I've been reading through the classifieds, looking for an El Camino, and I came across an ad for an '84 El Camino roadster. And it refers to it as a convertible in the text of the ad, so I assume that means it has a cloth top, and isn't just a case of someone sawing the roof off of the vehicle...

Anyway, how did this come to be? Is it likely to be a complete custom job by someone, or was there some company doing conversions?

It certainly seems kind of unique, and I definitely like being unique, but is this likely to be something worth looking into, or is it likely to be some sort of hack-job that I should avoid?

Joe

if it is close enough to you for it to be convenient, and you are that interested in it, go lookin
if it looks good, if they've done a good job of it i don't see any reason why you should stay away (other than normal convertible problems, leaks, etc.)
try and find out who did it, what exactly they did, did they stiffen the frame (dunno if it would be needed, couldn't hurt)? what type of condition the car was in before they started cutting into it, etc. see if you can find anything that would scare you away (and share what you think with us here, might be able to find a reason why you shouldn't buy it)
good luck with it

PS
i've always thought that a Elky with T-tops would rock

If close, take a look and take some pics, I'm curious.

I would think that cutting the roof off of an El Camino would considerably compromise the rigidity of the frame. It had to be an an aftermarket conversion. I'd like to see a few pictures of it.

:mrgreen:

Yeah, take some pictures and post them on here! 8)

Well, the guy finally got back to me. Turns out that it was a case where someone just sawed the roof off the car. Makes it hard to use in anything but nice weather :-(

So, since I need a car that can be driven in the winter, that one ain't it. If anyone is interested in it, though, I can post the guy's number.

Off to keep looking...

Joe

Yeah, I didn't think there was any that were ever professionally done. I bet the guy may have rolled the car, and this was his way of trying to pass it off as some custom job. I'm sure Ernie's right about the car being weakened also, if the frame hasn't been strengthened.

This was posted over on Chevytalk.com. I don't like the way it looks from this angle but would have liked to see if from another angle to say for sure.

http://www.elcaminostore.com/Cars/78-87/el-cam3.jpg

I don't like it.... :huh:


Hey...how do you add or attach a pic to a reply as the photo above? I looked at the image icon at the top thinking would call for me to upload a pic from my computer as we do on placing our pics in our member rides folders.

Please just send me any info on this to my email since I don't want to change the run of the subject matter here.

dave

One word "YUK"

i like it but the color is too plain :( :(

In my search for some pictures for the stripes on my Elky I found this picture and some info on the one from above.

"Ian Bivens of Sunnyvale, CA, chopped this '81 Chevrolet El Camino with the help of a friend, and the original roof clips back on when needed. This topless truck has the original 3.8 litre V-6 engine and paint.

Inside is a Grant three-spoke steering wheel, Sony stereo, speakers, and 10-inch subwoofer in a bandpass box in the rear storage. The Cragar wheels are 14x7-inches. Future plans include an air-ride kit and SS trim package."

http://www.truckworld.com/Readers-Rides/images/2000/00-apr/0400bivens.jpg

I cannot tell a lie, I sawed up that car.
I bought the camino in 2001 intending to just hack the roof off and toss it. I took measurements from a bud's elk, made up plans, and went looking for a victim. The body stills wears the original paint, the v6 was shot. I put in a new v6. ( I could a had a v8 and should have...)

The roof didn't come off willingly (there is some pretty stout stuff in there, just in case you DO roll an Elky). Plasma cutter, sawzall, hacksaw, chisels, some sweat, swearing, profuse bleeding, and two weeks of evenings after work. email me at ianbivens@hotmail.com and I can send a few pics of the carnage.
There's a 2 x 2 beam welded across the door jambs. In four years, the door gaps haven't changed and nothing rattles or squeaks. These are very solid cars, unlike the unit body Rancheros. The roof seals well, provided I replace the camper tape every two years or so. I drive this car 60 miles daily, and it has held up quite well. I absolutely LOVE driving this thing. I never pull up next to someone else in a clone of my ride. I get lots of slack-jaw looks on summer days.
I do need to repaint it, it attracts old men like flies. I've learned to embrace the color however, -who would steal anything painted this color? On the other hand, I get tired of telling people it's not a Cadillac.
The car is a blast to drive and gets lots of positive feedback at car shows and such. One day I'll quit driving it long enough to paint it and put in a decent motor (I'm thinking of maybe gutting a wrecked police car for parts) and suspension.http://e:\s.jpg

Email sent.

I don't know about 5th gens but 3rd gens have boxed frames just like Chevelle wagons, convertables are not boxed. As long as that's the case with a 5th gen I don't think it would be a big issue, just add some metal along the edge where the bottom of the top is for stiffness and run with it. I've seen one(5th gen) around here with a hobbled up soft top but it doesn't look good at all to me. I think a 2nd or 3rd gen would have perfect lines for it though.

I know where a 3rd gen GMC Sprint is with the top rusting off and I've thought many times about getting it and making a roadster out of it!

My neighbor has a 64 for sale and I am thinking of getting it and making a roadster out of it. This body stlyle does not have such a slant to the rear part of the cab and I think that it would look better has a convertible then the other body styles. My main worry is that the door frame goes around the windows and I would want to change that. Possibly just weld them into the top.

That sounds like one helluva challenging project! Have you considered a lift-off hard-top like some T-birds have, rather than a rag top??

I think I like it! A two seat "sportscar/pick-up". Unique!

Hey it looks good.

I think I could get use to it. Needs a bolder color though.