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
I can’t believe no one has said this:
“Every car is a convertible if you have a Sawzall and a thirty pack of beer.”
Chevy Chevette!
(autocorrect want this to be crevette)
Helped create a convertible out of an orange Chevette in college.
( learned a valuable life lesson: don’t loan your car to a college buddy for the summer )
Cars that shouldn’t have been convertibles but were? VW Rabbit/Golf I.
Cars that should’ve been convertibles but weren’t? VW Jetta I. Just about 18″ more rear overhang for much better trunk access with more space and something for that huge top stack to retract into.
WRONG!!! This convertible had a very important place in history & culture. It represented a certain type of 80’s teen girl privilege in its time – especially well captured in movies such as Pretty in Pink. Plus it allowed us to come up with the term “Bitch Bucket”
Also Remington Steele car chases.
Yeah, that IS completely wrong…I’ve always loved the VW Cabriolets (also “bitch baskets”) ever since seeing the one in the movie License To Drive
https://www.imcdb.org/v029122.html
Hell, even Torch had the Rabbit version!
https://www.theautopian.com/im-still-angry-about-this-detail-of-the-vw-cabriolet-rabbit-convertible-after-all-these-years/
Plus, despite the stereotypical name, I would love to own/drive one since they look like so much fun (have had an 84 Jetta and that was a blast)
Hey, that really works!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/133153033@N02/29641749868
The Erdbeerkörbchen has its charm, though.
Nah, VW overall made the right choice. While it might have sold a little better in the US as a be-trunked Jetta, the rest of the world bought Golfs, with or without the tin roof.
Anything that has the audacity to name itself after some kind of wind and not open itself up to said wind is on notice. Plymouth Breeze? Maserati Levante? Maserati Bora? VW Bora? Just a whole litany of VWs really? Cut the roofs off all of them.
Oooo, a droptop Scirocco! I like it!
BRZ 86 would be pretty obvious. The boxy CRV’s would have been neat as some kind of convertible or rag top. Same then the Element and FJ. 2 door civics.
The first gen was originally planned to have a convertible option, but it was scrapped late into development from what i read. Shame.
To sad SAAB never thought of making a convertible (or at least coupé) version of the 9000. Sure it was a more stately car and all, but it had very similar dimensions with the 900, which we all know that had gorgeous convertible versions. Also, it would be very funny to think of a convertible DeLorean, quite the opposite thing where the design almost feels alien on something that isn’t a coupé
Is this what you are thinking of Peter?
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53829050604_ed47f553c9_k.jpg
that’s no longer convertible…that’s just converted. There’s plenty of vehicles like that for tours in LA too!
That’s ASTRO(nomical)…that would make a great SAFARI vehicle!
Nice play on words! You know the two versions lol!
What we need is a successor to the ’60s Lincoln Continental, a big 4 door Luxo-barge.
The Ford Crown Victoria, Chevrolet Caprice, Mercedes S-class sedan, Audi A8…
You know, something as big as a whale, seats about 20, so come on! let’s set sail!
I’m good, I think there are plenty of convertibles if I want one. Miata if I want small, plenty of midsize luxury, and mustang for larger but not luxury.
Cars that should have been available as convertibles:
AMC Matador
1st Gen and 1974-1978 Buick Riviera
1967-1970 Cadillac Eldorado
1st & 2nd Gen Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2005-2013 Chrysler 300
1972-79 Ford Thunderbird
1978-2011 Ford LTD/Crown Victoria & Mercury Grand Marquis/Marauder
1967 & 68, and 1974-1997 Mercury Cougars
Lincoln Mark III – VI
2nd Gen Oldsmobile Toronado
Rolls Royce Spectre
Mercedes-Benz W126 and W140 S Class, and W201 C Class
Peugeot 505
Citroen C6
Totally with you on the 70s T-Bird. My dad ordered one nearly exactly like this brand new in 1977, except with the polycast wheels instead of wheel covers. Just picture this big handsome disco malaise machine with a ragtop:
https://stories.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/origin-1869.jpg?resize=1536,1024
Pity you led with the Matador. I have felt all my life that they should have all been converted back into base minerals.
Nonsense! The early-70s Matador was the bomb. How many cars came with wings and could fly? (Count Dooku package)
Matador cop cars rule. Matador coupes drool.
The first-gen sedan is great, it almost looks Australian.
The second-gen, however, looks like it needs a nose job.
It should’ve had one of the neoclassic ‘center-defined’ grilles that were all the rage in the Detroit styling studios in the Brougham Era. That would at least make the snout more intentional-looking than trying to drape a ’67 Camaro grille across it did
I led with the Matador because alphabetical order (til I got to the foreign stuff)
And because it would have ridded the car of that roofline, B post and fixed rear side glass – which I believe would have made it a much more attractive car, roof up or down.
One time in Palm Springs, we saw a custom convertible job on a 67 Eldorado. It was beautiful.
Yes – the deep silver Eldorado.
The owner is the guy who owns one of the high-end antique shops on Palm Canyon.
I can’t recall his name right now…
Makes sense – we saw it parked by a boutique. I think the interior was red or burgundy and exterior was dark silver metallic.
