There I was, tooling down the road with the wife, roof down and cruising at 40. Just me, my babe and the 'cat. Without any warning (don't they ALL happen that way?), my hood flies up into the windshield. Leaving about 50 feet of skid marks (that would be the total between tire marks on the street and my underwear), I managed to get the car over safely without further damage. So now I need a hood for a '67 Wildcat, along with a latch mechanism and hood hinges. I'd (obviously) prefer the best shape possible on all the above mentioned parts. Shipping to 67203. Let me know what you've got.
Holy crap, that was a nice save, I've never seen a hood fly open at highway speed that didn't take out the windshield too. Good luck with the search, that is a nice looking convertible!
OUCH !! that sux .. hope you dont have problems color matching that BEAUTIFUL color paint .. what is it ? its abosutely stunning :eek2:
It's a custom blend of House of Kolor paint. We've named it "Nuclear Rose". I've already shown it to the body shop owner and he says fixing it will be easier than finding good parts for it.
I think that hood is longer than a LeSabre's...but this board will come through. You will get a nice one. It's great that your body / paint man is still on your team... great looking paint. I have seen that you can adapt a new style inside latch cable style system easily enough.
wow that sux man. I have been there, but not with a show car. I Had a 86 econline van hood fly up and completely pulverize the windshield and that scared the hell out of me and it also happened on my dads 68 thunderbird too, but at least the windshield was spared that time. good luck with repairs
Oh, how that hurts to see and hear. Glad it wasn't worse. Frank is right. Only '67 Electra and Wildcat can be donors for the hood. LeSabre may be able to offer the latch and hinges, but I can't confirm that. Devon
Lesabre hood is shorter, i have a nice set of hinges from a 1966 lesabre which sould work. Will have to check that out. $ 40 for the pair plus shipping.
I went and had a look at my parts. If the hood latch is the same as 1966 i have one of them also. That is the piece that bolts to rad support.
I'll get out tomorrow and photograph the latch so you can compare. My buddy found me a pair of hinges from a 68 wildcat, so they're officially off the list. If your latch matches, count me in. Now, if I could only scare up a hood...
That would be... Me. We drove the car around all day, at some points we were going 55 into the wind. This happened well after all that. The latch looks like it just couldn't handle it any more, but it might be from having the hood ripped away from it. The body shop says it looked like a spring may have failed inside it. I'll save that for an autopsy.
Oh my gawd...I feel your pain! You're very lucky to have caught it. The hood latch is different between 66 and 67. That said, the latch off of a LeSabre will work fine, they were the same. The hood has to come off of Electra or Wildcat. Have a look at eBay, someone was wrecking a 67 Cat sedan, might still have a hood for it. It probably is cheaper and easier to fix that hood than it will be to find a good one. I hope you find one, 'cuz that is a gorgeous Cat!
Here are a few photos of the hood latch after I beat it with a rawhide hammer. If you have or know someone who has one like it, please point me in that direction. The hinges I got yesterday just need media blasting and they'll be fine. I'm not sure the hood can be repaired, since it apparently got twisted and has a nasty "oil can" on both sides of the spear, and the under structure is broken at the hinge attach area on the right side. The hoods I've seen online so far are for local pickup, or for a LeSabre. I've emailed one person on fleabay who hasn't responded yet. I'm still trying, and praying this all gets worked out. Joe
I do not think my latch is the same. Mine opens with a rod that goes down in the bumper.they look the same but yours looks like is has a bar you slide sideways. If i am wrong let me know. Bob
I looked in my book and lesabre and electra parts number was9709625 and the cat was 9709624 i hope that will help.
I do not think hood will work. My book does not show 1968 but looking at pictures 68 hood latch might work. We can only hope. Maybe someone else on board will have parts books and can help.goodluck