Not to dismiss the work that has probably gone in to that but I'm not over keen...! It would have been better to keep it just as it was as those 2-doors aren't exactly common...
It's been around for a few years and used to live in the Oxford area. It was exported to Ireland a couple of years ago.
An interesting little car and one I've pondered each time it's come up for sale. A few changes to the conversion mightn't go amiss, but an interesting prospect nonetheless.
For my eyes it shows that you could make a viable little pick-up out of the 2 door shell.
The side profile (as above) looks like a pick-up, rather like the Skoda Favorit pick-up, yes I know it wouldn't have a very big load capacity, the bed would also be fairly high, but with the rear seats gone, the boot-lid cut down so it hinged on the numberplate panel and obviously the "cab" would need a bulkhead, but yes, I think it would work better than this?
soe8m wrote:I think it's very much fun driving in it and that's all that counts.
Jeroen
Quoted for truth.
1978 Twilight Purple Dolomite 1850HL The Lolomite.
It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Hit it.
DoloWIGHTY wrote:For my eyes it shows that you could make a viable little pick-up out of the 2 door shell.
The side profile (as above) looks like a pick-up, rather like the Skoda Favorit pick-up, yes I know it wouldn't have a very big load capacity, the bed would also be fairly high, but with the rear seats gone, the boot-lid cut down so it hinged on the numberplate panel and obviously the "cab" would need a bulkhead, but yes, I think it would work better than this?
I tend to agree with this line of thinking. Would look a lot better as a ute or turn it into a true convertible with just a windscreen, take the roof off completely!
In fairness we don't know what disaster may have struck the roof which ultimatley lead to this conversion, having said that i agree it would have been better to have left it as it was and i also think that a full soft top roof would have been better than the plastic draped over the back. not really a four seater convertible if you are out, four up and the heavens open.
I have to admit to having toyed with this idea myself but also preferred the idea of a full soft top rather than this sort of half-landau/half tonneau jobbie!
It's now been scrapped but I did have access to an equally uber rare (but terminally rotten) Mk2 Cavalier convertible which might have made a good hood and frame (and wind up rear side window) donor but the big problem which caused me to abandon the idea is the lack of space for a lowered hood. The gap between the seat and the bootlid on a Tolly is just too small and it would look like a pram if you just let it lie on top like an original Beetle Cabrio!
The pick up/ute thing has been done with an originally 4 door Dolomite which has appeared in several guises, colours and states of completion till being sold on the Bay last year at which time it looked pretty well finished and was IIRC French Blue.
Everybody loves a pickup but really they are worse than useless in this country, you can't put anything in them that you don't want wet or stolen and the Polis take a dim view of you carrying passengers in the bed so you end up with a 2 seater with an overlong, overlight rear end with lousy aerodynamics due to the raised tailgate acting like an airbrake. Lovely idea and there are some bostin pickups about on all manner of chassis but basically totally impractical!
Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!
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I built a convertible about 20 years ago, ok so there wasn't much room in the back as a 3.9V8 lived there, but aesthetically the windscreen looked all wrong, far too tall for the length of the car, and I ended up fitting a TR6 screen frame which was the right height but too narrow. It ended up as a full custom job and I used it for about 5 or six years before selling it without the engine. Sadly it seems to have disappeared from the DVLA database
hi just got this in august as a project car i have to agree it looks like a pickup it was importedto ierland in 2008 dont know much about it i was looking for something unusual it do get some funny looks when out and about