Do I buy a saloon converted into a convertible.

[Brouchard]

Hello,
I have seen a nice convertible for sale,but i have found out that it was originally a saloon conversion.
What are the proper values of such cars.Are they re-saleable?
What do I look for to know if it has been converted properly?
Any help appreciated.

Kind Regards
Mark.

[bmcecosse]

If it's been done properly - it's fine. Is there any record of who did the conversion ? Some Companies specialise in this work. There is one Co you may wish to avoid - PM me..... It should have 'triangular' strengthening pieces welded in at the ends of the dash panel - and the inner sills should be double thickness......... Sure - it won't ever have the same value as a 'real' convertible, but then you won't be paying as much now either!

[chickenjohn]

Agreed, as long as the structural re-inforcement pieces are in place, and the car is structurally sound then there is no reason not to buy a converted saloon -it will be cheaper and 99% of people won't spot the difference. As long as the work was done to a good standard, the converted cars are almost indistinguishable from genuine convertibles. The only tell-tales being chassis number and the strengthening pieces will be mig welded rather than spot welded as per original.

[Brouchard]

Hello,Thank you for that reply.Is the convertible in your garage a genuine one or converted?
How do you put a valuation on a converted saloon.
The price guides only give you an indication of standard cars.
Any thoughts please.

Kind Regards
Mark.

[bmcecosse]

You can only 'value' the car as you see it - there is no other guide. Show us some pics - or lead us to the 'for sale' site!

[Brouchard]

I know you can only value something if you can see and inspect it,but you need a base to work from.
For instance a convertible in condition 1....£5250.00
A saloon in condition 1....£4000.00
With a converted saloon made into a convertible,where do you start from? i.e £4625...in between the two?

Regards
Mark.

[bmcecosse]

All these prices seem ridiculously high to me......... You can get a perfectly good car for very much less - even a converted convertible. I would be looking in the £2 to 3 k region....

[chickenjohn]

Morris Minors must be much cheaper in Scotland!!

Unless you are talking about a condition 2 car- i.e. MOT'd roadworthy but a bit tatty in parts.

For a nice car this :-

"For instance a convertible in condition 1....£5250.00
A saloon in condition 1....£4000.00
With a converted saloon made into a convertible,where do you start from? i.e £4625...in between the two?"

Looks about right. For a very top condition in each category. A nice condition 1 car for those prices would be mechanically good (no mechanical problems), be MOT'd, have great, virtually spotless rust free bodywork and a smooth shiny paint job on top and underneath and have a nicely painted engine and engine bay (ancilaries etc), have good chrome and an interior in good condition.

Any small deficiencies- deduct some money from the offer below your prices above.

I'm not talking about an absolutely perfect car- that gets into what people think of the concours condition class.

[bmcecosse]

Well - you know me !

[MarkyB]

If you are being asked to make an offer, I'd go with a lot of tut tutting and the Scottish end of the price spectrum.

[bmcecosse]

[kjm]

Our car is a converted saloon , I agree this is fine provided that the structure has been strengthened prior to the roof being removed, lack of sill strengtheners can result in the car sagging in the middle

[mike.perry]

Did the vendor tell you it was a conversion or try to sell it as original?

[Peetee]

Dont worry if it is genuine or not. The majority of Minors will have had significant work done by now and the standard of this work dictates the value as much as the structural condition. This is very important with convertibles. They are inherently weaker so good quality panels and excellent workmanship REALLY count.

[rayofleamington]

How do you put a valuation on a converted saloon.

What you pay depends on how much you offer and how low the seller will go!

A converted saloon can be a much better car than a genuine, from a technical point of view! If the work was done to a high standard and the donor car was sound then it will be great - many original convertibles have rotted away (even more possible water leaks than a saloon!) but thanks to the inherent value they often get rebuilt and re-rebuilt, so a post-production convertible can actually be a bit more 'factory original' than a genuine....

That's all pretty theoretical and on the other end of the spectrum, ther have been occasions at rallies where post-production convertibles have been ushered into the 'custom and modified' section. I find that as snobbery, but as Minor owners are a diverse bunch you'll find all sorts of opinions.

Certainly a post production convertible isn't the same as an original as it didn't leave the factory that way but the floors and sills and doors came from the same stock of parts at the factory so it's not as different as some like to think.

As regards 'concours' cars - I agree that 'originality' wins over 'replica' but that's a concours issue. Without restorations, renovations and modifications + updates etc.. there wouldn't be many Minors driving around anymore, and I love them all!

[MarkyB]

I'm with Ray, it could be a better car than an original, but also it will never be an original whatever happens.
For my money it isn't worth as much as one that was a convertible from the factory even if it's a better car, hard to say why really, it just isn't what it appears to be.