Newbie here. I have had my 77 cutlass for 25 years now. Have not done much to it after a repaint in 2001. Only has 45k miles on it. Super original car. Even has original spare etc. Zero rust car.

Have tried to sell but no market for these cars around me, so I am contemplating cutting the top off and making it a rag top until I figure out a mechanical top.

I have searched around to see if others have done this but not found much. Anyone here also think of this and or actually do it?

I am not a troll trying to start a war. Looking for decent info and opinions.

 

While I'm not saying it can't be done, the later A bodies just don't lend themselves well to a removable top. The body will require a lot of structural support to keep it from flexing. With that said there are a lot of articles on how to build a Carson Top.

 

Why dont you post some pics here in the for sale section and see if you get any hits on it ? The 73-77 cutlass page on face book seems to be doing quite a bit of buying and selling .If this car is everything you say it is I would hate to see it cut up .Its your car and your choice.I think ive only seen one with the mod your describing and wouldn't have a clue where to begin.

 

Convertibles have a reinforced frame to make up for the loss of rigidity when the top is cut off. Your 77 does not. In addition, cars that had available convertible versions had a cowl designed to take the twisting loads. Your 77 never had a convertible option and the cowl was designed to have a roof to help with torsional stiffness. Cut the roof off and eventually the doors won't open or close.

 

As an aside, does anyone know if the body or frames on cars with Hurst Hatches are reinforced? Also, Do cars of this era that have swivel seats come standard with disco eight tracks?😁

 

Might as well make a dune buggy out of it, cut off the top, take off all the metal-just the frame and front seat. Put some 20" wheels on it. Wow that would be so cool!!!! yeah....

 

Might be worthwhile seeing if you could get your hands on this article from Hot Rod magazine:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/86421/

Here's a place to start:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...how-to.144365/

 

[
Oh boy. Lots of info. Have begun reading. Thank you.
on a full frame car is the top that important for structure? The frame is same as a pickup. While I am not a engineer I have a hard time believing the frame would begin to buckle effecting the doors? Maybe I am wrong?

I am thinking about the top of the windshield. That has been the only thing stopping me so far.

it is at my friends body shop. It has a couple of small dents due to the wind blowing things over in my garage. I have put him on hold so I can decide whether to cut it off to make a fun cruiser.



QUOTE=joe_padavano;1252668]Convertibles have a reinforced frame to make up for the loss of rigidity when the top is cut off. Your 77 does not. In addition, cars that had available convertible versions had a cowl designed to take the twisting loads. Your 77 never had a convertible option and the cowl was designed to have a roof to help with torsional stiffness. Cut the roof off and eventually the doors won't open or close.[/QUOTE]

 

Trying to upload pics.

just a completely unmolested car.

 

I personally believe that if you were to try to create a fully functional, non problematic, natural looking convertible from a ‘77 Cutlass, the effort/time/ and mostly COST would be prohibitive. Even if you had Gene Winfield do the work, I am not convinced that it would look right. You have a nice low mileage car in a favorable color. I’d enjoy it for what it is, or sell it for whatever the market bears and assemble the money to buy what you are really wanting. Cutting the roof off is the easy part, finishing it properly is a whole other story. It IS your car though! If you really want to do it, then go to town.

 

That is a nice Cutlass. With a little work it could be a nice cruiser. Cut the top and it will be in a junkyard in two years. You will be asking yourself "what the hell was I thinking".

 

man that is a nice cutlass.no way in hell would i even think of chopping the top off that.put it in the for sale section with a price and sell it before you do.my little sisters first car was a 77 with buckets i bought for her for 20 bucks,transmission was out,replaced it and she drove it in high school and to college for 4 yrs,i would love to find her another one.she loved that car.

 

Arrggg. While I appreciate what you're saying, you're killing me.

What I want is a cobra kit car.
I have a low millage 95 impala ss too that I am trying to sell.
Market is saturated with a.c. 's right now so buying time is right.
Going to have a long conversation with body shop in next couple days.

 

Then sell the other cars and buy this.

 

Also, remember that your body shop has a significant financial interest in your decision. Once the top is off, you are either obligated to the investment or to accept a total loss. In my humble opinion, the market is soft across the board so your Cobra seller is taking a bite just as you are. Let them go and start a new chapter with a lot more garage space.

 

I have a convertible with all of the factory reinforcements and if I jack up the front of the car, the doors are hard to open/close, which says the frame is flexing some amount, so imagine if your car had none of the reinforcements what would happen.

 

Just told body shop to just fix the damage from stuff blowing into car.

I have put it here in classifieds.

Appreciate the info, especially to a newbie. For the record I treat newbies same way on forums I am regular on. Thank you.

 

I just saw an ad for a company offering to make your Tesla a convertible! The price tag? 39k
it is a nice looking buggy but as others have opined current market and model can affect the time to sale. Glws

 

)wise choice to not molest it!