That’s the one!
The only one!!!
Biased Answer: Nissan Leaf, the simplicity of the drivetrain should have enabled tons of variants of Leaf, including a convertible variant.
Mazda MX-30: It has abysmal range, might as well make it a convertible.
That being said their are 2 European Market Convertible BEVs that could easily be sold in the US now.
The Mini Cooper BEV Convertible (they only sold 999 of them)
Both Variants of the Fiat 500e convertible.
I like that top shot of the Express van. LA tours do something like that.
The Astro van (100% built in Baltimore) would have been hot as a pickup truck
I think the later LA tour vans just take the big fixed side windows out of a medium or high-roof Transit.
The final model year of the Challenger could be ordered as a convertible for an additional cost and the work done by Drop Top in Florida.
https://www.dodgegarage.com/news/article/owners-clubs/2023/05/meet-the-first-dodge-challenger-srt-hellcat-widebody-convertible-owner.html
There were aftermarket convertible Challengers for much of the life of the car, and more than just the last year were sold via dealers with “factory” warranty coverage. The problem was that “additional cost” – $25-30K IIRC over the cost of the car. it was outrageous compared to a proper factory convertible with a couple grand upcharge.
The BRZ/86 should have offered a convertible. Would be somewhat a miata competitor, but actually potentially offer a (torturous) backseat.
And conversely there should have been Miata fixed-head coupes – ideally with a glass hatchback ala the MKI RX7 for some decent luggage space.
Hakosuka-R34 Nissan Skyline. Any trim:
https://preview.redd.it/15kofjiw23m81.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=5f126fb6e0b6875ef6f12501f6dc5127522baacd
Nissan Pao, because Jason hasn’t had enough convertibles in his life.
My most universal car answer is Fiero, though I thought it was offered as one in Australia.
I think most of the Mid 2010 Buick line could have done well as convertibles. A Regal or a Verano Convertible would have been good sebring/200 alternative
There was a T-top Fiero.
I only saw them in photos, however, so maybe not?
They definitely existed.
At least one exists, because it was driven by Marky Mark and the Rock in Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain (the one about weightlifters holding a guy hostage, in which I’m not sure anyone came across as anything but dumb or awful).
https://pics.imcdb.org/9679/zpontiacfiero.jpg
You mean like the Cascada?
totally forgot about it
This would be more fun with pictures…
I think we should have more convertible trucks. The Jeep Gladiator and Hummer EV are pretty sweet for being able to remove the roof. A Ford Ranger or Chevy Colorado would be much more appealing to me if I could put the top down
That’s why ragtop K5 Blazers will always be the greatest possible two-door SUV. Chief Brody in “Jaws” knew what was up.
Jimny
The Challenger was allegedly designed to spawn a convertible variant, but it was cut prior to launch in 2008, then never added back partly because the coupe was selling well enough on its own
In that same vein, I’d say the Toyobaru twins would be fun as convertibles, a 2+2 seater alternative to the Miata, sort of like what the original 124 Spider was to the MGB
The final year offered a factory convertible. Kinda. You could order one from Dodge with the work done by Drop Top in Florida.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/15/business/dodge-challenger-convertible/index.html
It was! That’s why they all have frameless windows!
Challenger is instantly the answer that came to my mind
Isn’t that Chevy Express convertible just a pickup? Considering the cost you just can’t make a profit on doubling the cost of a economy sedan by making a convertible option. It is however better than adding a $1,000 stereo to a new $4,000 Yugo. Yes back in the 80s Yugos had a $4k sticker and our local Yugo dealer added $1,000 stereos to every one. Fortunately it stopped me from buying a Yugo.
I saw this awesome conversion in Mexico recently. More full size passenger vans.
https://i.imgur.com/BT1sQWR.jpeg
Modern toyota 4Runner convertible would be amazing
Few newer cars I can think of:
– Ford Maverick (at least the Fiat 500 treatment to keep the B and C pillars)
– the latest Land Cruiser
– And of course the new Nissan Murano
“And of course the new Nissan Murano”
Ack! Gag! (Sorry, Bill the Cat just popped out there.)
The original Murano only sold about what, 8,600 units? Not exactly setting the world on fire (insert obligatory Tesla joke here). I don’t see them doing that again.
How were sales of the Murano compared to the Land Rover Evoque convertible? Both are odd cars to see in the wild.
I don’t know, and Google can’t seem to find the answer.
The only tid bits that stood out were they sold in the vicinity of 100,000 Evoque’s a year world wide, they killed off the coupe version because the five door and convertible made up 95% of sales, and the convertible was launched as a “low volume project” and had a run of about seven years, IIRC.
The hard numbers breaking out sales by version don’t seem to be available online, though.
I swear every Murano convertible made is here in God’s Waiting Room, FL. The bitch-basket for blue hairs.
GM kinda already makes an Express/Savana convertible. 100% of the “cutaway” cab chassis versions leave the factory with no rear wall. Just some clear plastic wrap for an upfitter. So.. just strap a chair to the rear frame rails… and bob’s your uncle.