a donor roof from a 2dr hardtop, be careful to get the right 2dr hardtop roof. Gm used a couple different lengths depending on the model of car....a 88 olds used a short roof like impala, the 98 used a longer roof (and longer wheelbase). Same for Buick...lesabre and invicta were short, electra longer.

It's gonna be a ton of work, and you might be better off to find a 2dr hardtop to start with and use your 4 dr for parts. Good luck with it all.

 

That was also an idea I thought of. But I really like the 2dr none-post look.
BUT of course, that is always an option. So I'll keep that in mind.

 

The bubble top Bel Air 4DR

 

Lol. Yeah man, regardless its a nice car either way. So I agree.

 

I have the top one. But its blue. Ill post a photo of her soon

 

Bingooo!!! Exactly my man. I love that spaceship look. Lol

 

Indeed. Thank you for your input.

 

There she goes fellas.

 

I like it as is

 

They drive the same regardless how many doors.

You'd need a donor for top, gl***, doors and quarters. Front seat is different too. Doable, but a ton of work.

Frankly if I were going to do that I'd use the flat top from a 4-door hardtop and build something that never existed.

 

Where are you located? Sell the car to me and look for the right car. I need a home for a 427 and the 4-door is a great sleeper.

 

Here's a nice donor. Unfortunately the guy has an extra zero on the price....it might be worth 1200, or would be if it had a ***le. This is not far from me.

https://sierravista.craigslist.org/cto/d/sierra-vista-1959-impala-2d-t/6773784516.html

But seriously, look around for a 2 dr hardtop if you want a hardtop. It might take time to find the right car, but you'll be time and money ahead.

 

If that car has a good set of side trim that alone is 1200, but otherwise yes it's overpriced.

 

Personally I don’t mind a 4door sedan, they are much more affordable and practical and that makes them a winner AFAIC.