How Much Would Cutting The Top Off Of A Car Effect It's Value?

Hey,
I have a 55' Chevy Belair 2-Door Post, and I was thinking of cutting the top off of it. I have always wanted a 55' convertible, but since I can't afford one, I was thinking that this is the way I should go.

The only thing that I am worried about is how it will effect the value of the car. If the chop is done really nicely, and everything is done really well...how much will it effect the value as opposed to if I kept it as a hardtop?

I was also considering making it a Hardtop-Convertible.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

How much do you think it's worth now? Unless it's a total piece of crap right now, I wouldn't do it. I can't imagine what you would have to go through to "make it right". It's yours, so do what you want, but I wouldn't want to buy it when you're done. Remember, the roof is part of the structural integrity in some cars. I've seen roofs cut off unibody cars and they have buckled. I think your 55 would have a stronger frame if it was a convertible.

 

The car is in GREAT shape right now. I'm trying to talk myself out of doing it, because it's just way too nice to chop...but I've always wanted a 55' Convertible.

I'd probably have to go brace everything and strengthen everything up before I chop the top though, you're right.

 

Convertables are constructed quite differently hardtops. The body is braced more and some have different frames altogether. You would turn something of value into garbage.

 

are you crazy or what? leave it alone or go find a rust bucket to fuck around with.

I know winters long, but don't go ape like whats his name from 'The Shining'

 

HAHA, yeah. I see what you mean.

I'm just throwing some ideas out...nothing is really set in stone yet.

 

it would be silly, not to mention the value of the car will plummet... unless youve got deep pockets.

i would get an assembly manual and see what the body differences are and what would be the best body type (4dr, 2dr) to do this conversion the right way. tons of information about tri-five chevy measurements and their finer details.

 

I wouldn't do it to a NICE car...you'd end up with something that nobody else will want (unless you do a COMPLETE and THOROUGH conversion to a convertible body using NOS or repop parts) and will KILL the resale value of the car.

My advice would be to search out a stripped convertible body, like an abandoned restoration project, and transfer the stuff from your current car to it. Granted, that's still going to be expensive, but you'll be able to sell of your old car as a gutted roller (with the roof still on it!) for a few bucks...compared to almost NOTHING if you whack the top.

Lastly...if you REALLY want a 55 'convertible', and are willing to do lots of metal surgery...find yourself a ratty hardtop, one that's been rolled or had something heavy fall on the roof might be a great candidate...or even a half decent four door...then cut the top off THAT body and make yourself a backyard topless cruiser! If you start with a messed up (wreck car) or undesirable (four door) specimen, you won't affect it's resale value so much by hacking it up.

 

it will kill the price of the car. if it was a POS 4dr hard top you could pawn it off as a parade car and still have some value to it.


on a side note, I had a 66 caddy 4dr that was mint 70k orig miles that i could not give away for $1500 . I said fuck it cut the roof off made a padded boot to cover where it was cut drove the car one day and some one gave me $2500 for it.

 

55-57 converts had a huge I beam X style crossmember, something like a late 40's Ford frame. Also additional body mounts and internal body bracing.

Do yourself and your heirs a favor...install a sunroof instead!

I know where your coming from though...A friend of mine has the title and mostly all the needed parts (including the softtop frame, windshield frame, side glass and chassis crossmember!) to do a 57 conversion, all stored away in his basement! The convert was chopped up with an axe back in the 70's. The last registered owner (NOT the chopper though!) was his bro in law.
Not sure it will ever be done. He's missing the major component.

A GOOD 57 sedan!

 

Thanks for all of the replies!

Here are some pics of the car, just in case you were interested. It looks way too nice to chop up, but I'm not sure what I am going to do yet.

I don't plan on selling it, but I just asked the question in case something should happen in which case I was forced to sell it.

 

Canadians. Go figure.

 

HAHA, what's THAT supposed to mean?!!?!?!?!

 

Are you kidding me? Don't fuck up a really nice car!!!!

 

it would take a $20k car and make it a $5k car. unless you find a donor vert to transfer all the parts over including the working top, you will make it a parade car...

 

Looks like a nice car, If you really want a convertible, sell for, or trade for, or buy the REAL thing, Yep, they are expensive, and will continue to gain, but if you chop up your sedan, it'll just lose its value in either category.

 

Don't fool yourself, turning a classic 'Tri-Five' sedan or hardtop into a "convertible" will NOT make it a "convertible" no matter how well the conversion is done. If it is not "numbers matching" it won't have half of the value of the genuine item.

 

if I give my dog a lobotomy how much can I expect it to fetch?

 

If your even asking that question you most likely shouldn’t I agree find a rust bucket.

 

Haha, I am seeing that the general concensus is to leave it a Hardtop.

 

ouch that hurts

 

Solid restorable 4 door sedans can still be found for under 2k, with some careful planning and hard work you 'could' create yourself a pretty nice "convertible" for less than what your 2dr. post would lose in value.

 

Stop bullshitting us. First off I'd bet my left nut thats not your car. Second off, i bet it's your dad's.

third, why are you calling a 2 door post a hardtop? You don't even know the model of your own car?

Stop making us Canadians look like arseholes

 

Sometimes this place cracks me up. Whenever someone here say's they're gonna wack the roof off their Model A, I step out and say "don't do it, you're ruining it" and then procede to get a backlash of comments like "what the hell are you, a restorer?".


Go ahead and cut the freakin roof off of that thing. It's just a 55 Chevy. There's still millions of them out there. Maybe in 25 years when they are as old as a Model A, I'll change my mind. But until then, hack hack, hack!!!

Now let the floggin begin.........

 

If you're worried about the value of the car, then restore it or sell it. If you're gonna chop it up then don't worry about the value. Make it yours and enjoy it.

 

You've always wanted a convertible...now you have one (potentially). If losing it's value is an issue, you need to leave the hobby. Plus, it's a Chevy....CHOP IT UP!

 

Can't you buy a kit to make a 4dr a conv? I seen that on Overhaulin last year. sell it or trade it off for a 4 door, with cash and buy the kit I spoke about. At least then your not fucking up yours.

 

you are right....

 

Cutting the roof off of a car does not make it a convertible.

"If you break it in half, you don't get two nickels, you get shit." Randall McMurphy

 

Sell it and buy a parade car that somebody else has grown tired of, that's already a devalued piece of shit.