[speedkar9]

I chopped the top off my Lexus ES300 to have some fun!

What you guys all think? A tiny bit more interesting than, say a Solara convertible?

 

[Kingdom934]

Nice. Looks almost like the Solara convertible. I wonder if you could really rhetofit the convertible top from a solara and somehow make it work with this? Then again you'll have to do some crazy fab work because theres more length in the ES than say a Solara.

 

[norm356]

I wonder how many miles it will go before the door gaps close up so the doors won't open any more? (or worse, won't close)

Watch out for speed humps, and/or carrying heavy friends.

 

[Old Mechanic]

Or an accident where it folds up like a leaf. Even the professionally done convertibles with additional reinforcements required the doors to be opened before they were put on a lift. Super dangerous mod, think rollover.

 

[Old Mechanic]

The 1960s Lincoln Continentals, like the one Kennedy was assassinated in, were unibody and weighed 5k pounds empty. Monstrously reinforced rocker panels, floors and transmission tunnels for structural rigidity. I had a 76 208Z that had a sunroof installed. Every time I drove up my brothers driveway the body twisted so much the hood popped open (lack or torsional rigidity). I replaced the roof panel and it never did it again.

 

[75aces]

Nice glass break tool and you can brush your teeth too. Lol.

What's the reason to chop the top other than making the fleet less sedanish?

 

[ajkalian]

Well you could always just weld the doors shut and that would add a lot of rigidity to the body. Some 6" wide x 1/4" thick channel welded to the underside would help as well.

Just for fun, swing by a local welding shop and see what they think it might cost to beef up the frame.

You're in pretty good shape so getting in and out with the doors welded shut would't that big a deal. Think Kookie from 77 Sunset Strip.

Nice start though. Should be interesting when you go to the Toyota Dealer and see what their reaction to it would be. Maybe ask a salesman for a quote as a trade in.

,

 

[75aces]

Well you could always just weld the doors shut and that would add a lot of rigidity to the body. Some 6" wide x 1/4" thick channel welded to the underside would help as well.

Just for fun, swing by a local welding shop and see what they think it might cost to beef up the frame.

You're in pretty good shape so getting in and out with the doors welded shut would't that big a deal. Think Kookie from 77 Sunset Strip.

Nice start though. Should be interesting when you go to the Toyota Dealer and see what their reaction to it would be. Maybe ask a salesman for a quote as a trade in.

,

I think CarMax would be more interested and could offer more than the dealer!

You should just add strength to the b post and C pillar since they are the weaker points now. Otherwise, see a custom Fab shop for a rag top.

 

[norm356]

I get a kick out of how OP clearly was having a laugh (no reinforcement, no top, no metal treatment of the exposed, sawed off sheet metal) but folks keep offering suggestions as if it was a serious project.

 

[speedkar9]

Nice. Looks almost like the Solara convertible. I wonder if you could really rhetofit the convertible top from a solara and somehow make it work with this? Then again you'll have to do some crazy fab work because theres more length in the ES than say a Solara.

The true topless experience means not having a top when it snows or its cold outside like it was here .
If you need a top just press a button on the dash and two strong men come out of no where and place the top back on for you.

I wonder how many miles it will go before the door gaps close up so the doors won't open any more? (or worse, won't close)

Watch out for speed humps, and/or carrying heavy friends.

I took it for a drive around the block. Didn't notice any difference in the car's handling compared to having the roof on. I didn't take crazy corners though, and the doors align properly, even with 2 of us inside.

Nice glass break tool and you can brush your teeth too. Lol.

What's the reason to chop the top other than making the fleet less sedanish?

This car was neglected. So I decided to have a little fun before parting it out.

I get a kick out of how OP clearly was having a laugh (no reinforcement, no top, no metal treatment of the exposed, sawed off sheet metal) but folks keep offering suggestions as if it was a serious project.

Haha yeah I agree - this was all for fun! At least its better than the car going straight to the crusher.