1970 Monte Carlo SS Convertible

[tthomas5118]

I know a lot of people are against this, but I really want to make my 1970 Monte Carlo SS a convertible. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time now. I think they look great when done correctly. Not to mention it even has the convertible top operation in the owner’s manual. Does anybody know of a shop that can do this in the Arizona or California area? I bought a 1971 Cutlass convertible as a donor car already. 
 

[Canuck]

I wouldn’t cut up a true SS car myself but I wouldn’t criticize you for doing it to yours. It is your car, do what you wish.

As for the conversion, it won’t be cheap to do it right. I do prefer the ones done using a Chevelle donor. The Cutlass hips sit taller from what I’ve seen.

[Dtret]

I totally agree with Aaron. A true SS is too valuable and rare to convert. I would think about the possibility of purchasing a regular Monte and doing the conversation and then you can clone it to an SS convertible because at that point it doesn’t matter. Also, and you’ll probably disagree, you could sell the SS to fund the convertible project. 

[cny first gen 71]

First off welcome to the site. I also agree I wouldn't cut up a true ss car but it's your car do what you want to do to it. Don't know of any shops out there that might do that but I'm sure it'll be big bucks either way.  Good luck with it.

[Canuck]

I should also mention that I know of a very nice 1970 convertible for sale for $50k USD here in BC. Considering the cost involved with the conversion, buying one that’s been done right will put you much further ahead cost wise. You could swap out the 350 for a 454 and make an SS clone. It even has the air shock compressor that the SS454s had.

 

 

[Michael Boyte]

That's definitely the route that I would take. 

[Scott S.]

Yes... 

Welcome to insanity Tyler.  

I'd also have to agree.... If she's a number car and still has all her parts, I'd choose to leave well enough alone. 

And as Aaron said, it's probably cheaper to find one already done. 

But if it's something you really want to do, no one else's opinion should stop you. 

[Marks71]

Just wondering if the main goal is to have a convertible and you just happen to have an SS you’re willing to convert, or does it matter if it’s an SS convertible or not. Because if it’s the latter, then I think I’d go with Aaron’s find, and sell the SS and the parts car to help pay for it. After all once the SS has been cut up its  value as an SS would be almost meaningless. But as others have said, it’s your choice. 

[Grant MacPherson]

Talked to a great restorer/rebuider here and he said frame off restoration not including mechanical rebuild is now $120,000 plus. Now that is Canadian but you can buy a pretty nice car for that amount.

[DragCat]

Your car do what you want, But I agree doubt you can build it cheaper than Aarons suggestion. 

[Rob Peters]

You can trust what Aaron is saying about that 70 already converted.  If Aaron says it was done right I know you can trust what Aaron is saying about that one  being done right.  You can't go wrong with a 70 plus you can't go wrong with a 70 dressed in Astro Blue with the fiber optic light monitor system and  bumper guards but maybe I am biased.

The only issue I have with the car Aaron pictured is the very first picture he posted violates my first rule of a convertible........ "TOP DOWN, WINDOWS DOWN"  The first photo shows the top down and the windows up.  It's just wrong.

rob

[Canuck]

6 minutes ago, Rob Peters said:

You can trust what Aaron is saying about that 70 already converted.  If Aaron says it was done right I know you can trust what Aaron is saying about that one  being done right.  You can't go wrong with a 70 plus you can't go wrong with a 70 dressed in Astro Blue with the fiber optic light monitor system and  bumper guards but maybe I am biased.

The only issue I have with the car Aaron pictured is the very first picture he posted violates my first rule of a convertible........ "TOP DOWN, WINDOWS DOWN"  The first photo shows the top down and the windows up.  It's just wrong.

rob

Kevin was in the middle of rolling them down after putting the top down when the photo was taken. The car is Misty Turquoise and very well optioned.

[Rob Peters]

4 minutes ago, Canuck said:

Kevin was in the middle of rolling them down after putting the top down when the photo was taken. The car is Misty Turquoise and very well optioned.

So Aaron, the rule is the windows go down before the top then.

rob

[tthomas5118]

@Canuck I’m interested in buying the one for $50,000. Do you have the contact information for the seller?

[Glen]

I am all for you cutting up your ‘70 SS. It’ll make mine worth more. I’ll even send you some Sawzall blades 😝.  

