Its great to have a new section when you need it.
Thought I would check the ads today in the newspaper. There is a 69 RS convert for sale @$8500. Ad says V8, Auto, good shape. Is there anything different I should look for in the convertible: rust in the usual places,etc. If I get to see the car, I will get the info off the plate and post it here. Thanks. :D

Hi Gene -

I would pay particularly close attention to the outer rockers, inner rockers, and rear frame rails. 'Verts derive almost all their strength from the rockers since there, of course, is no roof. The rockers should be solid, and straight. The inner rockers should be the same way. There are no convertible rockers made repro. at this time, so if they are bad you're in a heap of trouble. Same with the rear frame rails. While parts of them are made, the bottom most part (by the front of the leaf spring) is not. If the car is rotted away there, you'll have a big job ahead of you. Of course all the other areas you would normaly look at still apply. One last thing...when looking underneath make sure there is a welded H or K shaped support under the center of the car. This is where the X-Brace Plate bolts to and is very important of convertibles.... Oh yeah, sorry, one more...check the four corners for 'cocktail' shakers. If you are unsure what they are, do a search on those words...Good Luck on your find. Let us know how it looked.

[ 03-26-2004, 05:57 AM: Message edited by: 69-Z11Pacer ]

I second the observation on checking the rockers throughly!! Would of saved me a lot of time (and money) if I had known that!!!!!!

Doug

i agree with with them. plus, dont forget to see if its also an original RS. that might not be as big of a concern as the rockers but it can be a barganing chip if its not a true rs.

angel

Thanks guys for all the good info. But, as is usually the case, I was a "Day late, and a dollar short". Called about the car at lunch time today to be informed that the car had already been sold and driven away. Guess I'll just have to pay closer attention to the various listings in the papers. Again, thanks for everyones help. graemlins/beers.gif

And another one gets away! Reminds me of when I was starting my search. I had just finished the 68 Mercedes and was looking around for the next fun project, but one I could actually drive comfortably as well. Looked at a few older 'vettes, but couldn't even fit in any of them. Then I thought...Camaro! I always liked the Camaro, AND I could remount the seat farther back. Perfect! This was about the same time that GM announced the discontinuation of the Camaro. Every car I was interested in was just sold...a couple I missed by mere minutes! These cars were getting scooped up like crazy. There were a few wholesalers that were buying the California cars, especially the southern California cars, by the truckload, and getting top dollar for them out of state. I was just lucky when I found mine. I was the third guy to see it, but the first guy with the cash. He who hesitates...

Always look at the windshield frame and dash, too...even go so far as to take one of the chrome covers off the top of the frame and check for rust.... water gets under the chrome, rots the windshield frame, and runs down inside and rots the corners of the dash