ACC Convertible Conversion: 1983 Nissan 200SX

In the 1980s, if you wanted a convertible and the factory didn’t offer one, life was pretty darn simple. You just called up any number of shops, regardless of their actual talent, and asked them to build you one. I suppose it’s still possible today but it seems infinitely more complicated given the array of safety features, technology, and other components that may be adversely affected by a major alteration. The 1983 Datsun 200SX shown here on craigslist is an example of this bygone era of conversions, supposedly built by a company called American Custom Coachworks, Ltd. and now offered for sale at $9,995.

This car has made the rounds before, and it’s not exactly hard to miss: it previously went up for sale on the now-defunct Radwood-themed auction site, Rad For Sale, where it hammered home for $3,000 in 2021. The seller is asking for a significant price premium considering not much has changed since then, and it’s not like the market for old-school Nissans that aren’t a Z car has exactly taken off. This is a vehicle purchased solely by someone who is a devoted Nissan collector, or who is so deep into Radwood culture that they simply cannot resist the urge to own something this symbolic of the 1980s.

The builder, ACC, was based in Beverly Hills, which was likely the perfect spot to have a company like this. And if you do some Googling, you’ll see conversions like this Nissan were some of the tamest they performed. This company created pick-up trucks out of Cadillacs and stretched Oldsmobiles to accommodate professional basketball players. They made four-door convertibles, two-door convertibles, and everything in between. They made limousines and even converted a humble Subaru GL into a convertible. They seemingly didn’t say no to anyone or any project. That’s simply a phenomenon that no longer exists in car culture, unless it’s a six-figure restomod.

This Nissan is powered by a 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four making around 102 horsepower and 129 lb.-ft. of torque. A sports car this is not, so hopefully, you really dig the bodystyle and convertible top to make it worth driving around. I’m sure the structure feels like a wet noodle since it wasn’t all that rigid to begin with, but again – who cares? This is simply a conversation piece, and one that you hopefully will find interesting for its paint job and custom roof alone. The good news is there is likely another millennial who will jump at the chance to own it once you’ve had your fun. Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the find.