Convertible 2 seater?!?! Is this legit - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Zuckuss88GTA · 08-22-2002, 12:57 PM

I saw this on carbuyersmarket.com and I had never heard of one of these. Is this a reall model or BS?

???

1985 PONTIAC TRANS AM CONVERTIBLE
2 seater, one of only 100 produced, exc cond, 72K orig mi, garaged, $8500. (973) 786-6077 . New Jersey

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86FyrBrd · 08-22-2002, 01:59 PM

I'v seen one in person, and a few on here every now and again, as far as I know they are not factory, it is an aftermarket conversion. Its basically the same as the speedster mustangs ya know, with the fiberlgass cover over the back seats.

Zuckuss88GTA · 08-22-2002, 02:03 PM

thanxs alot.. I thought it sounded a little fishy...do u by any chance have any pictures of what one looks like.

Thanks

86FyrBrd · 08-22-2002, 02:14 PM

A bad one, you can kinda see how it comes up behind the head rests. I have another one somewhere. let me find it.

86FyrBrd · 08-22-2002, 02:15 PM

Heres one I saw on ebay.

Zuckuss88GTA · 08-22-2002, 02:21 PM

Wow kinda looks like the batmobile from the 60s.
Thanks alot

Chet · 08-22-2002, 05:30 PM

I have also seen one in person, I believe they are converted by a company called ASC. <100 is probably right for production figures.

@ZZKKER · 08-24-2002, 12:33 AM

there are a few of those in camaro form here in town. i worked on one, here is a pic

@ZZKKER · 08-24-2002, 12:34 AM

@ZZKKER · 08-24-2002, 12:34 AM

350 TPI · 08-24-2002, 01:34 PM

Gotta love those PLAYBOY bunny seatcovers!!!

irocbarry · 08-25-2002, 02:38 AM

tada

JRoy91RS · 08-25-2002, 03:02 PM

Does anyone still do this conversion? How much does it cost?

@ZZKKER · 08-30-2002, 09:22 PM

all of the cars in the above pics should have a sticker like this one on the door jamb. wouldnt be supprised if they all came from the same place. a photoshoper will have to clean this pic up to be able to read all of it.

Mr. TurboTA · 08-31-2002, 02:20 PM

Hi guys!
Looking at all of the pictures (nice, by the way), they are all done by the same company. The name of the company is Autoform. ASC started doing convertible conversions on the third gens in 1987 I believe. Autoform did the only two seat conversion that I know of. Everybody else did the 4 seat conversions.
Other companies that I know of are Stramman down in Southern Calif. There was another, but I don't remember the name.

I hope this helps,

George

@ZZKKER · 08-31-2002, 07:50 PM

i think autoform is right, but they started in 1984, and were based in new york. if someone will clean up the quality of the pic i posted above you will be able to read it.

Batmobile/SS · 09-01-2002, 12:56 PM

Autoform was Elkhart, Indiana
Since link for pics http://members.aol.com/castleone/batmobile.html

@ZZKKER · 09-01-2002, 10:27 PM

the one thing i do remember for a fact was that the black car i posted was done in 1984. like i said, if a photoshoper would clean the pic of the door jamb sticker it would tell what you were wanting to know.

thanks
anthony

@ZZKKER · 09-01-2002, 10:45 PM

ok i cleaned it up the best i could. it clearlly says it was made 5/84. it does look like it says autoform, and that it was made in Elkhart, Indiana .

thanks
anthony

firebird2s · 09-02-2002, 10:09 AM

Firebird2s@aol.com. As you can see by my e-mail address I own a 1983 Firebird 2 seater. I bought it from a friend that was not sure who did the conversion. Just talked to a lady in Parkville, Maryland that bought her's new and she ordered through her Pontiac dealer. The Dealer in turn had the Firebird customized by the company in Elkhartm Indiana. Some one on this message board stated the company was Autoform. My car does not have the Autoform name plate. Also, I can not locate whether or not they are still in business.

Interesting features are: You could order different interior/exterior color schemes. The trunk deck extends from the rear bumper over the back seat area and is hinges at the rear bumper. This allows the Hardtop/with convertible covering to be pulled up. inverted and laid into the trunk. The inside roof of the top is finished in the same material as the upholstery. And yes the headrests. I am keeping this for my grand daughter.

firebird2s · 09-03-2002, 12:28 AM

Here is a photo.

Willie · 09-03-2002, 01:00 AM

There were several companies that performed convertible conversions before ASC (in 1986):

March, 1982
Autodyne Corporation
Lincoln Park, Michigan
Complete cars sold or would sell conversion kits to qualified buyers.