All kidding aside, I also would not desecrate something so rare.  But as many have said, it’s your car, you can do whatever the hell you please to do with it.  But from how it sounds, there are other options available for you to achieve what it is you’d like… without destroying one of 3823.

[Tonka Man]

If you want to do a convertible conversion on a Monte, I have a standard 1970 copy that I've owned since 1988.  It needs rear quarters which would work into the convertible conversion anyway.  I have it stripped to the body on frame with the front clip off.  There is no drive train.

PM me.   I'll make you a heck of a deal.  I'm in Powell, WY.

Then you can drive your SS while you work on the convertible conversion!

Oh, BTW, mine is originally Astro Blue as well.  It looks like your SS is Astro Blue.  You could have a matching set.

[tthomas5118]

Update: I appreciate everyone’s input, and my mindset is with the majority. I’d prefer to find one already converted. I’ve been actively searching for the last couple of years. I’m not getting any younger here. After realizing that the chances of me finding one may not be realistic I decided to buy a donor car and have my car converted. I agree, that I should not cut an SS, so I won’t do that. Thanks to this awesome community for helping me realize that. I will keep mine just the way it is. Hopefully I can find one already converted one day and just be done with it. Otherwise, if I find a shop to do the conversion I will buy a non-SS 70 MC to have done. 

[Michael Boyte]

I would have to believe that you have made a very good decision, I too would keep the SS as close to original as I could. 

[Canuck]

10 hours ago, tthomas5118 said:

@Canuck I’m interested in buying the one for $50,000. Do you have the contact information for the seller?

Message sent

[Scott S.]

22 hours ago, Grant MacPherson said:

Talked to a great restorer/rebuider here and he said frame off restoration not including mechanical rebuild is now $120,000 plus. Now that is Canadian but you can buy a pretty nice car for that amount.

So,$120,000.00 Can is about $20.00 U.S. ??? Right ???

 

[Scott S.]

19 hours ago, Rob Peters said:

You can trust what Aaron is saying about that 70 already converted.  If Aaron says it was done right I know you can trust what Aaron is saying about that one  being done right.  You can't go wrong with a 70 plus you can't go wrong with a 70 dressed in Astro Blue with the fiber optic light monitor system and  bumper guards but maybe I am biased.

The only issue I have with the car Aaron pictured is the very first picture he posted violates my first rule of a convertible........ "TOP DOWN, WINDOWS DOWN"  The first photo shows the top down and the windows up.  It's just wrong.

rob

It was taken during "bug season" in B.C.

Those suckers come at you sideways all the time.

That's probably why Kevin had them up.

[Grant MacPherson]

Not quite,  LOL

[Scott S.]

But it's getting close.

[Jared Richey]

That turquoise one is done well and a very nice car. 

You can use cutlass inner parts but don't use the upper quarter panel area. Make that top on your own if you do have a conversion done. 

The Monte lines should not be messed with. Some make that body line go way up and it looks totally wrong 

[72Ragtop]

I might be late to this conversation, and I own the yellow 72 Ragtop in Colorado. If that 70 turquoise convertible is available, I'd jump on it. I've lusted for that for years. Here's the story ...I did drawings, and some preliminary engineering in 1987. I then in 2006, I found "mine" out in Fairfield, Calif. It was green throughout, cutup and welded using a red 69 Skylark ...and drivable. The guy I bought it from said he paid two guys from North Carolina to fly out and do the conversion in his garage. He said they did it in a week. Said it was their "number8". He would not give me any names. (I later found " two crazy guys named Ed and Eddy from NC" written in the inner left quarter panel when I got it home.) I flew out, drove it around the block, gave him some cash and drove it home to Colorado. Then it took 4 years to finish it, and it gets driven! You don't need a big block ...mine has a 350/4BBL /Tweeked AT/2.73 gears. You pull up anywhere in one of these and it says; "I have arrived". Hotchkiss suspension pieces, Z-28 steering box and the AT gets used like a manual in the Colo. mountains. I even did a run down the famous Mile-High Bandimere speedway last August before they sadly closed forever. Whatever you do, get the AC working, and put power window in, too. If it doesn't have 'em, put 'em in.