Nobody wants (or is able) to come get the 65's chassis. I've resigned myself to cutting it up for scrap.

But, after reading up on the ultra-rare amazon convertibles, I decided to choose my sawzall cuts carefully and see what would happen...

This was the result.



The front bodywork is on there for looks only. *Nothing* that was bolted or screwed on is going to the junkyard/recyclers

Man... looking at this body makes me think of a driving along on a nice day, enjoying the breeze and sun... tempting.

I wish I have the space/time/money/skill to strengthen the body and weld up the holes. It would be a very sweet ride...

Nathan,

Sad to the the old girl like that. But this feeling isn't supported by logic or reason at all. If it was I would have shipped her out here but just wasn't worth the $2K.

Glad you were able to save as much as possible. You and I both know how much work it would have taken to save that shell. Possible, but whether it was worth the work...

Structurally solid yes, but the nagging rust and the hailstorm damage would have taken many, many hours for even a professional bodyworker to deal with.

Have fun with it, maybe you can weld enough metal in to stabilize it and just tool around in an open-air 122 on nice days. A welder, Bondo, and rattle cans could be your friend. Perfect candidate for a rat-rod and there was nothing particularly special about her to keep her from getting that treatment. Sounds like fun.

Who needs doors that open anyway? Just keep your eyes open for that Rover V8 for locomotion.

Best regards from Hawaii,
-Mario E.

Hey Mario.. yeah sorry it had to go this way.

I really tried to find someone to take the body and use it for a transplant. I got a little interest, but nothing that panned out. I offered to give the shell away for a couple of weeks and nobody would take it.

So, I resigned myself to cutting it up and recycling it, but after I took the top off I can't deny that the cabriolet conversion is very appealing...

I'm on the verge of putting it back together and finding a place to park it until I can find the time for a proper ragtop conversion (and after I learn to weld).

No rat rods for me, it will be a volvo or nothing as long as I have it.

I can rebuild it, I have the technology...

Maybe I can get close to this (eventually)

It occurred to me... is not a VW bug of similar dimensions to an Amazon? would the convertible top from a bug fit on a two-door Amazon? I've never compared them side by side, but it makes me wonder. VWs are immensely popular and custom parts are much cheaper and more available...

Also, I've looked over the cabriolet photos at Amazon Adventures and it looks like extra box-beams were added inboard of the rockers and a cross-member was added under the dash. What else has to be done to harden up an Amazon?

The 'vert top of the Chrylser LeBaron has been used for 240 sedan to convertible conversions. The 120 and 240 cars are very different beasts, but perhaps not that different after all.

In addition to the stiffening you've already mentioned, I would want to incorporate a roll bar, if not for stiffness so much as safety in a rollover accident and something to attach the shoulder seat belt.

It's fun to ponder these things.

-Will
--
850 / Mini

Maybe a superbeetle. The earlier bugs had a flat windshield and the front edge of the top is pretty much straight. The later superbeetles had a more convex windshield and I think the convertible tops had a front edge that followed the curve..

I'm not sure if the later Super Beetle convertibles had a curved windshield or not. There were a few years of early Supers (71-73?) that had a flat windshield, even on the sedans. I think the "fishbowl" type came out in 74, but I'm not sure if it carried over to the cabrio.

The Beetle top is a complex mechanism---the top itself is several layers thick, with an outer waterproof covering, a headliner, and a layer of stuffing in between. It has a glass rear window, and some models may have even had a dome light. Not at all a simple thing, like the average British or Italian sports car. It might well look good down though, with the folded stack behind the back seat, and even better up, as it is designed for flat side glass.

You are correct that it is about the right dimensions to install on a 122. So, also, is that of the Saab convertible, which I think is a simple single-layer type. 80s Mustang and Cavalier also come to mind as possibilities.

If one were serious about this project, it would be a good idea to do a lot of careful measuring before deciding what top to use. You would probably want a complete (body-wise, at least) donor car, as you would need to cut off the edge of the top opening around the back and sides, frame mounting points, windshield header etc., and weld them onto the 122.

It does look neat, but would require a lot of reinforcement to make it drivable, and then there is the matter of modifying the doors (removing the window frames) making quarter windows that roll down, a convertible top and so on.

My idea for a weird project that this car would have been ideal for is to take what you have now and graft a 65-74 Alfa GTV roof onto it, making..........a 122 Bertone Coupe!! If the GTV roof is not big enough, there was a very similar looking 2600 Sprint that might be more compatible in dimensions.

I would do some more careful surgery with the sawzall and save both quarters and the rear lower panel with the gas filler in it. That car was WAY too nice to cut up. You should have advertised it in England (the land of Notorious Rustbuckets---worse than anywhere in this country, yes, even Maine or New York)---the Pound is so strong now it would have been well worthwhile for some Brit to have had it shipped over there and restored it.

I remember this photoshop from a few years ago.
I still like the look.
For some reason I thought the rear quarter window was rounded at the trailing edge - similar to a 544.

I've found a number of discussions about the necessary strengthening required, it is attainable, but I simply do not have the time/money/space for it.

It is tragic to "kill" this body, but I can't do anything about it. I live on a corner lot in the middle of a city with nosy neighbors who call the alderman on you if you have a "junk" car on your lot.

I've offered it for FREE for a couple weeks now to anyone who would want to come and get it. Considering the usual deal with overseas buyers (a common scam) I'm not going to waste my time with it.

I'm going to save as much of the body as possible, but that rear part you mention is in pretty poor shape. Still, I'm a waste-not, want-not type.