1939 LaSalle cpe vs. a convertable cpe

[michaelaj99]

Aside from the obvious differences in tops (conv/ hardtop) is the rest of the coupe the same car?  If someone were to cut the top off of a hard top and graft on a conv top would it be virtually a convertible like off the showroom floor?  Though it was a marvelous job I am suspecting that that may in fact have been the case with my conv coupe and if so want to know what to take into consideration when attempting to restore it.  johnson.m@monet.k12.ca.us  thanks

[Terry Wenger CLC #1800]

Michael:

First look at the body plate on the firewall. If the Style No.is 39-5067, it is a convertible, if it is 39-5027 it was a coupe. There are a number of differences between a coupe and a convertible. An important one was that the frame was heavily reinforced on the convertible to add rigidity because of the lack of the roof structure. Once you determine what the car started as, you can proceed from there. A lot depends on what was done in the conversion.Fred Zwicker is just finishing a '39 LaSalle convertible coupe and could be of help. He is in the CLC Directory.

Terry Wenger 

[Fred Zwicker #23106]

Fred Zwicker is just finishing a '39 LaSalle convertible coupe and could be of help. He is in the CLC Directory.

Terry Wenger 
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Try www.fzoldcars.com for a complete story of my restoration, iincludingover 200 pictures from start to finish.

Fred Zwicker