Difficult to define, but the appeal of a convertible is part environmental, part visual and part fantasy. A convertible is an automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away, thus converting it from an enclosed vehicle to an open-air one. The roof is constructed from soft or rigid material. The soft-tops are made from vinyl, canvas or other textile material while the hard-tops are made of steel, aluminum, plastic or other rigid materials. A soft-top convertible is known as a cabriolet, cabrio, or spyder, while a two-seater is called a roadster. The hard-tops convertibles are marketed as coupe coupé cabriolet, coupé convertible or retractable hardtop, while two-seaters are known as coupé roadster or roadster coupe. Read on to know some interesting and amazing information on the history, origin and background of convertible cars.
Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Convertible Cars
The first practical retractable hardtop system was conceived by an American, Ben P. Ellerbeck, in 1922. The system was implied on a Hudson coupe, but the concept was never put into production. In 1935, Peugeot constructed the first power-operated retractable hardtop called ‘402 Éclipse Décapotable’. The car was designed and patented by a Parisian, Jewish dentist, Georges Paulin. He also worked as a part-time car designer, but died later in the Holocaust. Paulin’s designs were custom-built by French coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout, on a larger Peugeot chassis. In 1936, the ‘402 Éclipse Décapotable’ was constructed with a manually operated retractable hardtop in limited numbers, until the World War II.
In 1941, Chrysler built its first retractable hardtop concept called the ‘Thunderbolt’, which meant ‘dream car’. The year 1953 saw Ford Motor Company engineering a ‘Continental Mark II’ with a servo-operated retractable roof, by spending an estimated US $2 million. The project was headed by 30-year old draftsman named Ben Smith. The concept gained success in theory, but was rejected due to marketing reasons. Later, two brothers Ed and Jim Gaylord showcased their first retractable hardtop prototype at the Paris Motor Show, held in 1955. This car also failed to reach production.
In the year 1957, Ford marketed the ‘Skyliner’ in the United States. Around 48,394 cars were built between 1957 and 1959, due to its notability for complexity and only intermittent reliability. The car featured ten power relays, ten limit switches, four lock motors, three drive motors, eight circuit breakers, and 610 feet (190 m) of electrical wire, which could raise or lower the top in about 40 seconds when functioning. The car also had some luggage space, but was priced twice as much as a baseline Ford sedan. However, ‘Skyliner’ was withdrawn from the market after three years.
The beginning of 1995 saw the era of modern retractable hardtops. The year began with Mitsubishi’s ‘3000GT Spyder’ running on the roads of United States only, which was then followed by Mercedes-Benz ‘SLK’ in 1998 and Peugeot ‘206 CC’ in 2001. Peugeot was the first company to present a four-door retractable hardtop convertible with ‘407 Macarena’, in 2007. The car was produced by French coachbuilding specialist Heuliez. Its top could be folded back in 30 seconds. The model also incorporated LCD screens for the rear passengers. Today, the most popular retractable hardtop models include BMW Z4 (2010), BMW M3 (2008), BMW 328i/335i Cabrio (2007), Cadillac XLR (2004), Chevrolet SSR (2003), and Chrysler Sebring (2008).
Here in Arizona, we have finally hit that very sweet spot where it’s not meltingly hot, and the winter has left us. Spring, like some other places in the world might call it, is here! With those great temperate climes, we are dropping our tops down and cruising, letting the warm air blow through our hair. It had us thinking, what’s the history of that convertible top? Today on the blog we are going to give a little history of that convertible style we all love.
The original form of automobiles of all types was open top, following the convention of most horse and buggy stylings. The original convertible then actually referred to an option top to be added on to the car. By the 19th century, most cars on the road had folding textile roof options. Could you image driving around without a roof year-round? In the 1920s, steel body cars became mass-produced and available to the average consumer. As this modification continued being built standard into vehicles, the first retractable top was then developed in 1922. Designed by a man named Ben P. Ellerbeck, the hardtop was operated manually on a Hudson coupe but never saw production. Just five years later that feature was brought to market by many manufacturers like Buick, Chrysler, Cadillac, Lincoln, and others.
