making a mk1 convertible

sparkolena · 05-19-2009, 08:06 AM

Has anybody cut the roof off their car? I would like to get some info before I start cutting. I have seen some pic were people have.

muffinman · 05-19-2009, 09:36 AM

I thought you wanted an auto cross car?

Hsien-Ko MR2 · 05-19-2009, 11:27 AM

Who needs info? Just start cutting and hope for the best!

lepichichi · 05-19-2009, 11:32 AM

interesting

muffinman · 05-19-2009, 11:37 AM

actually doesn't look so bad here

muffinman · 05-19-2009, 11:39 AM

ebouwman · 05-19-2009, 12:35 PM

nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

I'm sorry, that was my gut reaction...
I have to say that that red convertible one looks pretty kick ass, but still.

To do it it would probably be 1 billion times easier if you had/happen to have a t-top, becuase then you don't have to fight with that massive cut along the top of the window and most of that edge would already be finished.

Anyone else see that mk2 that had the chop job though? It was truly HORRIBLE, with the red mk1 there he keeps the soft-top there to hide that edge. In the mk2 one he didn't and it looked terrible, also there was a mk2 convertible that did come from the factory and the engine lid and rear deck were curvy or something to make it look like it was meant to be a convertible.

Hsien-Ko MR2 · 05-19-2009, 12:38 PM

Maybe just a targa?

Davis · 05-19-2009, 12:40 PM

The red one is owned by Spyderbob on mr2oc. Toyota was testing the market for the convertibles. Toyota MR2 Convertible - 1986-1987

muffinman · 05-19-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davis

The red one is owned by Spyderbob on mr2oc. Toyota was testing the market for the convertibles. Toyota MR2 Convertible - 1986-1987

Yeah i read that , pretty good read.

ebouwman · 05-19-2009, 01:17 PM

Ya, that a pretty kick ass story! I wish i had a cool story like that.

With that story those cars must be worth quite a bit.

RIOT · 05-19-2009, 02:09 PM

toyota made a handful of them. making a custom one that is safe will be a TON of work and money

muffinman · 05-19-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIOT

toyota made a handful of them. making a custom one that is safe will be a TON of work and money

Toyota didn't make them so it shouldn't be impossible to recreate but then the question would be WHY?

HeartbreakMR2 · 05-20-2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muffinman

Toyota didn't make them so it shouldn't be impossible to recreate but then the question would be WHY?

For a girl. Girls always look better topless

ebouwman · 05-20-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeartbreakMR2

For a girl. Girls always look better topless

That's a good point...

But i wouldn't say always!

Kevin mr2 1985 · 05-20-2009, 01:56 AM

oh i like the targa idea that would be cool!

SW21T · 05-20-2009, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebouwman

nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

I'm sorry, that was my gut reaction...
I have to say that that red convertible one looks pretty kick ass, but still.

To do it it would probably be 1 billion times easier if you had/happen to have a t-top, becuase then you don't have to fight with that massive cut along the top of the window and most of that edge would already be finished.

Anyone else see that mk2 that had the chop job though? It was truly HORRIBLE, with the red mk1 there he keeps the soft-top there to hide that edge. In the mk2 one he didn't and it looked terrible, also there was a mk2 convertible that did come from the factory and the engine lid and rear deck were curvy or something to make it look like it was meant to be a convertible.

+1!!!!

curvesrgood · 05-21-2009, 01:50 PM

There is/was a mk1 chopped top here locally with like a 20v motor swapped in, and it is a great deal... but no one seems interested because the top is cut off!! I was thinking of cutting the top off the 85 hardtop scrap car out back to "fix" it, but that'd be a ton of work and I've already got too many projects. I'm sure some folks like them, but they make me throw up in my mouth a little every time I see one. The mk2 TRD spyder on the other hand... beautiful!!

LokiRx7 · 05-22-2009, 01:08 PM

I am sure they added something to strengthen the body of the car in those convertibles. What most people dont realize is that generally convertibles weigh more than hardtops. The reason being is that the roof stiffens the body, and when you simply cut it off the car becomes weakened. Your handling will be affected and like one poor individual on Rx7Club found there can be HORRIBLE results!!

Someone tried to turn their Rx-7 into a convertible, and it worked for about six months until the body started sagging in the middle because it wasnt strengthened for the lack of a roof. Eventually he could no longer open his doors, and when he got the driver door open it wouldnt shut. Why? because the roof stiffen the entire body, and professional convertible conversion shops add frame ties and all sorts of tricks to strengthen the entire body. You cant just cut the roof off of a car and call it a day, even on cars that came as (optional) convertibles from the factory! Its harder than an engine swap, more expensive, and in the end detrimental to your handling! Its going to be easier (possibly cheaper lol) to buy an MK3 spyder!

