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does anyone out here know if GM pulled 9 corvettes off the assembly line in 1981 to have converted into convertibles? i have been a long time C-3 enthusiaist and have never heard of this happening and i pretty much followed all corvette news from 1974 until today! on "VETTEFINDERS" there is a guy in texas (where else) saying he has a 1981 gold 4 speed convertible, and in his description claims it is a factory authorized conversion! i think it's more than likely some other scenario but was wondering if in fact there may be some truth to this claim if so, i'd be interested to hear about it. thanks fellow C-3 fans!
..........................chris
does anyone out here know if GM pulled 9 corvettes off the assembly line in 1981 to have converted into convertibles? i have been a long time C-3 enthusiaist and have never heard of this happening and i pretty much followed all corvette news from 1974 until today! on "VETTEFINDERS" there is a guy in texas (where else) saying he has a 1981 gold 4 speed convertible, and in his description claims it is a factory authorized conversion! i think it's more than likely some other scenario but was wondering if in fact there may be some truth to this claim if so, i'd be interested to hear about it. thanks fellow C-3 fans!
..........................chris
I am sure all the members from The Great State of Texas will be happy to answer your question with a comment like that!
By the way Texas, as with all states should be capitalized.
I am sure all the members from The Great State of Texas will be happy to answer your question with a comment like that!
By the way Texas, as with all states should be capitalized.
as i pm'd you, there was no offense aimed at the great state of Texas, it is just my experience that alot (not all) of folks from Texas here have very high asking prices and make some unbelieveable claims about cars they are selling, this 1981 "factory" convertible is one, another was a 2003 anniversary red coupe for 87K! i realize how when reading, a sliight could be infered i apologize for that.
vetterbuyer, i appreciate your input!! thanks! that's pretty much what i thought but as they say, you never know! and it reminds me of another saying "let the buyer beware"!!!
............................chris
This car is probably total bs BUT back in those years GM did send brand new cars to custom company's to have things like this done and then they were sold at the dealer as new.I worked for Cadillac in the 70s and there was a company I believe the name was American Sunroof Company.They did some of these customs.At the Caddy dealer we got lots custom sunfoofs,simulated convertables and I think the Eldorado Indy Pace car convertible was done by this company.I'm pretty sure I remember an 85 Corvette convertible or an early 86 that they did.Just saying that back then you could buy one of these cars off the showroom floor with basically no proof through the VIN to prove it.As I remember the car would come with a folder from American Sunroof in the glovebox with the warranty and care instructions.
Bottom line.......
If the seller claims that "I was told that....." and doesn't have any legitimate paperwork that proves his claim, it is pure . Just skip that car and keep looking. Every once in a while something unique comes along; but if the seller, or you, can't prove the car is legitimate, you're about to be 'hosed'.
...does anyone out here know if GM pulled 9 corvettes off the assembly line in 1981 to have converted into convertibles?...
No. GM did not. After convertible production ceased, there were several aftermarket folks who would convert your coupe to a convertible using NOS parts. None of these conversion shops were associated with GM.
There was no "convertible line" at St. Louis. Coupes and convertibles were built on the same line by the same UAW staff. It is my understanding only one or two workers per shift were responsible for upholstering the folding top irons. There would have been no need for nine or ten peoople to have had to migrate to Canada because convertible production ceased.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Aug 18, 2008 at 10:37 AM.
This car is probably total bs BUT back in those years GM did send brand new cars to custom company's to have things like this done and then they were sold at the dealer as new.I worked for Cadillac in the 70s and there was a company I believe the name was American Sunroof Company.They did some of these customs.At the Caddy dealer we got lots custom sunfoofs,simulated convertables and I think the Eldorado Indy Pace car convertible was done by this company.I'm pretty sure I remember an 85 Corvette convertible or an early 86 that they did.Just saying that back then you could buy one of these cars off the showroom floor with basically no proof through the VIN to prove it.As I remember the car would come with a folder from American Sunroof in the glovebox with the warranty and care instructions.
I have run into similar circumstances with other cars in the 1980's. A buddy claimed that his car (if I recall some kind of Datsun) had a factory sunroof. To me it looked like a butcher job from a local window tinting place. He pulled out the car's bill of sale and it said "dealer installed sunroof". Needless to say, the dealer got the car and sent it to local butcher shop to be carved up by an 18 year old w/ a reciprocating saw. The issue came up b/c the roof always leaked and he was trying to get the regional Datsun rep to deal w/ it. For all you kiddies, Datsun is now Nissan.
No. GM did not. After convertible production ceased, there were several aftermarket folks who would convert your coupe to a convertible using NOS parts. None of these conversion shops were associated with GM.
There was no "convertible line" at St. Louis. Coupes and convertibles were built on the same line by the same UAW staff. It is my understanding only one or two workers per shift were responsible for upholstering the folding top irons. There would have been no need for nine or ten peoople to have had to migrate to Canada because convertible production ceased.
I agree with Easy Mike there are many aftermarket companies that do conversions that the factory does not offer. When GM stopped convertible production you could get an aftermarket company to chop the top and make it a convertible. Many times these aftermarket companies worked with dealers so the dealer took the order had the car drop shipped to a fabricator for a convertible top, a stretch, a sunroof, a padded vynl top, RR grille, or anything they could sell or someone would buy. Same thing goes for conversion vans. No manufacterer makes a conversion van.
They would make up a name for these packages perhaps have one on the showroom floor and a customer would order one sometimes believeing it came from the factory. It was delivered by the dealer in the dealership. You see it a lot today with oversize wheels. Often the dealer made more on the package than on the car. Every dealer had the car so you could negotiate the best price, but only certain dealers carried these packages so they were firm on the prices.
That car was brought up a few weeks ago on the CF. Total BS that it was factory. It MAY be a nice conversion, but the guy needs to stop bragging it up as factory. Just sell the damn thing for a fair price, but it never belonged to Elvis, and GM didn't convert it!