Projects 1947 Cadillac - 4 door to 2 door?

Hey fellas. This is for sale. This car would be an insane 2door custom. Move the door sill back about 5” to make the door longer? What would be a general ball park for a fabricator to do this? Ball park? Ignore the trim for now. Yes i know prices vary wildly depending on skill and location. I live in the northeast.

 

Be prepared to blow a ton of money to turn it into a 2 door!

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Shortened a school bus 7’
Didn’t cost much of anything

 

Does not need to be shortened. Easiest way would be to get a pair of doors from a sedanette (the 2 door fastback model) Remove all 4 doors, cut the center pillar out, hang the longer sedanette doors, weld the pillars back in place where the door will close on it properly and then fill in the quarter gaps with pieces of the old back doors.

Very do-able. Ive done many similar conversions although not one of these. Getting the longer doors will cut the time required in half, stretching doors properly is a lot of extra work. The front fender pods could be reused, it's possible another GM car of the era might be able to donate the door shells, not sure there.

 

If you're paying someone to do it, save a bunch of time and money and buy a 2 door. If you're willing to tackle it yourself, it would just cost a lot of your time. A lot!

 

As for cost, if you have the longer doors, I'd guess 100 hours, including making up quarter window garnish and quarter gl***, or at least templates for it.

Double that if the front doors have to be stretched, the regulators would have to be reworked, along with more gl*** patterns and garnish, plus having factory stamped doors will make locating the door post easier.

 

There is no equivalent trunk back coupe/2 door sedan Cadillac in those years, so you'll end up with something totally unique. Could be worth it if you're willing to put in the time or money.

 

I am no Rik Hoving, but i moved the door frame. I’m not skilled enough in photoshop to slant the rear roof. But ****Fire…with a cool roof slant I think this would be a killer kustom. I might buy this 47 if it’s still for sale in a few months when I have some cash coming my way. I’m just wondering what the cost for the door work and roof slant. I live in New York. Maybe $8k? Yes I know it varies wildly. I’m just thinking out loud.

 

For me, to pull off the two door look the roof needs shortening to bring the C pillar forward, creating more of a coupe style roof.
Otherwise the proportions are too front and mid heavy, with the loooong hood and new longer doors.

All becomes a snowball from there with extended 'cat walk' with the right profile to meet the new rear window position etc.

 

I did a terrible job moving the C pillar forward. The roof slant is not right. The slant of the roof should match the slant of the front fender. Damn, this could be killer. I might have to hire Rik to professionally render it then think about pulling the trigger. Yes I know it’s big money. But this is exactly what money is for. Fun coupons. I’m 6’4” tall so I’ve always loved the big cars.

 

This started out as a 4 door. Lots of work to get it to this point.

 

I love a 2dr but I'd leave this one as-is... Caddies are some of the few more-door cars that pull the look off well enough.

 

OK, time to inject some common sense here. There is a quick remedy to all of this. and this is just my opinion, nothing more.

Okay, you are at an age where its more prudent to get over the idea of you doing any of this work.

You have money, and that is a plus.

And you want a Caddy two door, I get that.

So ditch the idea of that 47 cad, and go look for a finished 49 Caddy two door fast back Sedanette, you wont be disappointed I ***ure you!

The 49 has more modern features over the 47, as you will learn and find out.
Thanks from Dennis.

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Hey @55CadillacTed
Feel free to use this image as your avatar.

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Its far more appealing than the lame dude in the helmet with the question mark on it.
Your welcome from Dennis.

 

Or a 49 Olds or Buick fastback.

 

To the guys who said just get a 49, ….I think you’re missing the point. We are here to customize, mild to radical. Turning that 47 into a 2 door would have unique proportions. I don’t want a “quick remedy” and to “just buy a 49 and be happy” as you suggest. I’m an artist. Always have been. I won’t be doing the metal work myself. I will gladly pay a highly skilled craftsman. I love supporting artist and craftsman. And I’m a leather craftsman so I’ll be doing the interior myself. So when you tell me to do the logical thing and just get a 49, i say na.

 

Call Bad Chad

 

Hell yes, this at***ude is what I'm here for. If you dig through my personal threads you'll see several similar 2 door conversions I've done, it's very do-able, I feel like my hour estimates are accurate, so multiply by the shop's hourly rate if you're looking for an estimate.

It's not always about the cheapest way. Some builds are done for the love of the build, and I'm here for it.

 

That purple beast is one big damn car. Love it.

I say do it....

I'm good at spending other people's money. My boss will testify.

 

By the way, this is my '41 (best pic I have at the moment). Its got some old custom work done to it, mostly on the rear that you can't see here but just to show I'm all for custom 40s Cadillacs.

I think the car posted above has great potential with the right plan. (My hour figures don't include a reworked roofline though.)

 

That era gm just screams custom

cost? It’s X per hour plus materials.
Reach out to a couple shops within driving distance.
Plus how much of a build can you do

 

Atta boy Ted!
It will be interesting to see the filming of the interior leather work you are capable of!
Perfection cannot be rushed!

 

I lengthened the door about the length of the door handle in the picture. not very coupish.. more 2 door sedan. I like door posts.

 

still a 4 door

"long door" 2 door conversion.

 

In another post you note you are tall; perhaps a 2-door roadster would be a better fit?
I would think it would be significantly easier/cheaper and more fun. It won't be a daily driver and sit outside.

 

Quickie - moderate chop and coupe...

 

^^^^^^ Proves my point.

A whole lot of roof work and rework of the panels between the rear window and trunk lid to get it looking right.

 

****Fire these are stunning.