I have a 71 Cutlass Supreme convertible. I am searching for - the main reason I added to this forum - searching for a hard parade boot for my car. I am certain it would be an aftermarket item but I'd sorely like to have one. If anyone knows where I can find a fibreglass aftermarket parade boot for my '71 Cutlass Supreme please respond. I would particularly like to hear from other Cutlass Supreme owners who have already purchased and installed a fibreglass parade boot. To date all I have been able to find out is that there are generic parade boots available, somewhere, that would need the bracing parts installed first to have the top fit. I can have that done but before I even go there I need to hear experiences of other fibreglass boot owners with Cutlass Supremes. I know the car would look fantastic with the hard parade boot over the not-so-well fitting soft vinyl cover that came with the automobile. Many thanks to any and all responders !

 

I'm replying just in case you were wondering whether anyone was reading this. I've never seen or heard of one. Google doesn't find a trace of one ever existing, either. Have you ever seen one?

This is a previous discussion on this site about it: parade boot option?

FWIW, homebuilt airplane builders often have to design and make custom fiberglass cowlings, etc. It's an enormous PITA, but if you were highly motivated you could make a mold and sell them to the rest of us.

 

Anything like that would be aftermarket. I can't say that I've ever seen one for a Cutlass. I have seen them for the 71-76 full size convertibles, which I realize doesn't help, but at one time someone was making them.

 

Yea, I’m that guy.. built two of them. Intersection fairings where gear legs meet fuselage, or that type of thing. Wing tips too. Have used molding clay as a mold. Best outcomes were using foam blocking sculpted to shape. Multiple layers of glass cloth and resin. Then lots of finishing work on top of that. Not sayin you can’t do it, but lots of work to get there.

protecting the car paint while building the mold and doing the layup in place is doable, but not without risk of damage.