Make your own convertible

[BobT-47P15]

Just take a coupe and remove the top.....then a little wood trim around

the edge, and presto..........

Add some plaid seatcovers-----

Link to the ad: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Plymouth-CAMBRIDGE-CONVERTIBLE-RESTORED-1952-PLYMOUTH-CAMBRIDGE-CRANBROOK-CONVERTIBLE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6387QQihZ020QQitemZ300157246504QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Normspeed]

He did a tidy job of it. I'd lose the red plaid, and lighten up the dashboard/steering wheel area. And the windshield frame needs something. It's not just a convert, it's a roadster. No side windows at all. Neat.

[BobT-47P15]

I guess they were trying for the Chrysler Highlander Plaid look on the seats.

What I like even less is the wood looking trim around the edges. It is a rather neat job and would be a fun summertime driver. A person could have a Carson style top made for it or have a tonneau cover made to keep out the elements while parked. The vehicle is located in Osage Beach, MO....on Lake of the Ozarks....about two hours drive from here. Not familiar with the dealership.

[claybill]

funny..i wonder why he stuck that stop sign on the boot?

bill

actually i like it. always wanted to try it myself..

[Norm's Coupe]

I agree, that's a nice looking car. However, what happens when you get caught in a sudden summer rain storm. Not to mentioned the fact that you could not park it in a motel parking lot overnight with no top.

No offense Bob or to anyone else who likes and drives convertibles, but there is one other big draw back to convertibles. That's when a flock of geese or seagulls fly overhead. Better at least have a hat on if the top is down all the time.

[Young Ed]

That would be a decent car to have some fun with but I cant see paying anywhere near what they are asking! For the same price I bet you could get a real 51-52 convert. Maybe not a perfect one but I bet a very nice one.

[Norm's Coupe]

That would be a decent car to have some fun with but I cant see paying anywhere near what they are asking! For the same price I bet you could get a real 51-52 convert. Maybe not a perfect one but I bet a very nice one.

Ed, Bob said that car was down in the Ozarks. I was just down there last month at Branson. They had a neat used car lot in Branson that only sold old cars. Every one of those cars were WAY overpriced. That's not only my opinion. While looking at the cars we met another couple looking around who were from Arkansas. That guy felt the same way as I did about the prices and the cars. For the most part it looked like a quick paint job and general cleanup on them, then stick a price of $18,000 to $25,000 on them. They all looked good from 20 feet, however some of them even had rust blisters under the paint. The only way someone would pay those prices were if they were new to the hobby and didn't know any better. Guess that's probably the customer they were looking for.

[BobT-47P15]

Haven't been to that place in Branson, Norm. Is it along the Hwy 76 country music boulevard?

There was a man whose family owned Shepherd of the Hills attraction who was a car collector person. Don't know if he is still around or not. Years ago I knew where his shop was and would stop in to see what he had.

[Norm's Coupe]

Haven't been to that place in Branson, Norm. Is it along the Hwy 76 country music boulevard?

There was a man whose family owned Shepherd of the Hills attraction who was a car collector person. Don't know if he is still around or not. Years ago I knew where his shop was and would stop in to see what he had.

Bob, that dealer is right on the main drag (hwy 76). It not too far from the 57 Museum if I remember right. Next door is a restaurant (white frame building, don't remember the name), then in the valley next to the restaurant was the cheaper motels with rooms in the $28 dollar range according to the sign. Think the toy museum was across the street. At any rate, it's between the Titanic and the 57 Museum, same side of street the 57 Museum is on. It's a small lot. Because of all the stuff around there, if you blink when you drive by it, you'll pass it up. I saw it when we first got there. Later when I wanted to go back for a look, I had a hard time finding it again. Must have passed it at least a couple of times before I found it again. They only had about 15 or 20 cars when I was there.

[BobT-47P15]

Thanks Norm. Have to look for that next trip.

[Brad Lustig]

A guy I know made his own roadster out of a Karman Ghia.

Ended up being a neat little car. Funny how it all started out. He was talking to a buddy of his that knows VWs in and out and said he wanted to cut the top off. His friend said don't do it, you'll regret it. Went back and forth several times over several months. Finally the phone call came that he'd gone ahead and taken and sawzall to the roof of his car (Chris would be proud here). Well, he needed help because his car was sagging for some reason. So his friend came over and framed up the whole car so it was sturdy. It's actually a very solid car now. The windshield is just a piece of plexi so it's easy to pop out and put a new one in as needed. I believe you can see the framing just behind the seats in this picture. Just square tubing painted to match the car.

[PatS....]

Just take a coupe and remove the top.....then a little wood trim around

the edge, and presto..........

Add some plaid seatcovers-----

Link to the ad: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Plymouth-CAMBRIDGE-CONVERTIBLE-RESTORED-1952-PLYMOUTH-CAMBRIDGE-CRANBROOK-CONVERTIBLE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6387QQihZ020QQitemZ300157246504QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

This car has been "featured" on the forum before on a previous for sale on the 'bay. I think it has been painted since then. Still not a bad fun car.

