When was the first convertible hardtop car invented?
The first manual retractable hardtop convertible was invented in 1922, although that design was never actually produced. In 1927, manufacturers like Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln, and Chrysler brought multiple convertible models to the eager American public.
When did convertibles become available in the US?
In 1939, Plymouth introduced the first mechanically operated convertible roof. Demand for convertibles increased as a result of American soldiers in France and the United Kingdom during World War 2 experiencing the small roadster cars which were not available in the United States at the time.
When were convertible SUVs invented?
The now-familiar SUV shape came into its own in America in the 1960s. A rugged American-made off-roader, this beast inspired all convertible SUVs that followed it. First sold in 1961, the Scout proved to be an instant classic. At the time, though, it was plowing headfirst into uncharted territory. As its lead designer, Ted Ornas, explains:
What is the meaning of convertible car?
A convertible or cabriolet (/ˌkæbrioʊˈleɪ/) is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary between models. ... A convertible allows an open-air driving experience, with the ability to provide a roof when required.
Who invented the first convertible?
The first retractable hardtop convertible design was introduced by Ben P. Ellerbeck; the hardtop was manually operated on a Hudson coupe yet was never produced. Automaker Peugeot produced the first power- operated retractable hardtop in the 601 Éclipse; the design was patented by Georges Paulin.
What was the first ever convertible car?
In 1939, Plymouth introduced the first mechanically operated convertible roof. Demand for convertibles increased as a result of American soldiers in France and the United Kingdom during World War 2 experiencing the small roadster cars which were not available in the United States at the time.
Who invented the convertible in 1922?
Ben P. EllerbeckIn 1922, Ben P. Ellerbeck invented the first manual retractable hardtop system, but a convertible vehicle wasn't produced. Five years later, car makers such as Buick and Cadillac offered somewhat versions of the modern convertible.
When was the first hard top convertible?
The earliest known car with a hardtop folding roof was the 1935 Peugeot 402 Eclipse Decapotable. Since then, there have been many manufacturers who have had commercial success with convertibles.
What year were convertibles not?
Convertibles were nearly legislated out of business in the 1970s. When Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were enacted in 1968, the prevailing wisdom was that they would be revised to include stringent rollover standards. It not only meant the end of the line for convertibles, but for hardtop coupes, as well.
When did convertible cars become popular?
It was so popular, more than 48,000 Fairlane Skyliners were built from 1957 to 1959. The trend continued into the 1960's as the convertible option became available to more than just luxury models and sports cars. Family cars and muscle cars were getting the top-down treatment too.
Who made the first retractable hardtop?
Retractable Revisions 98 years ago, back when everyone went by their full name including middle initial, a man by the name of Ben P. Ellerbeck designed the first retractable hardtop. It was to be manually operated in a Hudson coupe but it never saw production.
What is the roof of a convertible called?
A retractable hardtop — also known as "coupé convertible" or "coupé cabriolet" — is a car with an automatically operated, self-storing hardtop, as opposed to the folding textile-based roof used by traditional convertible cars.
Can any car be a convertible?
Any car can be a convertible -- for a price. In today's economy the consumer is often warned about the great put-on, but now an eye of caution also needs to be directed toward a new ''put-down,'' the conversion of standard automobiles into convertibles.
Is there a 4 door convertible car?
Introduced in 2004, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the most famous 4-door convertible currently on the market. The Wrangler Unlimited comes standard with a soft-top roof that folds into the rear tailgate, with an easily removable hardtop also available.
What year did Ford make a hard top convertible?
1957Ford's advertising called it “The exciting new Ford Skyliner … World's Only Hide-Away Hardtop,” and they were introduced to the public in dealer showrooms on April 18, 1957.
Do convertibles leak?
Convertible tops can leak. Seals at the windshield header and around the side windows are much better than before. But convertibles can still leak. Persistent leaks can, in turn, lead to interior damage. Areas that are most affected are things like dashboards and armrests.
What is a convertible car?
For the armchair, see cabriolet (furniture). A convertible or cabriolet ( / ˌkæbrioʊˈleɪ /) is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary between models.
How many convertibles were made?
A total of 500 were produced. Models dedicated to the convertible body style include the Mazda MX-5, Porsche Boxster, and Opel Cascada. Some automakers also include a convertible body style as an available body style in a model range.
What was the Carson top?
The metal-framed " Carson top " was a popular addition for the 1930s Ford convertibles or roadsters because it turned these models into an almost instant hardtop. The design mimicked a convertible top, but lacking the bulky folding mechanisms enabled the removable hardtop to have a much lower and more rakish profile.
What is a Cabrio coach?
Cabrio coach: A cabrio coach (also called semi-convertible) has a retractable textile roof, similar to a traditional convertible. The difference is that a convertible often has the B-pillar, C-pillar and other bodywork removed.
What are the drawbacks of a convertible?
Potential drawbacks of convertibles are reduced structural rigidity (requiring significant engineering and modification to counteract the effects of removing a car's roof) and cargo space.
What year was the Daihatsu Copen?
Daihatsu Copen circa 2001 with retracted hardtop, qualifying for the ultra-compact Japanese kei class. Ford Focus CC circa 2006 with its roof retracted, its final assembly performed by Pininfarina. Chevrolet SSR circa 2004, a retractable hardtop convertible pickup truck, its top engineered by American Specialty Cars.
What material was used in the 1955 convertible?
By 1955, the most popular materials were latex and butyl rubber fabrics that each accounted for around 35% of the convertible top's weight, with others included vinyl (12%), jute (8%) along with rayon and acrylic fibers (Orlon) amounting to about 1% each in the compositions.
