Volvo RWD 120-130 Forum

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Convertible Project... Still thinking about it 120-130

Still no interest locally in a 122 chassis - especially now that I took the roof off.

It figures that the same day that I removed the last bolted on part (e-brake cable on a bent bracket) I decided to put the front bodywork back on, then the headlights and trunk lid.



Yeah, I know, huge project, Plus it will require some custom welding and reinforcement. But, considering that I have all the parts to put the car back together, I thought I'd look around and see what sort of "lid" I could come up with for minimal cost.

I began some half-hearted checks for a convertible frame and found quite a few affordable setups on eBay - though nobody posts dimensions making it difficult.

And speaking of that, this is why I'm posting now. I took some reference measurements of the 65 sans roof and wanted to share them in case anyone else gets the same sort of crazy notions that I am plagued by.

130 Measurements:
55" - B pillar to B pillar (across the cabin)
46" - Back edge of rear window to the line between B pillars
26" - Front of B pillar to start of C pillar (an extraneous measure, bu maybe useful)
72" - diagonal line from center of windshield frame (I cut a straight line from the back edge of each door's vent window across the roof) to lower edge of rear window frame.
17" - from top edge of the doors/walls to the approximate old roof height.

From what I gather, I'd need a frame approximately 55 inched wide, capable of expanding to 6 feet from the back bottom to the forward top edge, with a "rise" of approximately 17 inches.

Possible candidates that appeared in a quick search is a Sunbeam Tiger, Datsun Roadster, Corvair, Spitfire - among the usual VWs and Mustangs. I've put in questions and hopefully one of these might "measure up" to something close.

If anyone has ever done a side-by-side comparison I'd be interested to know how Amazon cabin size compares to other "popular" vintage cars.











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    Another measurement 120-130

    I forgot to add a fairly important measurement.

    The "bow" width up above the windshield is exactly 48"

    This too has been a difficult measurement to meet.

    I think I'm going to resign myself to modifying a smaller frame to fit and then custom sewing a cover...

    Dang, I was really hoping to find a close match so I could go with a ready-made cover...








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    Convertible Project... Still thinking about it 120-130

    No dice on the Spitfire.... Only 47" across the B pillars (a bit less, actually... just went out and measured the neighbor's).

    I suspect it would be too short front to back since its only a 2 seater. The Triumph Stag was a 4 seater, so perhaps that would work. Good luck finding one to measure though....

    Oh, and not that it was on your list but the Triumph TR3 is even narrower than the Spitfire, coming in ~44".

    -aric.








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      Arg... Maybe a V-Dub? (New Pic) 120-130

      Thanks for checking, that's close to what some of the other british car people have told me.

      A sunbeam alpine "might" work, but will certainly be too "short" The mounting bracket width is close and might be workable, but the front edge up at the windshield is only 41 inches wide, while the Amazon's top edge width is exactly 48 inches.

      I think a VW might be my best bet. Maybe a Rabbit Cabriolet or a Super Beetle. I was unable to get the measurements for a corvair before the frame was sold...

      After my first cabriolet post I was set a set of photos for an East German 122 Cabriolet.

      Here's a nice one.


      I think that might be a beetle top, but it could also be a Mercedes or BMW... arg.








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    Convertible Project... Still thinking about it 120-130

    http://www.volvoamazonpictures.se/

    Perhaps that site can yield a lead on some advice on a 122 'vert. (There's a picture gallery of 122 convertibles) The easy way to go would be to fashion a toneau cover that just snaps on.

    -Will
    --
    850 / Mini








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      www.volvoamazonpicture.se 120-130

      Thanks for the pointer, I never noticed the convertible section of that site before.

      Sadly, I only see two cars that are really convertibles - one is the "Coune" replica (or the original) and the other along with a third potential convertible were photographed by a Mr. Lars Rengersen, but I don't see any contact info.

      I'm thinking that I'll need to find a reasonably close frame and adapt it to fit. Then I'll make a proper cover with heavy vinyl.







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