1981 z28 convertiable
#1
01-23-2017, 08:08 PM
1981 z28 convertiable
Hello, I am looking for any information I can get on a 1981 z28 convertiable. I know gm didn't produce any but I believe that American sunroof converted them once off the assembly line. I would like to know if there is a way to decode the vin or any kind of paper trail saying that American sunroof did the car and it wasn't a backyard modification. Thanks
#2
01-23-2017, 11:36 PM
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The 'Burbs of Chicago
Posts: 18,306
Not ASC (American Sunroof Corp), they didn't start doing F Body conversions until 1987. There were a number of coach builders converting 1979-1981's to convertibles; National Coach Engineering, Steas Industries, American Conv Corp, Elan, Munich Motor Works, American Clout, Con-Tec, A.H.A. Manufacturing. The VIN wouldn't say anything about it, the cars were converted after the fact using the already strengthened t-top model. Without any kind of paperwork, or a tag (some of them put their badge on the car), there's no other good way of knowing who built it, unless you can find some defining differences in materials used, which would require you finding original detailed info from the builder. Does the car have a professional factory like appearance, or does it look like a backyard hack job?
Last edited by Camaro 69; 01-23-2017 at 11:40 PM.
#3
01-24-2017, 06:37 PM
Proffeaional
[QUOTE=Camaro 69;717244]Not ASC (American Sunroof Corp), they didn't start doing F Body conversions until 1987. There were a number of coach builders converting 1979-1981's to convertibles; National Coach Engineering, Steas Industries, American Conv Corp, Elan, Munich Motor Works, American Clout, Con-Tec, A.H.A. Manufacturing. The VIN wouldn't say anything about it, the cars were converted after the fact using the already strengthened t-top model. Without any kind of paperwork, or a tag (some of them put their badge on the car), there's no other good way of knowing who built it, unless you can find some defining differences in materials used, which would require you finding original detailed info from the builder. Does the car have a professional factory like appearance, thanks for the help it looks like it was done by a professional
#4
01-24-2017, 06:43 PM
Thank you for the information the car looks like it was done by a pro it is a very straight car and doesn't look like it was hacked up
#5
01-25-2017, 12:39 AM
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The 'Burbs of Chicago
Posts: 18,306
Most likely then it was done by one of the coach companies. A do it yourselfer with extremely good body skills might be able to pull off a decent hard top removal job, but manufacturing a one-off convertible top and making it look factory would be the trickier part. If you have your eye on one, I'd like to see it.
#6
01-25-2017, 07:46 PM
i happen to have one actually. It's my fathers car which was once my uncles before he passed away. I don't have it in my garage yet tho I will have it this spring hopefully.
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