Not exactly new but might as well be

I wouldent cut the top off. That will ruin it. If you try to sell it later on as a "permavertible" you will have a hard time. Notchbacks were the lightest and stiffest of all 3 body styles of the second gen cars. The verts had a lot done to them to stiffen em up and were still kinda floppy. I have 2 notchbacks. A 67 and a 69. If your getting it cheap thats a steal.
Again great info, on the ridgedity of the car. Not worried as much about resale but don’t want to ruin it. Did that once with my first car. Cut the roof off of my $400 68 Fury wagon. It didn’t sag enough to mess with the doors fitting or anything and having a topless car with 3 rows of seats was fun but still regret doing that to it. I was a whole lot younger then, and believe it or not even more stupid than I am now. Would love another one of those today.