Anyone know who owns this 72 GP convertible???
 

Does anyone know whom owns this car? I'd love to buy it if possible....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

I'm not certain who owns it today, but in case you need any backstory, I believe it was built by a gentleman named Joel Haffner from the St. Louis area. We saw it at the POCI Convention on Collinsville, IL (in 2005?) and he explained to us that he used a similar-vintage Olds A-car to convert his GP from hardtop to convertible top using GM pieces. It seemed to be VERY well done!

Several years ago there was a story in either Smoke Signals or HPP about a black 71 or 72 GP convertible. It to was made using a 71 or 72 Olds Cutlass Supreme convert.

Thanks guys,,, I am going to talk with a friend and possible re-create it.. Really like the car...

So I wonder if it’s titled as an Oldsmobile or a Pontiac.

I’d say Pontiac. IIRC he just used the convertible specific parts from a Cutlass convertible.
I was just talking to my FIL about that black car the other day. Man it would be a lot of work to get right.



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It would still be titled as a Pontiac Grand Prix 2 door coupe.

Blue car belonged to a fellow by the name of Joel Haffner. We became friends at some point after chatting about this convertible, and my SSJ GPs.

I believe he sold it about 7 to 8 years ago. Haven't heard from him since.

The black convertible in Smoke Signals was made from an SSJ from what I remember.....

I know this thread is old, but thought I'd reply.... Joel Haffner was my dad. (he passed away in 2015.) Others are correct, he used the convertible top from a Cutlass. Jim Novelli did the conversion, and his work was perfection. I still have a big stack of pictures somewhere of the conversion step by step. There was a detailed article about it in Pontiac Enthusiast - Volume 4 Number 5 - September/October 1998. He had the article framed and displayed it at car shows. (pic attached)

He put a 455 in it along with with a bunch of other things that weren't stock for this GP. Although the upholstery was in decent shape, he replaced it with white leather with the same pinhole pattern of the original vinyl. I think he also installed a dual shifter, although that may have been another car I'm thinking of. The car was absolutely gorgeous and I wanted to keep it but money was needed for his care. I unexpectedly cried a little when the guy picked it up and drove off - it was the last of the many great cars he had over the years. :(

Sorry to hear of your father's passing. We always enjoyed visiting with him at the various Pontiac events we'd see him at!

Thank you. I'm sure you met his dog too - the one that dethroned me as the favorite child...

Nice of you to chime in & welcome to the forums! I remember that car from the Convention.
Your old man hit it out of the park.

Yes he did until he put in high lift cams - I hated driving that car with those...it was exhausting to drive for some reason.*

I had so many great cars growing up - none of them were restored when I drove them (including the 72 Grand Prix) but wow, if I had even a few of them now I'd be sitting pretty financially.

*Edit: It was exhausting to drive because when you were at a stoplight idling, the whole car shook/rocked and it had some kind of effect on my body trying to keep it under control. Maybe it was the combo of a souped up 455 and those cams?

That car looked awesome ! Sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

I own the car now it is in Maine and I keep it in very good condition did a lot of work to it I redid the interior and got rid of the engine shaking drive beautiful now

I own a 72, and this car has always interested me. I’m glad to hear that it still survives, because visually it is the ultimate Grand Prix to me.

That is great to hear! I loved that car and I'm extra happy that you fixed the shaking engine. I have a ton of photos showing the many steps in the conversion that I could send you if you are interested.

That’s cool I seen some of the photos but never seen all of them would love to see them my phone number is 781-414-1026 maybe you can text me them

They are actual photographs, not digital. I will have to look for them and could mail them to you. I'll text you when I find them.