M-r2d2 · 05-22-2009, 02:08 PM

I like the idea of a targa top.
you think a roof from a del sol would fit that would make it way easier just cut cut weld weld <---- way easier to say

my friend said he wanted one on his eclipse but i think it would look bad, but on a two it would be cool looking

05-19-2009, 08:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
sparkolena No Skills Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	making a mk1 convertible Has anybody cut the roof off their car? I would like to get some info before I start cutting. I have seen some pic were people have.

05-19-2009, 11:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	actually doesn't look so bad here Last edited by muffinman; 05-19-2009 at 11:44 AM..

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05-19-2009, 09:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I thought you wanted an auto cross car?

05-19-2009, 11:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Hsien-Ko MR2 So far... she runs Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Who needs info? Just start cutting and hope for the best!

05-19-2009, 11:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
lepichichi No Skills Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 45 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	interesting

05-19-2009, 11:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )

05-19-2009, 12:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! I'm sorry, that was my gut reaction... I have to say that that red convertible one looks pretty kick ass, but still. To do it it would probably be 1 billion times easier if you had/happen to have a t-top, becuase then you don't have to fight with that massive cut along the top of the window and most of that edge would already be finished. Anyone else see that mk2 that had the chop job though? It was truly HORRIBLE, with the red mk1 there he keeps the soft-top there to hide that edge. In the mk2 one he didn't and it looked terrible, also there was a mk2 convertible that did come from the factory and the engine lid and rear deck were curvy or something to make it look like it was meant to be a convertible.

05-19-2009, 12:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hsien-Ko MR2 So far... she runs Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Maybe just a targa?

05-19-2009, 12:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	The red one is owned by Spyderbob on mr2oc. Toyota was testing the market for the convertibles. Toyota MR2 Convertible - 1986-1987

05-19-2009, 01:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Ya, that a pretty kick ass story! I wish i had a cool story like that. With that story those cars must be worth quite a bit.

05-19-2009, 02:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
RIOT Apex King Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vernon CT Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	toyota made a handful of them. making a custom one that is safe will be a TON of work and money

05-20-2009, 01:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
Kevin mr2 1985 it started! yes! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 435 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	oh i like the targa idea that would be cool!

05-21-2009, 01:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
curvesrgood three mk1's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NC Posts: 499 Thanks: 8 Thanked 33 Times in 28 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	There is/was a mk1 chopped top here locally with like a 20v motor swapped in, and it is a great deal... but no one seems interested because the top is cut off!! I was thinking of cutting the top off the 85 hardtop scrap car out back to "fix" it, but that'd be a ton of work and I've already got too many projects. I'm sure some folks like them, but they make me throw up in my mouth a little every time I see one. The mk2 TRD spyder on the other hand... beautiful!!

05-22-2009, 01:08 PM	#19 (permalink)
LokiRx7 MR2 + Flat Black = FAIL Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.C. Ohio Posts: 320 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I am sure they added something to strengthen the body of the car in those convertibles. What most people dont realize is that generally convertibles weigh more than hardtops. The reason being is that the roof stiffens the body, and when you simply cut it off the car becomes weakened. Your handling will be affected and like one poor individual on Rx7Club found there can be HORRIBLE results!! Someone tried to turn their Rx-7 into a convertible, and it worked for about six months until the body started sagging in the middle because it wasnt strengthened for the lack of a roof. Eventually he could no longer open his doors, and when he got the driver door open it wouldnt shut. Why? because the roof stiffen the entire body, and professional convertible conversion shops add frame ties and all sorts of tricks to strengthen the entire body. You cant just cut the roof off of a car and call it a day, even on cars that came as (optional) convertibles from the factory! Its harder than an engine swap, more expensive, and in the end detrimental to your handling! Its going to be easier (possibly cheaper lol) to buy an MK3 spyder!

05-22-2009, 02:08 PM	#20 (permalink)
M-r2d2 Cage Fighter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Decatur,TX Posts: 422 Thanks: 7 Thanked 13 Times in 13 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I like the idea of a targa top. you think a roof from a del sol would fit that would make it way easier just cut cut weld weld <---- way easier to say my friend said he wanted one on his eclipse but i think it would look bad, but on a two it would be cool looking