Customs To cut the top off or not? Your opinion needed!

I've been driving my '57 Lincoln Premiere for probably about 4 years now and it is time to start fixing it up a bit. I pulled the 368 Lincoln Y-block back in May because it was eating as much oil as gas. It has a FI 5.0L HO and AOD in it for the time being while I hunt down some cool speed parts and rebuild the original motor.

Well, I picked up a '57 Lincoln Convertable this past weekend at an auction. I am really torn. All the convert stuff is in really nice shape on the parts car and the way the car is built, the conversion will be as easy as a big chop job could possibly be. BUT, this car looks awesome as a 2dr hardtop. I am going to build the car in an early 60's custom style. It is already on air ride, so it will be low.

So, convert or not? What does everyone think looks the best?

 

The only thing I would be concerned about is structural integrity, other than that have a blast. Enjoy your build.

 

I think the hardtop looks good. Is the parts car to far gone to have both on the road?

 

I figured that would come up. SERIOUSLY, that is not a concern if you have ever seen a '57 lincoln frame. The convert has a nice frame and I would probably use that frame anyway when I do this. It isn't needed, but the "extra" convert support on the frame is a 1/2" thick steel plate that runs from the front kickup to the rear kickup on the bottom of the frame, on both sides. Seriously, it is 1/2" thick plate steel about 5 or 6 inches wide. Has to add a couple hundred pounds to the car. The factory setup on both cars also has a i beam X in the center of the frame as well. Trust me it is overkill.

The parts car is seriously wasted, however anything is restorable.

 

say Wha..

 

That isn't an issue. This is a hardtop and the glass is easy to pull.

 

hardtop looks best, i love that car

 

Another vote for the hardtop. But it is your car. Build it the way you want.

 

I would leave it a HT. Love that car!

 

Hardtop. What's wrong with it now? A nice Gene style paint job (fade away) would look bitchin'!

 

Doood, what are you smoking? A Hardtop '57 Lincoln Premiere is one of the most beautiful cars ever and you want to cut the top off?!?!? Back away from the Sawzall.

 

your car as a convertible would be very cool. I say go for it.

 

See that is my problem, I like the hardtop....but how rare and expensive a '57 ragtop is.......tough choice I have. Not that my car is for sale, or will ever be, but having a car that rare and expensive appeals to me.

Okay, someone find me a rust free '57 2dr donor body somewhere....

 

My vote is hardtop.

 

shes yours but i say Hell no ...

 

Best of both worlds

a removable hardtop ?????????????

REDO THE TOP IN LIGHT FIBERGLASS ADD A LITEWEIGHT REAR WINDOW...

OR 'BAM POW" BATMOBILE


WISC.??? JUST CUT THE CHEESE AND LEAVE THE RINCKOLN ALONE

really patience grasshoppa .. find another donor car for the vert ... heck you have most of them in WISC. RIGHT NOW !
none in IOLA .. JEFFERSON?
I'll start lookin around here
windy hill , french lake ,

gosh seem someone should have one.... any other years help at all?

NICEST BIG PINK THING I HAVE SEEN LATELY ... OK CORAL/SALMON

 

Try and find a solid cheap more door to put the ragtop parts on...and keep your HT !

 

Hard top!

 

I say hard top. Beautiful car. I'm liking the black steel wheels too.

 

if money is a factor itll never be a real rag so itll actully be worth less

 

There were 43,765 hardtops and only 52 convertibles made in that year...or maybe I'm just making up those numbers.
I was 17 and saw a 56 Olds 98 hardtop on the front row of the local car lot...I bought it on impulse. Hey, it was a real convertible with new red paint and a new red naugahyde interior and a 245 HP engine...I grew to hate it. It leaked air and rain water, the cowl shook [this car had an 18 inch square of 1/2 inch plate welded to the center of the X] and it was so heavy it ate through tires and brakes at an alarming rate! ...And I didn't like getting my hair [yes, I actually had hair then] windblown and my face windburned..I'd go with the hardtop. Also, a new convertible top for a Lincoln of any kind starts at about $10,000 for a good one..well, maybe not quite that much but they're damned 'spensive.

 

I'm with Rocky on this one. Ever owned and driven a convert? I bought a nice Colorado Plymouth Fury convert once, drove it for about 6 months, hated that car. With the roof down, I got headaches from the sun beating down, windburn, whistle in my ears, always too hot or too cold, too much sun, or not enough sun, and on top of all that, the wife didn't like it. Someone offered me a chance to dump the convert and make a profit and it was gone.

Keep your car a hardtop and if you really want a convert, rebuild the parts car one you have. Then if you don't like it, you still have your hardtop. Gene

 

I say chop it, or leave it as is!

 

Hardtop vote

the hard top looks way kooler than the convertible to me!

 

Some people must not be reading this correctly. He has a convertible to donate all of the parts, he's not just cutting the roof off.

You better fuckin' do it. You know it needs to be done. Convertible trumps hardtop, every time. Are people really complaining about sunburn in a convertible? Put the top up, that's what it's there for.

I'll build that convertible if you don't. Do I have to knock out this '55 Dodge convert just to show how cool it'll be?

At the very least, put the convert in the shed and stew on it for a while. DON"T sell it. You'll come around eventually. Worst case scenario, you'll find a different body to base the convertible on.

 

TOTAL#35223
VERTS#3675-6(depends on where the info is from)
and is this the same color ?

dunno CLIFFY CAN I CHANGE MY VOTE?


HECK I JUST LEARNED HOW ..TRIAL AND ERROR TO lower this pic!!!!

oh i'm havin fun now click on the vert to enlarge then click next then previous then next repeat

 

Your hardtop is one decent ride . Keep it hard on top and try to build the convertible . That will be an awsum pair to have !

Retro Jim

 

Hard Top..........mike.........

 

Since the convertible is ate up, make a cool custom out of it. Best of both worlds.

 

Roll in the ht. Save the rag for another donor down the road. Keep all the good vert stuff and give the rest you dont need away or sell it