May I just say, if loving the idea of a convertible Chevy Express is wrong, I don’t wanna be right. But enough about the top graphic, let’s talk about real convertible contenders. For the most part, I think, car makers have gotten and get drop-tops right in terms of selecting models for the treatment. Some scream out to be convertible-ized (your sporting types, your stylish coupes), while others merely work fine minus a roof (vanilla coupes and occasionally sedans).
Naming (but not shaming, not here) weirdos that should not be convertibles but nonethless are feels pretty easy – the Nissan Murano and Dodge Dakota come quickly to mind – but going the other way, with cars that should have had their tops clipped but never went under the knife, that’s a bit harder. For me, anyway. It’s been a long day. What if we clipped a Honda Fit? Geo Metro convertible vibes, but with a lot more space and comfort and quality. Let me just do a little snip-snip here …
That’s … not bad? Looks like fun to me.
Oh, nice, The Bishop is chiming in on Slack. “240z,” he says. Yes! Absolutely! All the Z-cars, really. There were T-topped 300 Zs, but T-topping hardly counts as going roofless.
David just chimed in. Challenger. Let’s have a peek:
Those tall flanks don’t do it any favors, but that Coke-bottle hip line is really doing the trick! Hold on, I’m getting a ping … now it’s Lewin. “Holden Monaro,” he says (so, Pontiac GTO for us Americans). With a photo, no less:
I dig it!
Your turn: What Cars Should Be Convertibles That Aren’t (Or Weren’t)?
Top graphic images: Chevrolet; depositphotos.com
Apologies for being late to the party. That Chevy Express looks silly as a convertible (that top “stowage” is hideous) but I’ll counter that by saying it would make a great single-cab pickup. Lose the rear seats, install a bulkhead / rear window, and away you go!
I will agree pretty much any sporty coupe should have a convertible. Toyobaru twins, the Monaro and Challenger as shown in the article. And there hasn’t been anything to really replace the old Sebring convertible in the market, a just “an car” with a drop top for folks that don’t need performance, just want to be seen. Perhaps the Murano Cross-Cabriolet was just ahead of it’s time.
Do the new Defenders have tops that come off? A Bronco Sport with the roof down would look like VW Cabriolet.
EVs is the obvious choice. Enjoy the fresh air without the noise and exhaust.
Bmw is so close with the Mini Cooper and 4-series. Both already certified and selling in ICE format in the US. EVs and convertibles overland nicely as semi-expensive luxury products, 2nd or 3rd cars that aren’t all that practical but aspirational.
Same for the 500e convertible. Already on sale in Europe and uses the same chassis as the regular 500e.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned the last gen Viper.
Would a new Saab Aero convertible be too much to ask for?
I wish any domestic manufacturer would make a luxury convertible. Let’s not worry about any performance metric at all. Just a modern 1976 Eldorado with all the modern stuff.
Cadillac Sollei?
If they build it, I’ll put down a deposit if it’s around $100K. If it is more than the Celestiq, I’ll wait to buy a used one.
Tesla model 3, so that when autopilot fails to see a semi trailer across the lane, it can just go under it, unscathed.
And you head is neatly sliced off without slowing down!
I never knew I wanted a Panther convertible until Ford created the Marauder concept. Throw back to the big boat full size convertibles that you could buy in the 60s/70s.
https://blog.consumerguide.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/2002_Mercury_MarauderConvertibleConcept1.jpg
I’m sorry, but you are all wrong. The correct answer for what car should be a convertible is the modern Alfa Romeo Giulia.
I’m amazed Ford never went convertible for the Mark IV – V, and related T-bird. Same for the smaller Torino based 2 doors with the frameless glass (Cougar, Elite, T-bird).
Mark VIII would have made a great convertible, too.
Yes, I owned a ’96 V8 T-bird. The framed glass is the issue with a conversion, those doors sagged when new and the frame was structural. If glass is frameless, half the battle is already won.
A Mark VII convertible would be money though.
Yugo GVX. Besides, they didn’t come with air conditioning. Just LS swap it, and you literally have the perfect car.
Do I have good news for you.
https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/yugo-cabriolet.jpg
If there were factory Challenger convertibles, there would be one in my garage right now. Hemi with a 6spd. Those cars are a dirty secret guilty pleasure of mine, but my fun car needs to be a droptop, and the aftermarket conversions are much too expensive.
Agreed. And i mean direct from the factory, not a conversion. I’d love a Challenger convertible. I’d pay the same premium you’d pay for a Mustang convertible over a coupe, but the conversions are so damn expensive.
It’s really baffling that Chrysler never did it, especially if they did the engineering work to start with. Even a $5-8K upcharge would have been fine – but not $20-30K!
It would have been great to have a 6th Gen Honda Civic Convertible.
The GT86 that would be fun to remove the back seat and pop in a hard shell roof. Then it really would compete with the miata.
Cadillac ELR. Pretty little pointless wedge.
Had my ELR had a glass roof or drop top, I’d still have it. It would have been much better as a 2 seat hatchback even.
I have a weird jones for the ELR, except what I want to do is drop a tuned Ecotec in there to make a fun sleeper.
Definitely the Challenger should have, and also the upcoming Charger Daytona. If the Mustang and Camaro have convertibles it’s sinful that Dodge doesn’t for their “pony car”.(I know more of a tourer but still all the more reason)
Also as others have said, the SUVs that used to, like the RAV-4, also the Trax, Venue, definitely the Bronco Sport. Bring back the mini rag-top 4×4 beach convertibles!
The Kia Sorento too was chopped off the back in the day.
Wasn’t the the Sportage? or both? Yeah all that, just chop off the back roof and slap on a convertible.
Was the Sportage. Good call. Funny that the chopped off back was on so many small SUVs. The Rav4, Tracker, Sami, Amigo, 4runner and even the LR Freelander. Interesting time.
I think the mid 70’s Monte Carlo. Similar to this one. Those swoopy body lines!
https://offerup.com/item/detail/6258c735-e9c2-33df-9352-29829e0f2665
Perhaps too old to be a contender, but…
Volvo 262. I mean, if you’re gonna do a factory chop top, why not just chop the roof right off??