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Californian coachbuilder offers Mercedes CL convertible conversion

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Californian coachbuilder offers Mercedes CL convertible conversion

Jeremy Weber

4 21,715 views Jun 8, 2009

Newport Convertible Engineering offers four-door and SUV convertible conversions as well

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Mercedes Benz has hinted at the development of a convertible version of its CL flagship as far back as 2007 but still today there is no such model in the automaker’s lineup. Customers tired of waiting can still purchase a CL Cabrio thanks to the guys at California’s Newport Convertible Engineering, which offers a customized CL with its steel roof replaced by an automated folding soft-top.

Making a convertible out of a hardtop involves much more than chopping off the steel roof and designing a folding mechanism for the cloth top. Removing the steel top robs a car of a tremendous amount of structural rigidity that must be restored before the resulting soft-top can be deemed drivable. Every convertible built by the Californian coachbuilder includes significant structural upgrades to ensure the cars are equal to factory-built convertibles in terms of rigidity and roadworthiness.

Admittedly, the custom CL Cabrio looks rather stylish and would no doubt stand out from the crowd in any suburban district. Pricing for standard two-door convertible conversions typically range from $10,000 to $15,000, however, some projects Newport Convertible Engineering has worked on has run up into the six figure sums.

Some of the other extreme convertible makeovers offered by Newport Convertible Engineering include a Maybach 57 four-door convertible, and drop-top versions of the Cadillac Escalade and Toyota Prius.
Via: Autoblog.nl

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2002 Volkswagen News Mercedes Benz News News Modified Convertible Volkswagen Cabrio News Mercedes-Benz CL Class News

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Comments (4)

HECTOR Posted: 6/9/2009 3:33am PDT

A folding cloth top on a car like this looks as out of place as a penguin in a Walmart parking lot. This has FAIL written all over it, and TOOL written all over anybody who actually pays to have it done.

Besides, the interior of this car is so vomit inducing that it's best to keep it under wraps. With dark tinted windows.

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danDAN Posted: 6/9/2009 4:28am PDT

What's wrong with the SL? Same luxury, same engines just no back seat. I wonder if the roof actually hides in the boot or sticks out like a toe nail clipping as in the picture above.

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solo84 Posted: 6/9/2009 7:35am PDT

Besides, the interior of this car is so vomit inducing that it's best to keep it under wraps. With dark tinted windows. -hector

ahhhh...spoken like someone who has never had the priviledge of sitting in a new CL. kudos.

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Gus Chyba Posted: 6/9/2009 8:26am PDT