I bought a very clean low mileage one owner 1986 Cavalier Convertible last year and decided it would be fun to convert it into a Cadillac Cimarron Convertible.
I'm more interested in asthetics than I am performance obviously. I have a decent 86 Cimarron donor car. Any suggestions or ideas about this odd project? Has it been done before?
I want to make it look as convincing as possible. I'm not wanting to customize it or make it look ridiculous. It seems to be an easy swap of the front end and tailights and seats etc.
I like the first generation J-cars for some reason. Ofcourse I get the fact that the Cimarron was just pretty much a rebadged Cavalier.
I think it would be fun and unusual. Whatcha guys think? I used to come on here when I was into 2nd generation Sunbird convertibles. Thanks
Damnit you stole my idea LOL. Swapping the frontend shouldn't be too much of a problem but the taillights may be. The idea I have in my head has custom vertical LED type Cadillac tailights, horizontal taillights on a Caddy just never seemed right.
I haven't decided how to do the interior. People have told me that it would be a shame to tear up a perfectly good convertible. Maybe I should use a Z24 instead of the RS I have? I like the idea of custom tailights. The cimarron had generic tailights. I guess the possibilities are endless depending on time and money. I want to use the front end from the later Cimarrons because I think they are nicer and more stylish.
I want it to look like a real Cimarron and not just a hacked up Cavalier so I will change as much of the interior as possible. Let me know how it goes.
Where did you find these?
StreetRodHQ
The teardrop LEDs are on Page 1 the Caddy LED's on Page 2.
Donnie Brown wrote:I bought a very clean low mileage one owner 1986 Cavalier Convertible last year
Would love to see pics of it.
Donnie Brown wrote:......and decided it would be fun to convert it into a Cadillac Cimarron Convertible.
Cool idea.
Paul
Donnie B wrote:Maybe I should use a Z24 instead of the RS I have?
This isn't going to be a 1st gen Z24 vert you're thinking of tearing apart, is it?
The idea is unique for sure.But the down side is why alter a car that has all the cool aspects of original and is almost a classic.I would say not to change the car you have if it is solid and try and find a another car dirt cheap not to hard that really needs help.At least this way the time and money spent would be worth it fixing a car needing the work and it would not be destroying and perfectly good 1st gen which is hard enough to find in solid shape.Either way it is your ride just do not do something you may regret.
It would be a shame to tear up a nice first generation convertible so I decided to find another convertible. I didn't realize how rare these are. Unfortunately most of the ones I've seen are rust buckets.
Donnie B wrote:It would be a shame to tear up a nice first generation convertible so I decided to find another convertible. I didn't realize how rare these are. Unfortunately most of the ones I've seen are rust buckets.
That'd be a good starting point considering you will be replacing most of the body panels from the A pillar forward. Only major problem is finding a decent Cimarron donor car or rust free parts. Would be really cool to drop a northstar motor in it too but that would require alot of fabrication.
THE REBADGED CRAP IS FALSE. it has alot of very nice luxury options. drives better then my 85 cavalier ever did..and yes it has been done before. i turned a 87 into a convertable & it looked KICKASS. and got alot of heads turning. all u have to do is transfer the hood, fenders, bumpers, molding, and use a 1985 sunbird layout for the rear lights...or 85-87 cavalier layout if it has the lights like mine. its pritty cool...oh and dont forget to swap the interior as well. ENJOY. oh and im not hating but the cimarron crap is getting old...cadillac made a j body caddy that gets amazing gas mileage while cruising like a caddy thats really comfey....oh and the cimarron is the heaviest j body from 1985-1988. OH AND BY THE WAY....NEVER MAKE A CIMARRON STATION WAGON....IT WAS REALLY RETARDED LOOKING WHEN I GOT DONE WITH IT. lmao.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3062549
Charles Bowling wrote:THE REBADGED CRAP IS FALSE. it has alot of very nice luxury options. drives better then my 85 cavalier ever did..and yes it has been done before. i turned a 87 into a convertable & it looked KICKASS. and got alot of heads turning. all u have to do is transfer the hood, fenders, bumpers, molding, and use a 1985 sunbird layout for the rear lights...or 85-87 cavalier layout if it has the lights like mine. its pritty cool...oh and dont forget to swap the interior as well. ENJOY. oh and im not hating but the cimarron crap is getting old...cadillac made a j body caddy that gets amazing gas mileage while cruising like a caddy thats really comfey....oh and the cimarron is the heaviest j body from 1985-1988. OH AND BY THE WAY....NEVER MAKE A CIMARRON STATION WAGON....IT WAS REALLY RETARDED LOOKING WHEN I GOT DONE WITH IT. lmao.
Got any pics of the cars you built? Share will ya......sheesh. My interest is peeked on what it looks like. Surely you've got something layin' around to share.
the only car i currently have pictures of would be my current cimarron. the work i have done to this one can be viewed on my cardomain page. car is done except paint and minor body work. the vert hasnt been with me for about 3 years. the car was pritty much a flop so it got junked and i kept the parts for my current one i got in late 2007.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3062549
