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69 olds cutlass supreme convertible


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chas
User

Mar 23, 2013, 11:56 PM

Post #1 of 8 (2126 views)
69 olds cutlass supreme convertible Sign In

hey everbody,, in 1980 i picked up a 69olds supreme convertible wrecked bad in the front for $300....badly bent frame damage behind the driver control arm....i wanted the engine for my 68 hardtop.....i drove it home but it was bad....it would not drive straight....big pull to the left.....i did the engine swap to the 68.....i was young and living with my parents.....i was considering sending it out to a frame specialist and maybe try getting it fixed......OTH, my mother was yelling at me "get rid of it, its a piece of junk!" and it was pretty badly wrecked frame damage behind the driver control arm....... i tried explaining to her it will be a classic convertible....she did not understand....
everything back from the cowl and firewall was good and could be restored fairly easy..... i gave it away.

the Q is, with frame damage that bad on a convertible will it be rolling the dice to try and get it fixed....i felt it may never be the same again and always have problems with steering and wearing out tires.....whadya think?...would it be a money pit trying to fix a wrecked convertible frame with the damage i described?


(This post was edited by chas on Mar 23, 2013, 11:57 PM)


Hammer Time
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Mar 24, 2013, 6:06 AM

Post #2 of 8 (2090 views)
Re: 69 olds cutlass supreme convertible Sign In

With all that frame damage, most of the value is gone anyway. It's a parts car.



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Discretesignals
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Mar 24, 2013, 9:31 AM

Post #3 of 8 (2076 views)
Re: 69 olds cutlass supreme convertible Sign In

If the body is in good shape, you could look for another frame and just swap everything over.





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chas
User

Mar 24, 2013, 10:38 PM

Post #4 of 8 (2049 views)
Re: 69 olds cutlass supreme convertible Sign In

yeah it was wrecked....i did consider the 68 hardtop frame for a replacement.....oth, a convertible frame is reinforced.....i let it go....it was beyond the point of return wrecked.....do you think the 68 hardtop frame would have worked and not have the windshield dance or break with squeaks and rattles everywhere?


(This post was edited by chas on Mar 24, 2013, 10:57 PM)


nickwarner
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Mar 25, 2013, 2:14 PM

Post #5 of 8 (2033 views)
Re: 69 olds cutlass supreme convertible Sign In

If you had reinforced the hardtop frame, you could've done it.


chas
User

Mar 25, 2013, 10:41 PM

Post #6 of 8 (2025 views)
Re: 69 olds cutlass supreme convertible Sign In

  

Mar 25, 2013, 5:14 PM

Post #5 of 5 (8 views)
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Re: 69 olds cutlass supreme convertible [In reply to] Quote | Reply
If you had reinforced the hardtop frame, you could've done it.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

yeah i guess,,,,,i did consider that option.... i was very young and just starting out living with my parents....i did not have the money and the resources then to do it.....after the motor swap to the 68hardtop it was in the backyard parked on a concrete slab with no engine, no transmission(the 3spd automatic had no 2nd gear and would go into drive untill it warmed a little, i used the 2spd from the 68) and a cover over it for awhile and my mother was complaining to get rid of it..... it had a lot of hard hit trauma...it needed alot of $$$ and work.....the owner was not good to it.....i still regret giving it away a little.....


(This post was edited by chas on Mar 25, 2013, 10:44 PM)


nickwarner
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Mar 27, 2013, 5:05 PM

Post #7 of 8 (2006 views)
Re: 69 olds cutlass supreme convertible Sign In

I know the feeling. We all have had a car that really could've been a sweet ride had we had the money to put into it. But we didn't and rather than it waste away sitting there it got sold. Had the same thing happen when I was 21 with a 67 Mustang so I feel your pain.

Some cars are so incredibly rare people will build them in any shape, but they also have a LOT of money available to put into it and it usually takes half a decade to build it or longer. But when you look for a project car that is a bit more common, fixing something that has real bad rust or frame damage is generally not worth it unless that particular car has a lot of sentimental value to you.

Keep your eyes out for other people's unfinished projects. Many times some good work and expensive parts have been bought but for one reason or another the owner is getting rid of it at a big loss. My friend got a 66 Chevelle convertible last year like that. It was at the tail end of a frame-off resto, just needed final trim work, wiring and plumbing. This was done by a semi-retired bodyman and the car is beautiful. Every last bolt, bushing, etc. is new. This has a GMPP 454 crate engine and built T350 trans with 0 miles. My friend got it for $4000 (the engine cost more than that!) because the man got some bad news from the doc and realized he will not live to finish the car.

Those finds usually only come by when you can't afford it, but keep your eyes open and you might find a car that will make you glad your mom made you get rid of that car back then.


chas
User

Mar 28, 2013, 1:33 AM

Post #8 of 8 (1997 views)
Re: 69 olds cutlass supreme convertible Sign In

Those finds usually only come by when you can't afford it, but keep your eyes open and you might find a car that will make you glad your mom made you get rid of that car back then. >>>>>>>>>>>

i dunno, maybe.....a 69 olds supreme convertible is a little rare.....i dont see them around.....any oldie is a collectable.....some more desirable than others.....it all comes down to $$$, time and a garage to get it done and do what you want.







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