What is the evolution of convertibles?
The Evolution of the Convertible. Summer is officially here, and with it comes dreams of open-air motoring. Whether it's enjoying a lazy drive on a winding two-lane or cruising to a local drive-in, summer and convertibles go together like lemonade and ice tea.
When did convertibles go out of production?
These were North America's first production convertibles since the Cadillac Eldorado Convertible went out of production in 1976. The K-Car–based convertibles were affordable and practical. Their solid showroom sales rates proved that droptops were viable from a marketing perspective.
What was the first fully enclosed car?
His engineering prowess brought precision machining and parts interchangeability to automobiles. He also brought us the first fully enclosed car. Fisher Body built the 1905 Osceola (shown) as rolling proof of concept. For 1906, Cadillac offered a fully closed body as a made-to-order option.
What was the Cadillac body in 1906?
For 1906, Cadillac offered a fully closed body as a made-to-order option . It proved to be an inspired choice. Drivers were spending more time on the roads, and they needed protection from not only the weather but also the primitive driving environment (cars shared dirt roads with horses).
What year did Peugeot 601 Eclipse come out?
1934 Peugeot 601 Eclipse. Fixed-roof cars of the early 20th century could feel claustrophobic. But convertibles of the time were often leaky, drafty, noisy, and insecure. The advanced solution came from Peugeot in 1934 , with the introduction of the retractable hardtop on the 601.
What is the order rate for a sunroof?
Traditional sunroofs have become a popular option. Some new vehicles boast a 75 percent order rate for the cutouts. But there's a new trend emerging: giant sliding-glass-panel roofs. The glass panels run from the windshield header rear to the top of the backlight and from side rail to side rail.
When did convertibles die?
In the early '80s in America, the convertible was dead. Consumers reeled from two oil embargoes, disastrous quality of domestically produced vehicles, and the teething pains of an auto industry still learning how to engineer clean-running engines that could perform. Convertibles became irrelevant.
What is the series 2 Land Rover?
It became the Series 2, the Series 3, and eventually the Defender, incorporating new technologies while keeping the same basic style.
What was the first four wheel drive kei car?
Fun fact: it’s weird to see a Jeep with a Mitsubishi badge. In 1970 Suzuki began production of the Jimny convertible SUV (yes, that’s spelled correctly), the first four-wheel drive kei car, with a top speed of 47 MPH. It was so successful that in 1981, Suzuki began selling it in the US as the Samurai.
What was the first Scout convertible?
Little did he know, Ted had just started the convertible SUV revolution. The earliest Scout model, dubbed the 80, could be purchased as either a convertible truck or convertible SUV. They all sold incredibly well, even the strange special editions like the factory RV and the conventional ragtop.
How long have convertible SUVs been in production?
Those were preceded by numerous other convertible SUVs – some iconic, others complete wastes of space – and while today’s buyers usually prefer four doors over two, convertible SUVs have been in production in one form or another for over 75 straight years. First thing’s first: let’s define a convertible SUV.
What was the 181 called?
The 181 was called the Safari, Pescaccia, and Trekker in other markets, but for the United States VW had another novel idea: “Let’s just call it the Thing.”. And it worked. Although very few parts were shared, design-wise the Thing is pretty much the WWII Kübelwagen, seen here flying through a Russian field.
What type of vehicle was the Volkswagen thing?
Volkswagen Thing. This was originally designed as a combat vehicle with the internal designation of Type 181, but those plans fell through. In the late 1960s, amid the rising popularity of Beetle-based dune buggies, Volkswagen had an interesting thought: “What the heck, let’s sell it as a convertible SUV.”.
How much horsepower does a Kurogane have?
Powered by an air-cooled V-twin making 33 horsepower, the Kurogane found an advantage in the colder conditions of China and Russia over its water-cooled counterparts.
Overview
History
Most of the early automobiles were open-air vehicles without any roof or sides. As car engines became more powerful by the end of the 19th century, folding textile or leather roofs (as had been used on victoria or landau carriages) began to appear on cars. Examples of early cars with roofs include the phaeton (a two-seat car with a temporary roof), the brougham or a coupé de ville, having an encl…
Terminology
Other terms for convertibles include cabriolet, cabrio, drop top, drophead coupé, open two-seater, open top, rag top, soft top, spider, and spyder. Consistency is rare about the current use of cabriolet in preference to convertible. The term cabriolet originated from a carriage cabriolet: "a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage with a folding top, capable of seating two persons"; however, the term is also used to describe other convertibles.
Roof types
A "soft top" is made from a flexible textile material:
• Early convertibles used cotton canvas woven so tightly that it is waterproof. However, automakers had problems in securing raw materials to fulfill orders after World War II, including canvas in various shades for convertible tops, therefore limiting their manufacture.
Other design features
Folding textile convertible tops often fail to completely hide their internal mechanism or can expose their vulnerable underside to sun exposure and fading. A tonneau cover provides a solution.
Rear windows are often part of the roof assembly. Traditionally, the rear window in a soft-top was made from plastic; however, more recently some convertible…
Variations
Convertibles have offered numerous iterations that fall between the first mechanically simple fabric tops to complex retractable roofs made from hard materials:
Roadster: A roadster (also called spider or spyder) is an open two-seat car with emphasis on sporting appearance or character. Initially, an American term for …
Gallery
• Ford Model T circa 1925, with minimal weather protection
• Bentley 4½ Litre 1929 with luxury snap-on and thumbscrew sidescreens
• Ford Phaeton 1934 open four-door touring car
See also
• Targa top
• NASCAR Convertible Division
• Vinyl roof
• Sunroof