Convertible

Convertible /kuhn-ver-ti-buhl/ noun (countable)

A convertible, known as a "drophead coupé" in more traditional British terminology, is a type of car with a retractable roof that can be folded away to convert the vehicle from an enclosed to an open-air configuration. This is the car for those who want the pleasure of open-air motoring without sacrificing the comfort and space of a proper saloon. It is the automotive equivalent of a holiday villa with a retractable roof, offering all the usual amenities with the added bonus of sunshine. Unlike the minimalist roadster, the convertible is often a four-seater, created by the structurally questionable act of sawing the roof off a normal family car. This typically results in a car that is heavier and wobblier than its hard-topped sibling, but infinitely more glamorous on a sunny day.

The Full Story of the Convertible

The convertible has always represented a peculiar British obsession: the determination to drive with the roof down regardless of meteorological reality. While other nations sensibly reserved open-topped motoring for appropriate climates, the British embraced it with the same stubborn optimism they applied to outdoor cricket matches and seaside holidays.

The golden age of the form was arguably the pre- and post-war era of the "drophead coupé." The great British coachbuilders like Mulliner and Park Ward would create impossibly elegant, hand-built open-topped bodies for the chassis of Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and Alvises. These were cars of extraordinary expense and exclusivity, the very pinnacle of open-air motoring.

For those with a sportier inclination, Jaguar and Aston Martin defined the aspirational convertible. The Jaguar E-Type, while technically a roadster, set a standard for beauty and performance that few could match. Its successor, the long-running XJ-S Convertible, was a softer, more luxurious grand tourer, a boulevard cruiser of immense presence. Aston Martin, meanwhile, created a dynasty of impossibly cool "Volante" models, from the iconic DB5 and DB6 of the 1960s to the muscular V8s of the 70s and 80s. These were the cars of film stars and royalty, the ultimate expression of British soft-top desirability.

While the likes of Aston Martin catered to the jet set, a more accessible form of open-topped motoring was offered for the middle classes. Cheerful convertibles were made from the humble Morris Minor and Ford Consul. A particularly ambitious attempt to bridge this gap was the 1970s Triumph Stag, a handsome, V8-powered four-seater GT. It was a brilliant concept that offered a taste of the high life, which was then comprehensively ruined by the usual British Leyland combination of appalling build quality and a catastrophically unreliable engine.

The evolution of the convertible has been a story of increasing complexity. The manual hood, a wrestling match of canvas and clips, has been replaced by today's spectacular powered roofs. These modern systems are a ballet of electric motors and hinges, a piece of mechanical origami that is ruinously expensive to fix when it inevitably goes wrong. Modern convertibles have become technological marvels that can transform from coupe to roadster in under thirty seconds, though they now cost more to repair than most people's houses are worth.

For The Record

What is a "drophead coupé"?

It is the traditional, and more formal, British term for a convertible. It is particularly associated with the high-end, coachbuilt convertibles from brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Alvis from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Why are convertibles heavier than the saloons they are based on?

Because a car's roof is a vital structural component. When it is removed, the bodyshell loses a huge amount of its rigidity. To compensate, engineers have to add a great deal of extra strengthening to the floorpan and sills, which adds significant weight back into the car.

What is a "T-bar" roof?

As seen on the Triumph Stag, it's a structural roll hoop that runs across the car behind the driver's head, with a central bar running front-to-back to the windscreen frame. It was a design used to add back some of the structural stiffness lost by removing the full roof.

What is a "coupé-cabriolet" or "retractable hardtop"?

It's a convertible that uses a folding metal or composite hardtop instead of a fabric hood. It aims to provide the quietness and security of a coupe with the open-air option of a convertible. They were popular in the 2000s but have largely fallen out of favour due to their weight, complexity, and the awkward proportions they often created.

Is a roadster a type of convertible?

Yes. A roadster is a specific type of convertible: one that is strictly a two-seater and prioritises a sporty, minimalist driving experience. A four-seat convertible based on a family saloon, like a Saab 900 or a Ford Escort, is a convertible, but it is not a roadster.