convertible68
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2006
- Messages
- 329
When I was about 13-14 or so I started posting on Ivacuumcleaners.com as well as the Hooverland and vintagevacuumdustcollectors Yahoo groups. Around that time there was a Hoover "Custom Convertible" or U4007 on eBay. Well, on one of the Yahoo groups, I forget which, I stumbled across the brochure for the U4007 as well as the "Deluxe Convertible" U4005 (though I didn't know the model numbers then), apparently the lower-tier model. After I saw that I just HAD to have one, in its fab-retro-blue entirety, especially seeing as how that shade of blue is one of my favorite colors, but I digress...
For the next 4 years I kept my eyes peeled on eBay, and while I saw a few U4007s that ended (as usual) out of my price range, there wasn't a SINGLE U4005. I posted a message on Ivacuumcleaners looking for a "Deluxe Convertible" (I know now that was a VERY vague description but that was only how I knew that machine by) and tried to describe it, but other posters thought I was talking about a completely different machine. So, I just figured that it was pretty rare, and just kept wondering if I would ever find one, until a couple of weeks ago. There, on eBay, was none other than a U4005, and not only that but it didn't appear to be in bad shape at all! Thanks to my trusty AuctionSniper I ended up winning it for a reasonable amount; reasonable considering how much decent vintage vacuums are going for these days...
Well, its much-anticipated arrival came today, and I promptly took it apart and gave it a once-over, cleaning it up and greasing the motor and agitator bearings. After a little Mother's mag wheel polish, the hood and rubber bumper cleaned up nicely, and the cord had been taped in two places, but other than that it looks and runs great like a Convertible should and is quite fun to use! I have to say, those early full-hood models with 2 speeds are the best, and now one of my dream machines among many others (!) is present and accounted for, YAY!
Is that not the coolest shade of blue you've ever seen?

For the next 4 years I kept my eyes peeled on eBay, and while I saw a few U4007s that ended (as usual) out of my price range, there wasn't a SINGLE U4005. I posted a message on Ivacuumcleaners looking for a "Deluxe Convertible" (I know now that was a VERY vague description but that was only how I knew that machine by) and tried to describe it, but other posters thought I was talking about a completely different machine. So, I just figured that it was pretty rare, and just kept wondering if I would ever find one, until a couple of weeks ago. There, on eBay, was none other than a U4005, and not only that but it didn't appear to be in bad shape at all! Thanks to my trusty AuctionSniper I ended up winning it for a reasonable amount; reasonable considering how much decent vintage vacuums are going for these days...
Well, its much-anticipated arrival came today, and I promptly took it apart and gave it a once-over, cleaning it up and greasing the motor and agitator bearings. After a little Mother's mag wheel polish, the hood and rubber bumper cleaned up nicely, and the cord had been taped in two places, but other than that it looks and runs great like a Convertible should and is quite fun to use! I have to say, those early full-hood models with 2 speeds are the best, and now one of my dream machines among many others (!) is present and accounted for, YAY!
Is that not the coolest shade of blue you've ever seen?
