Not a 73-77 Olds but a 77 Buick

[Vintageracer]

Has anyone every seen a 73-77 Olds Cutlass made into a convertible?

If so do you know the name of the company that converted the car?

I just purchased this 77 Buick Regal Convertible from a junkyard here in Nashville. Everything convertible specific is complete and the car is actually in decent condition just missing a "few" parts. The car is a good builder with all the convertible conversion parts complete, a very good body, buckets, console, original engine/transmission, 8.5 rear-end and more.

I have tried a web search and only found 1981 Up conversions and a list of companies that converted G body cars. I have not found any information on 73-77 cars and convertible conversions.

Any help or suggestions is welcomed!!!

615 347 7459

[Vintageracer]

More squares!

[Firethorne77]

That's one unique ride. Nice score

[kgl271]

Never have seen one of these. Nice find and glad it was saved from the crusher.

[mich77442]

Someone did a nice job on that Conv. I think that center console is out a Grand Sport and I am not sure on the Buckets. I would like to restore it, my first car was a 1974 Buick Regal

Cool Find!!!!!

[keith455]

you bought it from the junkyard? I didn't think they were able to sell whole cars? Was it already out in the yard?

[Vintageracer]

you bought it from the junkyard? I didn't think they were able to sell whole cars? Was it already out in the yard?

No. The car was in staging and not yet set on the yard.

The car came in yesterday and I got a call about the car from the yard. They set the car aside and I went out to the yard today and bought the car. I stuck the wheels and tires on the car so the car would roll and could be moved easily.

Damn solid old car! The doors are amazing. The hinges are perfect and the door gaps are straight as a sting. Most hardtops do not have door that fit this good.

The seats and console were an option on the Regal and are original to the car per the trim tag. The car is fairly well loaded with steering, disc brakes, buckets, console, gauges, tilt, cruise windows, locks power top, V8, F41 suspension (chevy talk), 8.5 rear-end, automatic transmission, trunk release, tinted glass, factory red with white/red interior and more.

Since the car will need a new header panel due to a crack/break I think I may look for a Century header/nose as I thing they look better. The Century nose is what was raced in NASCAR during the era.

Now all I need to do is find a good hood and trunk-lid!

[Macrover]

Cool! You're a junkyard VIP if they call you and offer up the classics before putting them in their inventory. That's awesome.

Speaking of hood and header, I think there's a 76/77 buick in a yard not to far from me. I'll check it out this weekend when I return from Seattle and let u know. Think it had the decklid on it too but can't recall what condition it's in. If it's still there I'll take a few photos for you and post them here.

[geowindow6768]

Great find on a nicely optioned car! have fun with your restoration . Looking forward to the updates.

[rgk1977442]

I did see a 77 cutlass convertible a number of years ago on ebay. I still have the picture somewhere, it also was red and white. The top, when it was up, didn't look quite right on the car. It was a custom build. I think they used the hardware from the bigger oldsmobile convertible from that same era.

[74hurstolds]

Those look like Grand Prix buckets.

Every few months a cutlass convertible will turn up on Craigslist or eBay. I've seen more on craigslist. They are usually chopped completely without a retractable roof though.

My dad made one out of a '72 Cutlass with a sawzaw because a tree fell on it back in '91. He has a routine with tarping it and the interior is still looking great after 20 years of sitting outside. He also lost a '67 GTO, a '67 Olds 98 and a '67 vista cruiser none of those were saveable.

[Vintageracer]

I have built 3 Monte Carlo Convertibles.

1970, 1971 SS454 and 1972.

The Monte Carlo's were easy to build full functioning factory look convertibles since in each case I used an 68-72 A body convertible as a donor car. Believe it or not the conversion can actually be done by cutting 1 big piece out of the donor car and installing that section in the Monte Carlo.

This Buick Regal looks fairly well constructed. There are certainly things I would improve upon and some changes that could be made to make the conversion more finished appearing in the hidden areas. Overall certainly worth saving instead of the car going to the "Pick A Part" lot.

I am guessing at this point that this car "may" have been converted by a man named Mark Doyne who owned/operated Emess Coach Builders in Clearwater Florida. They were the only company I have found so far that was converting 75-77Grand Prix and Cutlass's into convertibles at that time. It would not be a stetch that they did this Buick Regal.