1982 (no month specified)
Coach Builders Limited
High Springs, Florida
$6,000 cost
Padded roof w/color-coordinated headliner that disappeared under a fiberglass boot.

September, 1982
American Custom Coachworks
Beverly Hills, California
Complete cars in the $20,000 range

~September, 1982
John Greenwood
Longwood, Florida
Best known for Corvette conversions

~September, 1982
Hi-Line Kustoms
Valley City, North Dakota

1983
Duquet-Sawdy Inc.
Warren, Michigan
Ten coordinated top colors, flush-fitting latches.
Licensed various converters, then drop-shipped the parts, including reinforcement hardware.

1984
Auto Form Corporation
Elkhart, Indiana
Two-seat ragtop conversion, where the rear seat area is covered by a large, rear-hinged fiberglass decklid that not only hid the folded top but the entire rear seat area.

1986
ASC, Inc.
Early efforts involved signing up Chevrolet dealerships to perform custom-ordered conversions. Price: $4,390.

1987
ASC, Inc.
GM approved subcontractor for "factory" Camaro conversions.

So as you can see, there are several conversion companies.

soldaustin · 10-27-2003, 01:26 AM

Mine is a 1985 and it has the label in the door that it was done by Autoform in Indianna. I have seen people say production levels are 1 of 50, 1 of 200 and on and on so, I don't know how many were made. Mine has a 305 TPI engine and has 14,500 original miles on it. The quality of their conversion was excellent and the extra bracing that went into it seems to have done what it was designed to do. Here is a pic of mine. It looks better than the bad low res photo. I think the ones with the bullets behind the headrests are all Autoform.

Also Autoform couldn't have started in 1984 as I also know someone that has an '83 T/A built by them. I remember when they bought the car!

bigals87z28 · 10-27-2003, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 86FyrBrd
Heres one I saw on ebay.

ahahah that might be the one described in the original post

NJ plates... its a TA. Maybe?

wkn · 10-27-2003, 06:47 PM

you can still get it at wildcopper.net the price:2200.00

soldaustin · 10-27-2003, 09:45 PM

The humps on mine are short. Mine also has a trunk which I don't see on this one. Still not bad looking though.

JCherwien · 10-29-2003, 01:26 PM

I've also got an 84' autoform convertible. It's a lot of fun...Haven't been able to get too much information on it. Another Member, George, was able to get me an Autoform Brochure, and that helped....

I've got a bunch of pictures on my website if anyone's interested...

http://miah.cherwien.com/84pvert.htm

drop-top IROC · 10-31-2003, 03:53 AM

Didn't 'Choo-Choo Customs' do a convertible as well?

Tonyrodz · 11-01-2003, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 86FyrBrd
Heres one I saw on ebay.

I saw that car! It was for sale at someone's house in NJ--around Sussex county. Car was beautiful!! Looked to be original except for the wheels. I think he sold it

.

mw66nova · 11-01-2003, 11:44 PM

man, those things are ugly...

JCherwien · 11-01-2003, 11:50 PM

Ugly? Man, I don't know what you're talking about...I love the way it looks...I mean, you're entitled to your own opinion, but if you're just going to knock 'em, you should just keep it to yourself.

SBlackfoot · 11-02-2003, 12:03 AM

Saying it's ugly is harmless enough. Completely wrong, but harmless.

The two-seater idea gives them a more exotic look. I've been tempted to pull out my back seats just so I can say that it's a two-seater. Of course, no one above the age of eight can fit back there anyway...

mw66nova · 11-02-2003, 07:23 PM

mine's a two seater......kinda....

JCherwien · 11-02-2003, 07:26 PM

Very Nice.

Hey, any of you out there that've got Autoform Convertibles, I'm trying to put together a site with all the info I can find on 'em...If any of you have info you'd like to send, that'd be great...

I'd love to start tracking the production numbers with vins, in hope of someday verifying how many were produced...

Thanks y'all...

RED83CAMARO · 08-16-2004, 07:51 AM

DeckLid

RED83CAMARO · 08-16-2004, 07:58 AM

I was told boat parts were used (hatches, snaps, etc.) for the conversion. Autoform Indiana did mine. The dealer sent it out to be done. Reinforced frame for support. 16,000 org miles, everything is original from day one. Let me know if you find out the #'s made. I was told about 500 of them.

JCherwien · 08-16-2004, 07:59 AM

That's pretty much what I was told too (About the production numbers...Hadn't heard the boat part thing)...I haven't had much luck tracking down reliable numbers though, since AutoForm seems to have gone belly up.

