ChemMan

I saw a 2006 carrera 4 cabriolet and the carrera GT (amongst others). Twenty years sure makes a big difference. My 1986, looked so much smaller compared to the 2006 carrera. And as for the GT, I just looked and drolled.


I wonder if anyone has converted a 911 coupe like mine to a cabriolet. I miss not having a convertible.

Mike

fixnprsh

I dont know of a sane carbon based life form that has atempted to hack the top of a coupe...................however a Targa to Cab swap can be done fairly eaisily from my under standing

and as far as your car looking smaller, it is, by a lot. the new car has more power, but shes a fatty too, a C4 cab weighs a hair under 3,300lbs

S2TGART

When I went to the local dealer about some touch up paint, one of the service people called my SC, cute. I don't know if meant that as a slam against my car, or he really did think it was "cute". My '83 sits lower, or it seems, than the newer cars.

JCP911S

Sell it and buy a 3.2 cab...

Or pick up a Boxster... earlier ones are dirt cheap, and the 2.7s are probably under $20K or so.... put the 86 under classic insurance and have the best of both worlds....

r911

Yes, it's been done. If you like the early look and have to have a cab, then search on Pelican. I agree that tho you may be a carbon based life form, you will probably NOT be sane to take on something like this. OTOH, if you are a structural engineer, and an expert welder it might be just your piece of cake - it will help if you have access to a distributed parameter finite element modelling software package used for unit body design...

This would be a good project for the types of people who like to use their money to fly a balloon around the world or commercialize space travel...

Also, there is a nice roadster done a long time ago that is in Bruce A's book.

r911

Hey! Better idea -- take a short hood, stock Cab and back date the bumpers, etc. to look like an early car. Again search Pelican - TRE or somebody has a special hood that works well for doing this.

ChemMan

Relax People. I was just wondering if it could be done. I did not realize the "sane carbon based life form" quote would immerge. The boxster was actually the porsche we originally wanted. My wife really like it. But after we test drove a 911SC, the boxster was dropped from the list...along with the SLK230 and SL500. My feeling is that in a few years, when the parental costs drop a bit, I might spring for a boxster. Who knows. This past summer a 600SL came up for sale at an excellent price, but I can't justify having 2 vehicles that can only be used in the summer. I also looked at a 96 911 at a friend's repair shop that looked good.
I don't have a problem admiring a car. It doesn't mean I need or even want it. Right now I am very happy with my 911 coupe.
Mike

Marc Shaw

Don't worry - I'm sure someone had read that expression somewhere and was just looking for an excuse to use it.

Marc

Jay Laifman

As to how much bigger the new cars are, note that the 997 is 1" longer, yes longer, than the new Corvette - yes, longer than a Corvette. I'm not saying that's necessarily a terrible thing - I drove a 997 Cab 6 speed and absolutely fell in love. But, I'm not parting with my '73 911 or '00 Boxster S any time soon.

JCP911S

Your 86 will be cheaper to run in the long run....Boxster will still depreciate, and nobody knows the repair record of 12 year old Boxsters.... newer cars are better to live with day to day, but for a Sunday drive the older cars are more engageing and fun IMHO

bill d cat

Quite a few years Rodent Track published a short article on someone who had built a Speedster from a rolled-over, pre-'74/5mph bumper 911 Coupe, and this was several years before the 911 Cabriolet came into being. I'm not gonna spend the night digging through my magazine collection, but I do remember that the builder had about a half-dozen tries at a custom bent windshield to fit a widened '58 Speedster windshield frame before he got one that fit and didn't break. Sane, he clearly wasn't, but the car was much better looking than the factory '89 Speedster. All the bodywork was metal, and he used thicker Targa inner panels.

DGaunt

Anythiong can be done, if cost is not a consideration. But, you will have a better car mechanically, and a more sustainable investment in the car if you go with the factory cab.

nkgosselin

Compare the new 911 specs to a 928GTS and they are eerily similar. Size, weight, power. If you want a new 911, buy a last geration 928 for a quarter the cost. I even think the GTS is better looking than a 997. Plus a hatchback for storage. My opinion only.

Jay Laifman

Yes, I have to agree that over the years I've seen a lot of 911/Carrera design cues that seemed to emanate from the 928.

Pedro356C

Hi Mike...a car is like a shoe box...it's strong until you remove the cover...then, unless you reinforce it, it will be weak and subject to bend...

As a purist...sell your car and get a cab...you can't treat these babies like tuna cans!!!