[Norm's Coupe]

A guy I know made his own roadster out of a Karman Ghia.

The windshield is just a piece of plexi so it's easy to pop out and put a new one in as needed.

Brad, that's a nice looking Karman Ghia. Turned out nice. Only problem I see is the windshield. Don't believe plexi glass is DOT legal for use as a windshield, or just how safe that is. He should have a windshield cut to fit with DOT approved safety glass.

[Brad Lustig]

May be Lexan he used. Don't know if that'd make any difference. I'm pretty sure there's more than the windshield that's not DOT approved on this car. I think getting one made to fit would probably cost as much as the car itself. I guess he could take a windshield from a KG and just have the top edge cut down. I haven't seen the guy in about a year at the cruise-ins so I don't know what the status of the car is now. I know he's still driving it around, though.

[Norm's Coupe]

Like I said that car looks nice. Even if the car is otherwise DOT approved except for the windshield, I'd still replace that windshield for safety sake. What's your eyesight or life worth? Windshield can't cost that much to have it cut down.

I'm surprised he was even able to get license plates for it with that windshield. We don't normally have safety inspections to get a license plate here. However, they do inspect cars with certain modifications made or home built cars before issuing a plate.

All that said, I sometimes wonder about modern cars I see on the road. Yesterday saw a car that had been hit in the drivers side. Drivers door would not shut all the way. Was ajar a good 5 to 6 inches and the bumper was held on by a rubber tie down strap to the trunk. I'm surprised the police don't stop people driving like that.

[Don Coatney]

Why is it that I legally can use a lexan windshield on my motorcycle but it is supposedly not legal to use a lexan windshield on a car? If I got a scratch in my motorcycle windshield I could buff it out with rubbing compound.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Yes Don and how about the aircraft industry..bird stikes are common but yet do they use glass...no....!!!

Lexan is legal in some cases and many states do not even require a windshield on speciality cars...rods, kit cars etc..would never be produced if one had to rely on the glazing industry to step up and make saftery glass of the size, shape etc these cars require..and the cost involved..whoa...we just killed the kit car industry...all racing vehicles now are running lexan due to it not causing lots of blown tires from glass debris not cleaned when an accident on the track occurs..and as for open top (no solid frame) windscreens..the European car history is rich with these vehicles...right on down to single mounted screens per occupant...plus there is another product out there that is basically lexan with real exterior glass like proerties for abiltiy to use wipers without hazing...speedyglass or something like that....however it all boils down to the state and local laws and who is enforcing them..and I guess in the long run in the event of an accident where loss of ife is direct result..insurance companies could litigate the "saftey" aspect and refuse to pay claims...libalityand reliabiltiy are the keys to all the issues...

[Brad Lustig]

The car was a licensed driver before he chopped the lid off. We don't have inspections anymore in SC. Skated around that issue on two counts, I guess.

[Norm's Coupe]

Why is it that I legally can use a lexan windshield on my motorcycle but it is supposedly not legal to use a lexan windshield on a car? If I got a scratch in my motorcycle windshield I could buff it out with rubbing compound.

Don,

Safety laws for motorcycles and cars are not equal. To begin with, where's your seat belt on a motorcycle. Then in some states like Wisconsin you are not required to wear a helmet or glasses on a motorcycle, unless you are under 18 years of age, then you must wear the helmet or glasses/face shield. So, the laws for cars and motorcycles are not apples to apples. Yet, in a car you don't need glasses or a helmet, but you are supposed to wear the seat belt. In addition, you don't need a windshield wiper on a motorcycle, but you do on a car/truck. In fact, you are not even required to have a windshield on a motorcycle, but are required to have one on a car. Could be because a motorcycle windshield is just a bug and wind deflector and not really like that of a car.

As for airplanes. How many rocks are going to fly into an airplane windshield??

[Merle Coggins]

Don' date='

Safety laws for motorcycles and cars are not equal. To begin with, where's your seat belt on a motorcycle. Then in some states like Wisconsin you are not required to wear a helmet or glasses on a motorcycle, unless you are under 18 years of age, then you must wear the helmet or glasses/face shield. So, the laws for cars and motorcycles are not apples to apples. Yet, in a car you don't need glasses or a helmet, but you are supposed to wear the seat belt. In addition, you don't need a windshield wiper on a motorcycle, but you do on a car/truck. In fact, you are not even required to have a windshield on a motorcycle, but are required to have one on a car. Could be because a motorcycle windshield is just a bug and wind deflector and not really like that of a car.

As for airplanes. How many rocks are going to fly into an airplane windshield??[/quote']

Actually Norm, eye protection is the one thing that the state of Wisconsin does enforce. Helmets are required if under 18 or with a learners permit. But every rider must have adequate eye protection which may be eye glasses, goggles, helmet face shield, or a windshield that rises a certain distance above the rider's seat.

Merle