Of course, when 1929 and the Great Depression hit, the convertible and sporty car trend took a hit as well. While this trend may have dropped, innovations were still being made. Peugeot introduced the first powered retractable hardtop in 1934.
The proliferation and love with the open top car only continued with many manufacturers in America offering a wide range of options in the 1950s and 60s, hitting a record high of 6% of all auto sales in the 60s, while the 70s saw a drop to just 1%. The fad dwindled for myriad reasons until the 1980s when the style was revitalized with the Chrysler LeBaron in 1982.
As it turns out, the convertible top as we know it means the opposite of what we’d expect, not a recent addition but a time tested and almost prototypical one. Our love of the open top ride is as old as people have been tearing up the roadways, it was the closed top that was the aberration.
Few things compare to the sensation that comes from riding in a convertible. Picture this: it’s a blue-bird day, the top is down, the sun is shining, and the wind is blowing through your hair as you enjoy a scenic cruise on a winding beachside road. The image elicits a fun, carefree feeling in our minds (and it’s no wonder, so many advertisements feature people enjoying these idealistic moments). But beyond an automotive experience that is synonymous with joy and freedom, there is an exciting history behind the convertible. This article will take a step back in time and explore its evolution throughout the years. Let’s ride…
The First Convertibles
Fun fact: there was once a time when no cars had roofs. And while we wouldn’t necessarily consider those roofless rigs “convertibles” per se, they did give people a taste of the open-air transportation lifestyle. But the early attempts at convertibles were often noisy and challenging to operate until 1934 when auto manufacturer Peugeot released the 601 Eclipse. This vehicle featured a retractable hardtop with a self-storing roof that disappeared into a rear compartment behind the driver’s seat.
In 1939, Plymouth offered drivers an elevated top-down experience with the first-ever power-operated convertible. With a much less labor-intensive solution, drivers said goodbye to manually operated drop-tops and hello to freedom.
Post WW2 Demand
During the 1950s and 1960s, American automakers began manufacturing a wide range of convertible models to meet increased consumer demand after WW2. The challenge? Older designs continued to present issues with window sealing and rattling. The solution? Manufacturers introduced convertibles with full-frame doors and folding fabric tops, which was first seen with the 1950 Nash Rambler. Close on the heels of this new and improved model, and we saw the birth of popular vehicles such as the AMC Rambler American, Studebaker Lark, Packard Caribbean, Oldsmobile 98, and Chrysler Imperial.
Waning Popularity
That which rises can also fall, which was exactly what happened when the 70’s hit, and the appetite for convertible cars saw a steep decline. But why? Multiple factors contributed to a shift in consumer preference, most notably in-vehicle air conditioning popularized, making fixed-roof cars significantly more comfortable. Sunroofs also started to come into production, allowing consumers to enjoy the open-air feel with the practicality of the fixed-roof vehicle, especially considering increased road speeds also resulted in more noise and wind for top-down drivers.
The end result? After the last 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible rolled off of the assembly line, the only convertibles available in North America were from foreign manufacturers.
The Resurgence
Thankfully for American convertible lovers, it wasn’t long before domestic manufacturers got back on the bandwagon, with the Chrysler LeBaron and Dodge 400 rejuvenating the market in 1982 with their incredibly well-received models. With soft-top roofs now dominating the market, the ’80s and ’90s produced some of the most iconic convertible models, including the Pontiac Sunbird, Chevy Cavalier Z24, Chevy Camaro IROC-Z, Ford Mustang, and Ford Thunderbird.
In 1989, the convertible community was given the first edition of the MX-5 (known as the Miata in North America). This genuinely timeless car, which is still in production today, went on to become the best-selling convertible of all time, having sold over 1 million units to date.
The Modern Era
The automotive industry is ever-evolving, but the presence of convertibles remains steadfast. Automakers such as Ford, GM, BMW, Mazda, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Lexus, MINI, and more continue to produce convertibles today. We don’t see the desire for the incomparable driving experience going anywhere anytime soon. While demand has seen its ups and downs and designs continue to change, as long as those free-spirited driving dreams still exist, convertibles will continue to have a place in the market.