ThomasBorchers Posted May 4, 2001 Share Posted May 4, 2001 Here in Germany a friend has to estimate the value of a 1981 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible. As far as I know Cadillac didn't produce convertibles at this time. Was there a manufacturer who converted Eldorado Coupes to convertibles in 1981 ? <BR>Thanks in advance<P>Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Hoover Posted May 4, 2001 Share Posted May 4, 2001 Thomas,<P>As far as I know, there never was a 1981 Cadillac convertible. Cadillac made a Eldorado Biarritz convertible in 1984 and 1985. Due to lacking sales, they dropped it after 2 years.<BR>Buick on the other hand, brought out a Riviera convertible in 1982. Those also were slow in sales.<P>As for a custom shop converting your friends car, maybe so. Or, could the year of his car be mistaken? I'm not sure as to how much cosmetic difference there was between those years. I don't believe there was that much.<P>Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasBorchers Posted May 4, 2001 Author Share Posted May 4, 2001 Hi Rick.<BR>The VIN of the car is: 1G6AL57N5BE614156. I think the "1" at first digit should indicate the 1981 Model, or? What do you mean?<BR>Oh, see just at an online add this VIN# 1G6AL6789EE654180 This belongs to a 1984 Eldorado Covertible. So the "1" does not indicate the year 1981... but the "L57" at the 1981 car indicates a Coupe... <P>Tom<p>[ 05-04-2001: Message edited by: ThomasBorchers ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idle Swede Posted May 4, 2001 Share Posted May 4, 2001 Thomas, the 10th digit indicates the year.<BR>They started this system with 1980 cars. Your 10th. digit ( indicates 1981.<BR>Example: S=95 T=96 V=97 W=98 X=99 Y=00 1=01. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasBorchers Posted May 5, 2001 Author Share Posted May 5, 2001 Ahhh, I understand!<BR>Thank you. <BR>Still the question who converted the Coupe in a Convertible...<P>Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novaman Posted May 5, 2001 Share Posted May 5, 2001 Thomas, according to the VIN that Caddy should have a 350cuin 5.7 Litre Oldsmobile 8cyl Diesel. That is from the 8th letter/digit being an "N". <P>Doing some looking about the convertible part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasBorchers Posted May 5, 2001 Author Share Posted May 5, 2001 Novaman, correct! It is a Diesel.<P>Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2001 Share Posted May 7, 2001 Those were the Dark Ages for convertibles, where there were virtually no OE convertibles available. To meet market demand, quite a few aftermarket firms were cutting the tops off of Corvettes, Jaguars, Eldorados, and other coupes typically purchased by owners wealthy enough to afford the conversion. ASC and H&E come to mind as examples. Many of the conversion companies installed a plate to identify their handiwork. Perhaps your friend should search his car carefully for some kind of identifying plate.<P>Cheers,<BR>Bry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL) Posted May 8, 2001 Share Posted May 8, 2001 VIN configurations have changed over the years, but in the mid 80's when I was turning wrenches for the local Ford dealer, I think VIN's starting in 1 were American made, 2 Canadian, J Japan. It seems like there was a 3 for Mexico, but I'm not sure. I think that the 1's and 2's are still US and Canada, but Japan is no longer J.<P>Can anyone else shed some additional light on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest elk93001 Posted May 8, 2001 Share Posted May 8, 2001 At least as far as 1996 models and older are concerned, first digit 'J' still stands for a car built in Japan (1996 Camry, which could have had a '1' if built in Ky).<P>'4' has also been used as a first digit for cars that are hybrids, ie Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon. These cars were assembled in Illinois, but made mostly of parts made in Japan.<P>German cars used 'W' if I'm not mistaken and 'Z' for Italian cars. I think they put these in the NADA orange books, possible in Kelley Blue Book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranchero Posted May 9, 2001 Share Posted May 9, 2001 who built the '81 eldo convertible? can not help, but good suggestions are h/e & asc. after the last american convertible of the '70s ('76 eldorado), there was not much rag top interest for several years. however there was a very custom conversion on the first generation cadillac seville during the late '70s. this was a two door convt., even though the donor car started as a four door. there were conversions on mustangs with fairly crude convertible tops.<P>the '82>'85 riviera and '84>'85 eldorado convertibles were sold by buick and cadillac with full gm warranties. the cars were manufactured in linden, new jersey as hardtops, minus the rear seat. the cars were shipped to asc in michigan for conversion to convertible. they were good cars for conversion, being body on frame (not unibody) cars. the top was chopped off; new, narrower rear seating was fabricated and the working top mechanism was installed. the buick was available only in firemist red or white. the cadillac was also available in blue.<P>a conversion of an '81 eldorado would make sense; the car is essentially identical to the '84/'85 that cadillac eventually got around to. <P>an odd conversion of this era was the oldsmobile cutlass cierra - the front wheel drive unibody mid-sized car. h/e did a convertible conversion to the car that required the addition of an obvious and ungainly frame underneath the unibody. this was not a pretty car and should not have been successful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasBorchers Posted May 9, 2001 Author Share Posted May 9, 2001 Thanks a lot, you all!<BR>I have learned a lot and my friend was able to set the value of the car.<P>Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 10, 2001 Share Posted May 10, 2001 So who built it? Did he find out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasBorchers Posted May 11, 2001 Author Share Posted May 11, 2001 Seems that he didn't find out that because he said nothing regarding my question if he has found it out.<P>Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 11, 2001 Share Posted May 11, 2001 I currently have a 1984 Cutlass Brougham convertible (rear wheel drive G body). The door sticker says it was made in Jan of 1984 by Convertible Specialists. I don't know who or where they are but would like to find out. I need a replacement top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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