Hello from New Forum Member - Convertible or Roof Chop?

[bowruss]

Hello to everyone. I've been a regular visitor here for a few weeks now as I'm keen to re-live my late 1960's relationship with the truly great Minor. I then had a 1967 Traveller but I'm now looking for a Convertible - preferably a late one.

My problem is that they're so hard to find - especially up here in Preston, Lancashire.

I'm wondering what people think. If like me, you really do want the open-top pleasure of a Convertible and you can't find one, do you go for a good Two Door and get it converted? Are there reliable people who offer this conversion?

Another route would be a good Two Door but with the biggest folding fabric roof you can get - maybe a Webasto? But are these still available?

What do you think - is chopping a sacrilege?

Happy New Year to you all!

Russ

[irmscher]

Dont chop one up

[chrisd87]

Plenty have been done and if the conversion is carried out properly they're no better or worse than the genuine article (only they tend to be a little cheaper). Obviously if the appropriate strengthening hasn't been done then that's another matter. Minors of all flavours are pretty plentiful by classic car standards, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding something, but you may have to travel to secure the right car.

As for doing your own, there are conversion kits available (for about £900 excluding hood), but this work should obviously only be undertaken by someone who's reasonably competent. In the past the club were able to put in a good word with the DVLA to avoid the SVA/Q-plate nonsense, but I'm not sure what the situation is now - the rules (or at least the enforcement of them) seem to have got tighter over the past few years. Personally I'd want something in writing from the DVLA before beginning work, if at all possible.

[irmscher]

I am quite sure they have to be inspected but the laws change all the time

[kennatt]

see here http://www.the-ace.org.uk/Chassis-and-M ... ion.htmlre look at point system Question is, is taking the roof off an alteration to the monocoque, cause if it is then dvla say should have a Q plate Also interesting anouncement on there that sorn will be rolled over year to year untill you notify back on road,saves doing it each year ,dosent say when this comes in but must be better then now,very interesting site only just found it

[bowruss]

Thanks for the replies. I can see that chopping has its issues - possibly DVLA/legal as well as sacrilegious.......

What about a big, roll back fabric sunroof? I think Webasto used to do these but I can't find anything about fitting them to a Minor. Does anyone have experience of these? and where you might get one fitted?

All the best, Russ.

[LouiseM]

Probably best to contact webasto directly to see if they can supply one and recommend a fitter in your area but judging by your initial post you really want a convertible. There are a good few out there to choose from, you just need to be prepared to possibly travel outside of your local area to find one.

[irmscher]

You may be shocked at the price of a webasto Russ and if memory serves me right the aperture isnt very big for a minor without major strenghtening

[youngcamper]

Thanks for the replies. I can see that chopping has its issues - possibly DVLA/legal as well as sacrilegious.......

What about a big, roll back fabric sunroof? I think Webasto used to do these but I can't find anything about fitting them to a Minor. Does anyone have experience of these? and where you might get one fitted?

All the best, Russ.

I've looked into this before, you can get nice big sunroofs from paris beetle ( they also do custom sizes) for me it seems like a good halfway house between a saloon and a convertible; it'd be much more waterproof.

http://www.parisbeetles.co.uk/

[LouiseM]

Interesting site. I wonder if these would be a direct fit for the Minor roof - isn't the curvature on a Beetle roof slightly different?

There are Minors around with sunroofs:[frame][/frame]

Presumably extra strengthening wouldn't be required providing the fabric roof was a reasonable size and not too much of the roof structure was cut away?

[youngcamper]

I have spoken to them and from what I understand as long as the roof has a slight curvature (not flat) it will fit perfectly fine.

[bowruss]

Thanks again for all your comments. I think LouiseM has probably got me right - I'd really like a Convertible. For now, "The Quest" goes on!

Russ

[customjob]

Please don't chop another two door just for the having of a convertable. There is no legal restriction in converting a two into a convertible the only thing you have to do is inform the the DVLA is a change of vehicle constructcion type . As long as it passes the MoT for what it's worth it is legal to go on the road, but for peace of i would contact your local VoSA operating centre and book the Car in for Vehicle Integrety Test (ViT) it's a more comprehensive MoT which all home built kit cars have to pass before being allowed on the road, that is if you do go the route chop chop, even if i had it done by a specialist i'd still have ViT done then you know it was done right.