Convertible

[nicks3]

I am thinking of buying a Minor Convertible and have one in mind. How do I tell if it is a genuine convertible car or a saloon which has had its roof chopped?

[chickenjohn]

The easiest way to tell is look at the (roughly) triangular strengthening plates that join the corners of the dashboard to the A posts, and also look at the strengthening piece on each side of the B posts just above the seat belt mounts.

If all these pieces are spot welded then the car is likely genuine, if there is evidence of mig welded seams, then the car may be a converted saloon. If these pieces are missing then walk away as the car has not been converted very well and will be structurally weak.

There is also a strengthener inside the sills, but you need to remove the sill covers to check for these.

These are the only major differences, to the untrained eye, a properly converted saloon is indistinguishable from a genuine convertible.

[RobMoore]

Take a look at the chassis number
on a 52-58 car the 2nd character should be C (FC***)
on a 58-71 car the 3rd character should be T (MAT***)

[mike.perry]

Ask the seller. If he /she does not tell the truth then he/ she ( I got into trouble recently about being gender specific!) is legally liable.