Can't I do that then, officer???

gjb02 · Post by **gjb02** » 30 May 2005, 16:04

"Can't I do that then, officer"???
These are more than likely the words that came out of the mouth of the man I saw next to a police car and tow truck yesterday.
Why? You may well ask, well I shall tell you......
The gentleman in question, wanting to take advantage of the sunny weather, had take an angle grinder to his 5dr Renault Clio and turned it into a convertible!![:D][:o)][?][V]
Worst still was that he was carrying his kids around in this french homemade deathtrap, blissfully unaware of the structurally weak mess that he had created.
He seemed absolutely gobsmacked that he couldn't do that to a car!
What a silly man....discuss!

Ross_K · Post by **Ross_K** » 30 May 2005, 16:13

Some people are just a Darwin Award waiting to happen... [xx(]

turbolag · Post by **turbolag** » 30 May 2005, 19:02

Perhaps he'd driven under a low bridge?

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 30 May 2005, 21:17

A bit of body filler and no-one would be any the wiser[:D]
I blame Thelma and Louise

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 30 May 2005, 21:57

Hve you seen how much extra reinforcing goes into a rag top?
Even the Visa decaps had beefier doors, floor and sills.
And as for such professional conversions as the old crayford fords and mini's they virtually had the forth bridge welded into them.
I know of a guy called Dylan Thomas(is this right?) who was/is big in CX circles had a CX22TRS that had been done very well, but just chopping your roof, asking for trouble, and horrible injuries.

Post by **martyhopkirk** » 31 May 2005, 01:25

I cut the roof off my mother in laws Allegro some summers ago. Sagged in the middle when the door was opened and had to be jacked up so the door would shut. So I cut the door tops off too to make it easier to climb in.
I had a good summer in that car before we scrapped it - and it cost me nowt. How times change with the saftey brigade.

Dave Bamber · Post by **Dave Bamber** » 31 May 2005, 01:39

Is that why she bent the door on the AX, as payback[;)]

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 31 May 2005, 02:10

Ref Marty's comment on changing standards, I once owned an M type MG (1930 model). This of course had a separate chassis, but if you parked in the wrong place outside our cottage in Scotland the chassis twisted so much you couldn't open the doors.

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 31 May 2005, 04:33

I've done that to a Fraud Escort MK3 before. Chopped the roof off, and hacked it round a field. It didn't go anywhere near the public road though! It flexed really really badly with no roof on, and it was essential to keep the doors closed. In the end we opened both front doors, pulled the handbrake on very hard, put in in reverse (it was an auto) and floored it on a grippy concrete surface. The floorpan was so rotten that the car folded up under the front seats! absolutely amazing!

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 31 May 2005, 17:45

My Nephew has a VW Wizard convertible beetle, there are BIG lumps of steel welded underneath and the VW punt chassis is probably stiff enough too.
Stewart

arry_b · Post by **arry_b** » 01 Jun 2005, 17:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fastandfurryous

In the end we opened both front doors, pulled the handbrake on very hard, put in in reverse (it was an auto) and floored it on a grippy concrete surface. The floorpan was so rotten that the car folded up under the front seats! absolutely amazing!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Chuckle...

weety · Post by **weety** » 02 Jun 2005, 03:08

i knew some guy that cut the roof of an old fiat 126 he had taken as px so he could use it to take rubbish to the tip...... got pulled they were not happy and did not see any funny sides at all!

Oystercatcher · Post by **Oystercatcher** » 03 Jun 2005, 02:21

Not quite as dangerous, but still funny.....
Many years ago I used to own a Triumph Herald. Those of you with long memories may remember that it had a separate chassis and the roof simply bolted on.....
One day I get a knock on the door from a neighbour. He'd recently bought an old Herald and had heard (not from me) that you could take the roof off and fit the convertible bits. So, he'd gone and bought a 'convertible kit' from one of those places that advertised in the back of 'Car Mechanics'. Only he couldn't work out how to fit it and would I help?....
I went out to see what he was doing, but by this time he'd gathered an audience. We all looked at each other, smirking, knowing full well what the problem was, but none of us had the heart to tell him straight out.
You've guessed of course [:D]
He'd purchased a REPLACEMENT fabric. He didn't have the framework to go with it.... [:o)]
Eventually he decides to put the old roof back on, only to discover that his kids are currently using it to sledge down the road (I think they were enjoying watching the sparks.....)
Alan