At this point any continued insight or information you can provide is appreaciated!

[atdog]

I saw a '74 Cutlass convertible/conversion for sale recently on CL in Murfreesboro Tn.
It also had a special 'candy' paint job and was sitting way up in the air on 24's or something like that. I think it may have even had a nice, shiny, chromed to the max chevy 350 in it. Different strokes I guess....

[58thndy]

Whoever built it did an exceptional job- not one of these cobbled-up donk abortions we see so many of these days.

I've seen a couple of 70-72 MC/GP convertible conversions and to put it kindly, the factory should have offered them. The lines of those cars blend well with convertible rooflines.

Have you gotten far enough into it to see if it's an electric or hydraulic top? That would help narrow down what the top frame came from. The windshield header doesn't look much like a GM design. It may be all aftermarket, since that was the year after the supposed "last convertible" was built.

[moparnate]

great score, congrats!

[mdkingsley]

Very cool.

[Vintageracer]

Here are more pictures of the car.

Finally had a chance to unload the car off the trailer and vacuum/remove all the junque and nuts out of the car. The trunk is very good with a few pinholes and one hole needing repaired. The front floor pans are great while the rear footwell pans need replaced. The floor under the rear seat is surprisingly good. The top has shrunk so the top will not go all the way up however the frame is good and looks well built. ALL the convertible top mechanism and hydraulics are complete. Under the hood is fairly complete less the alternator and radiator. The top frame appears to specifically fabricated for this conversion. The top frame is well built and well designed. The hydraulic cylinders, pump, hoses and control switch are typical GM.

Through a couple of phone calls I have found a good trunklid, hood header panel, radiator, maybe donor floor pans, wheel opening moldings and more from a friend who has a junque yard with several Regals in stock. This guy never crushes anything! He also may have a 76-77 Buick Century header/grill which is what was used in NASCAR. I think that looks much better than the Regal grill. I will probably buy both is he had them. All in all a neat car considering I purchased the car sitting on the ground with no wheels/tires and sitting in que in a junkyard to be crushed!!!!

One thing you should notice is how NICE the doors still fit on the car with absolutely no sag. The door gaps on the front or the door and back of the door are superb on both sides. Look at the driver's side window fit on the front windshield. The glass does not fit that good on most hardtops! Another thing I like on this car is the top design. So many conversions have horrible top lines that detract from the car. The top on this car particularly the rear slope of the top fits the design of the car nicely. This conversion would actually look good with the top UP!!!

Unfortunately I did not get a picture of the car sitting on the ground in the JY however I do have pictures of the car on the trailer after installing wheels/tire to load the car. The rest of the picture are after I spent about an hour cleaning all the crap out of the car.

Here are the pictures. Enjoy!!!

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii145/mjs-13/1977%20Buick%20Regal%20Convertible%20June%202011/

[keith455]

what happened to the windshield.. was someone trying to take the VIN plate? It looks pretty good with the top up.

[Vintageracer]

When it came to the yard they could not see the VIN. Break the windshield.

That was easy!!!

[Vintageracer]

Finally moved the Regal Convertible into the shop today.

Time to start have a little fun!

[Kev442]

Good to hear. That is going to be a sharp looking ride. I'm a sucker for the Buick ralley wheels, I hope you keep them.

[W451973]

Looks like it's on ebay now. Good luck with the sale.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick-Regal-Convertible-1977-BUICK-REGAL-CONVERTIBLE-Car-Converted-Into-Convertible-New-/280770075287?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item415f335a97

[Vintageracer]

Looks like it's on ebay now. Good luck with the sale.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick-Regal-Convertible-1977-BUICK-REGAL-CONVERTIBLE-Car-Converted-Into-Convertible-New-/280770075287?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item415f335a97

Thanks for kind words.

As much as I really do want to do this car I know it will be awhile as I have several MUCH more significant cars that need attention and restoration. I know I would enjoy this car far more than the others however the other cars are a prototype car and the engineering Mule that have historical significance to the marque along with FAR more value than this Buick will ever attain.

I can't fix them all and have decided I do not want to store them all either!

[keith455]

What are your other cars??