I saw this vert sitting at a facility where I work on their equipment.The lot is monitored so I didn't want to get out and really look to close at details.If something happens to the car I would be on video as a suspect.So I did a stop and snap with the cell phone.Going by the bumper cover assuming someone didn't change it to an older style it is pre 1987.It doesn't have the plastic pieces that run on top of the rear quarters like an ASC conversion,at quick glance it looks like the top snaps on in the back.It doesn't look like a factory type conversion but also doesn't look like a backyard hack job.I may take a chance next time I see it and get a closer look,I am facinated.

 

Almost a year ago I saw a 1985 Z28 Vert in a local Junkyard.It was a complete car.305 TPI two seater with the snaps on the top.When I first saw it I was excited till I realized that I couldnt use any of the parts for my ASC Vert

 

i used to have one back in 89 it was an 84 z28 black and gold loved that car it had funky front snaps they were like screws and i had a specail tool to tighten them it had a motorized top and a snap on boot 305 carb if you have any questions let me know

 

I was under the assumption 87 was the first year Chev. put out a convertible since 1969.Were these factory cars?Since I'm not the only one to see one of these I can definately assume it's not a backyard conversion.

 

They were aftermarket conversions by companies like auto form and choo choo.Im sure there were more.There`s a thread on here dealing with that

 

THere were a TON of companies doing aftermarket conversions...

Here are a few
Autoform - a 2 seat roadster
Matrix3
Hi-Line Customs
Greenwood (the same guy who does a lot of corvettes)
ASC (did some aftermarket cars in 1986 & 1987 for the camaro, and 1987-1989 for the Firebird)

just to name some of the more popular conversions.

John

 

Wow ... not just an Autoform (most likely), but a LB9 in it's first year also ... wish someone would have saved that car.

 

Thanks for the input guys.I had no clue there were so many conversion companies doing this kinda stuff.

 

I have a 1989 Camaro converted by ASC.
At least that ASC is posted on the door panel.

 

Your ASC conversion for 89 is normal,I was curious who did conversions on pre 87 models,I didn't know there was any.

 

I think you missed the point. For 3rd Gens ASC did conversions for Chevrolet from 1987 - 1992 and Pontiac in 91-92.

In 1986 ASC did some pilot cars for dealerships, mostly Chevrolet, as I have never seen an 86 Firebird ASC Vert. In 1987 ASC introduced the Firebird Vert for dealerships, and continued Chevrolet aftermarket conversions for dealers. When Final production got going and I assume once GM got certification for crashworthieness, emissions etc etc. ASC started making the Factory Verts... more or less it was a simplification of the dealer ordering process than anything...

GM opted not to make a Firebird vert, I am 95% sure it was due to Emissions regulations as much of the engine options appear to revolve around this on a vert... When you start looking at the fuel economy ratings for each of the engines for any particular year and realize that only the most efficient versions were offered, IE 87 had only the LB9/M5 and the LG4/A4, it starts coming into focus.

In the END, you have a 3 in your VIN, which indicates a Convertible, The firebirds from 1987 - 1989 had a 2 which indicated a Coupe, and the Camaro in 1986 & part of 1987 had a 2 which indicated a Coupe. ASC did all of the FACTORY verts for the 3rd GEN... And some aftermarket verts to boot...

 

The car wasnt really in that bad of condition.The body didnt have any damage.I dont really know why it was in the junkyard but it didnt last too long before they crushed it

 

I have found 2 verts in the same junkyard,one is complete doesn't really need anything and the second has most of the front end gone.He said he is going to fix the complete one with the partial one.It won't happen.A guy told me about him.He paid $7000 for an aero coupe monte carlo,took the drivetrain out and I found the rest of the car still there ten tears later.
I stop about every week to bug him about the partial car.From the doors back it has all the vert parts I need.The guys a real a** too.

 

If he does let you pick parts from that vert make sure you get everything you can.3rd gen verts rarely show up in the junkyards.Ive only seen 4 of them in about 5 years of junkyarding.Three were asc and one was an autoform.Out of the 3 asc verts 2 of them were already picked over.I didnt get too much off of them.The other one was a mostly complete car.I grabbed alot of the odds and ends vert specific parts that I needed for my own vert but made the mistake of not taking everything I could.I left the trunk lid,tonneau,top & frame since they werent necessities and would have only been spares.Looking back I really regret that since I now know how hard the vert parts are to come by.

 

3rd Gens are getting hard to find around here in junkyyards no matter what body style they are.We don't have many yards around here in a reasonable driving distance.The big yards cater to newer common vehicles and the smaller yards have picked to death.The small yards can't compete with the scrap prices either,so many older heavy cars go straight to the crusher.

 

Read my entry on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coach_convertible (I have spent years researching this stuff!)
If you want to know who did the conversion, it should be easy, if the car is unlocked. Just open the drivers door to see a label in the door jamb. If you are not comfortable with opening the door, place a note on the windshield asking them to call you because you are curious about the car. Then you can invite them to Thirdgen.org!

I bet it is by Matrix3, Coach Conversions or Amer Custom Coach. Bets anyone?

 

That kinda stuff around here will get you 1-10 in the pen or shot.LOL.Like I said in the beginning I am not even supposed to be in the lot where this car was parked.So I'm not pushing my luck. I haven't seen it back since then anyways.It may belong to 3rd shift worker pulling a 1st shift for a day or two.
I remember when I was a kid there was a local garage here in town that did lots of really good work.They did the tops that slide open down the center of the roof,T-top conversions and one of the few that could put in a sunroof that didn't leak.Who knows maybe they did it.