It is always weird to see a drop-top car that was never built from the factory that way. There are a bunch of companies that do soft top or roadster conversions, but the quality is key for this type of project. This 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS can be found here on Craigslist with an asking price of $10,000. Located near Washington D.C., there isn’t any information in the ad, so a prospective buyer would be wise to try and get more information from the seller.
As mentioned above, there are several companies that do convertible and roadster conversions. Cars such as the new Dodge Challenger (that were never produced as convertibles) can be converted to soft top cars. A lot of them look really good as convertibles and it makes you wonder why the automakers never made them that way? How ’bout a convertible pickup?
Historically, convertibles need stiffer chassis and reinforcements due to the torque transferred from the drive train to the rest of the car. Without the support of the pillars connected by a hardtop, the chassis and body tend to flex a lot. Something to think about if you are looking into converting your hard-topped vehicle. What do you think? Is this a cool custom option or not for you?
I look at this and see an 80’s version of the first Barris Batmobile.
How come kit car and aftermarket companies can NEVER get convertible tops right? They always look awkward and when down, they look too bulky & lack refinement. You always know that ain’t factory.
You are right. I’d much rather have a hardtop SS in comparable condition for less money.
Steve R
I could never figure out exactly whether that was because (a) they actually did look like crap or, (b) I already knew the car wasn’t manufactured as a convertible. Always sort of felt like I wasn’t really giving a car a fair shake, even when I wasn’t sure of it’s origins but at the same time every instinct I possess was telling me it was uglier than a mud fence and could not possibly be factory.
I had a 1988 Aerocoupe, I preferred them over this.
Wow, talk about a seller who rambles on and on endlessly! (sarcasm)
When you see the words Donk, dizzy or Eddy in an ad it’s nothing but a bad sign.
Steve R
I had one of these, an 86 coupe. It was made out of ****. This one must flex all over the place. I wouldn’t be surprised if the doors fall open every time you go over a bump.
“Flexi-Flyer” made Monte Carlo convertible conversions?
Yeah…looks bizarre
Need more pics or better yet, a personal encounter to say for sure but the purple Challenger in the link looks pretty good… the pickup not so much. As for the SS, there would appear to be a reason that in most of the pics the top is down.
There is no third brake light on this car so technically it wouldn’t be legal to drive in any of the 50 states. That was a pretty huge oversight.
Also why take one of the few 1988 models that were produced and do this to it?
Will probably end up going to Mexico then.
Drop-top muscle? Just bc it’s an SS doesn’t make it a muscle car. What’d this model have, a whopping 180 HP? And that ragtop, looks terrible.
Pass.
Keep in mind a Corvette of the same era had around 250 HP. It’s all relative.
Not all cars look good with a drop top… this MC is proof of that. What a shame to do that to an SS.
Bash n Trash as usual ! But if it were givin to any of you none would refuse it ! And most convertibles back then didnt have 3rd brake lights . Imo id drive it as is for the fun of it as it makes you wonder lol .
They legally had to have a 3rd brake light (CHMSL) or they couldn’t be sold in the USA. Most convertibles had them poorly integrated into a luggage rack on the trunk.
I would absolutely take it for free, then immediately put it up for sale.
Steve R
Meh, I wouldn’t even take it for free, its ugly, it probably rattles and flexes like an accordion and the top probably leaks. Not one shot of the interior either. Nope, my money is better spent elsewhere.
Bodyman, as jsb has said, it was federal law starting in 1986 that every car had to have the CHMSL (Central High Mounted Stop Light).
Please show us an example of another shop made convertible that did not have the third brake light.
The most important piece of information on a shop made car like this is who did the conversion.
There should be a sticker on the door jamb stating which shop did this.
It does not look like an ASC job.
Always thought the lines of this generation of g-body would make a great factory drop top. Conversions look great to me, but could use some more engineering and design on the tops.
Structural rigidity of a wet cardboard box.
I love it. I’d never have the top up. The standard LS/T56 swap (after ensuring the frame is properly reinforced), and sunny day drives.
What’s going on with the driver’s side? Looks like it shrunk around the window or something?
Why? SMH