RED83CAMARO · 08-16-2004, 08:28 AM

There was a guy named Billy (I think) He gave me so much Info on the conversions and how they were done to comply with chevy standards. I'll try to find the info for you in all the paper work. Heres the original sticker from my car about the conversion price at the time.

RED83CAMARO · 08-16-2004, 09:05 AM

Just found your web site, guess you have the info already. Good Luck.

Cadillac · 08-16-2004, 09:17 AM

I guess it just doesn't matter who does the conversion. Trunk space is always going to be a disappointment.

JCherwien · 08-16-2004, 09:24 AM

Very true...I've been pretty surprised by the trunk space in mine though...Only when the top is up however...Could be because of the fact that the rigid top takes up the back seat...

soldaustin · 08-16-2004, 10:18 AM

You have a very nice looking car. Any more info anyone can dig up on these cars is always nice to know. I thought mine at 14,500 miles was low but I see at 16,000 miles you are right in there. I am working on my '85 T/A t-top car now then am going to get my convertible into show condition. It is very nice now, don't get me wrong but the fiberglass part that raised up to hide the top is yellowed so needs to be painted. The rest of the paint is extremely nice. Heck it had the original tires on it until I replaced them 2 year ago at about 14,000 miles. (talk about a bumpy ride!) My only gripe still is for some reason I can't figure out, I have a body shake, mostly felt at low speeds. I had a new idle arm put on since those were always bad that year, had the complete supspension checked out, undercarriage bracing, etc. Everything is good, but it feels like a front wheel is bent or something like that. I had new tires put on and the wheels are perfect. Anyone else have this problem? Would additional subframe connectors help? That is if you could install them. This is the only thing I just havent' been able to get right on this car and it drives me nuts.

JCherwien · 08-16-2004, 02:26 PM

I had the same problem...What my mechanic found is that the SubFrame X that AutoForm had welded in there was starting to come loose...Check and see if the welds are loose anywhere on those extra connectors...That's what fixed it for me.

soldaustin · 08-16-2004, 02:59 PM

I had taken it to the muffler shop because I had a bumping underneath so I figured the exhaust was hitting the floorplan. Well, it was so they just bent a bracket slightly. I had him to look and he said the X seemed tight. I think that has to be the problem. It feels like my car is rocking back and forth when I am taking off at lower speeds. Thanks for the tip. I will check into this further.

TPl383 · 08-17-2004, 09:27 AM

Heres a local one to me

84 I belive. Verry nice in person. Just loose the pink grafix, and the headlight covers.

has a retired nascar motor. th400 dual exh. etc.

badjuju342 · 08-21-2004, 11:55 PM

Willie: supreme being of all that is 3rd gen f-body :hail: :hail: :hail: can a brother get an amen?

Speedgraphic · 08-22-2004, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by badjuju342
Willie: supreme being of all that is 3rd gen f-body :hail: :hail: :hail: can a brother get an amen?

You got it brother! AMEN!

OK I'm biased I know, but I think the Third Gen Fbodies were the best looking in the series.

Somebody above described the two seat conversion as being ugly. I think it is far from it. I especially like the extra stiffening behind the seats. This has been imitated by some in the ASC verts while trying to keep the rear seats. The Autoform vert actually gives you more trunk space. I LIKE IT!

Of course one of the things I like about my ASC vert is that I do have those back seats so If I should ever need to haul around a couple of small people (I was almost un-PC there!) they have a place to sit and buckle in.

The ASC is another incarnation of the ThirdGen Fbody and as such it gets nothing but praise from me. So I'll Say it again: Amen Brother!

badjuju342 · 08-22-2004, 12:36 PM

i really do like the two seaters with the down , looks killer . i do wish they had done a better job on the top though. the snaps on the side interfere with an otherwise super clean body line.

soldaustin · 08-22-2004, 12:52 PM

The problem with the snaps is even though my car has around 14,500 miles or so on my '85 T/A, the snaps don't work good. I am having them replaced on the top and on the car. Also the corner of the top that goes up against the glass is a poor design as it gets chewed up by the door. I am also having th drivers corner replaced which is good that it can be replaced. I would hate to have one of these tops made. I think it is round 125-175.00 to do the things I need, so not so bad. Does anyone know how to dye these tops? Mine is white but dirty looking and I have tried different cleaners with no luck, so I figure cleaning isn't the answer as it is just stained. I even tried a spot of soft scrub with bleach but no change at all.

92Transam · 08-25-2004, 12:23 AM

first time I saw a convertable like that was kight rider after it had an overhaul in the show and they added a c button on the car that made it go from t top to convertable and had that rear over the back seats.