The first sedan clip conversion. I did it like 5 years ago, then we sold it via eBay: Here's my dad's Wagon I changed over 3 years ago: Here is a wagon owned by Pat man in pix, that showed up at wagonfest this past year: And here's a Buick and a Chevy for reference so you know what the factory look is suppose to look like: And yes this is one sweet ride I love the new wood vinyl the guy used so unique.
That's a Brazillian Rosewood (still lots of forests untouched), different from African or Indonesian Rosewood (finer grain from younger, overcut forests), on that last one. Probably from 3M's Di-NOC collection. Very nice.
I like the looks of the Roadmaster sedan clip on the wagons and yet I don't like it. I think it looks good with some colors, call that stupid, but that is just how I see them. I like it with dark colors, like the first pic, but to me they do not look as good with lighter colors. I know Pat put alot of work into his car, I followed along and watched all his videos, but I just do not care for the clip on it in that color.
I like the sedan nose better. I'm sort of partial to Pontiacs, so I've always wondered what a '91 - '96 big Bonneville Safari would look like, based on the B-body. I've envisioned a front end with the Fleetwood's headlight assemblies, and a Pontiac split grill.
Funny you should mention Pontiac's I told my dad that I need to firgure out what I would need to do to incorporate Pontiac features to the wagon. I have been pulling picture's off the web of all kinds of Pontiacs. I just may do this but it will take some doing.
Not to necro a thread, but I felt it more appropriate to use an existing thread rather than start a whole new one. I guess this can also serve as my hello to the community--I'm an 18 year old girl who grew up in Ford minivans (a 91 Aerostar, a 96 Villager, and a 98 Windstar, in that order) but acquired a taste for big cars from an early age, thanks to my dad. One day he picked me up from kindergarten in a white mid 90s Lincoln Town Car he'd borrowed from work, and I was awestruck by the red, limo-like interior. The rest is history, I suppose. I think the conversions are interesting. As Blackfoot said, I both like and dislike it. I think part of it is that the Roadmaster sedan front end looks like a grumpy old man....but it does appeal to me, at the same time, simply because it's different. This business of conversions raises a question, however....I know there have been a number of aftermarket Cadillac wagons made in the past, but has anyone ever bolted the front end of a 93-96 Fleetwood onto a 91-96 Roadmaster or Caprice wagon? It'd be really cool to see a somewhat 'modern' Cadillac wagon that isn't basically a hearse. Taillights would be an issue though....I can't foresee an easy way of grafting Caddy taillights on the rear of one of these wagons. Then changing the dash and steering wheel would be an interesting idea, as well...although the Fleetwood had dual airbags, whereas the 91-93 wagons had no passenger airbag. Perhaps just a Caddy steering wheel would be enough. Of course, a Bonneville or Parisienne Safari wagon would be a sight to see, as well. I want to get one of these wagons within the next year, preferably an Olds or Buick, so I'd like to learn more about them.
There have been some guys who have 'attempted' to put the D-body Fleetwood front end onto a B-body Caprice or Roadmaster wagon, but IMO, none with acceptable results. Here's the main reason: The Fleetwood is called a 'D-body' because it's got some major differences with the B-body. The wheelbase is longer, but not all the extra length is to the rear of the front hinge pillar - yes it has increased rear leg room. It also has a longer front frame section - the area in front of the frame torque box. In other words (I'm estimating here) if the distance on the B-body fron the front edge of the front door to the centerline of the front wheel is 20", the distance on the Fleetwood would be 23 or 24". What this means in trying to put the Fleetwood front end onto the B-body frame is major modifications (shortening) to the fenders, inner fenders, hood, etc.....The only 'right' way to do it would be to cut off the front frame section off the B-body wagon and graft on a Fleetwood frame section. Either that, or try to graft the entire B-body wagon onto the Fleetwood frame and front sheet metal group, but then you have to deal with the additional length in the rear . Not so simple a project........
Hey, bigDad....leave tha wagon of yours ALONE! It reeks of BUICK and is, in my opinion one of the best looking B wagons I have seen. I love that car. If you touch it I will hunt you down. Wagoneer...you have some good points but you REALLY should introduce yourself in the Intro Section. It's the thing to do and we would like to hear about you and your car.
Krash, That was very informative, thank you. I didn't know about the distinct differences between the D and B bodies, particularly the measurements. It makes a Cadillac conversion much less feasible, but it's still a cool concept to ponder. And silverfox, I'll pop over there in a short while and introduce myself properly.
