Roadster

Roadster /rohd-ster/ noun (countable)

A roadster is a type of open-topped car with two seats and a sporting character, defined by its minimalist philosophy. It is the automotive equivalent of a sailing dinghy, a machine that strips away non-essential elements like a roof, practicality, and common sense to provide a direct, unfiltered connection to the road and the elements. Britain perfected this form of transport so perfectly unsuited to its own climate, and created a dynasty of cars from MG and Triumph that offered pure driving joy alongside lessons in automotive stoicism that no other nation would willingly endure.

The Full Story of the Roadster

The British roadster as the world came to know it was a product of post-war opportunism. Using basic mechanicals from humble family saloons, companies like MG wrapped them in pretty two-seat bodies and created an experience that was far greater than the sum of its parts. These lean, raw machines charmed a generation of American GIs stationed in the UK, who took them home and created a vast and lucrative export market that the British motor industry was only too happy to supply for the next three decades.

The 1950s and 60s were the golden age. A fierce but friendly rivalry between a cluster of Midlands-based manufacturers produced a legendary roster of cars. MG, with its MGA and the ubiquitous MGB, offered dependable, handsome fun. Their great rival, Triumph, produced the more muscular, hairy-chested TR series of roadsters, alongside the pretty, Italian-styled Spitfire. Austin-Healey built the brutish "Big Healeys" that were hugely successful on the race tracks and rallies of the world, and the cheerful little "Frogeye" Sprite, which offered the roadster experience on a shoestring budget. At the fanatical end of the spectrum was Colin Chapman's Lotus, whose Seven was little more than a road-legal racing car with no doors and a contempt for comfort.

Life with one of these machines was an exercise in managing expectations. The joy of the unfiltered driving experience, with the wind in your hair and the rasp of the exhaust note, came at a price. That price was usually paid in comfort and convenience. The weather protection was a notorious joke. The manually-erected hood was a complex puzzle of canvas and steel that demanded a degree in engineering to erect and still leaked. Early cars had removable "side screens" instead of wind-up windows, and the heaters were often so feeble they provided little more than moral support on a cold morning. For owners, these flaws were simply part of the car's "character."

By the late 1970s, the breed was dying. Hobbled by restrictive US safety regulations that demanded huge rubber bumpers, and starved of development by the chaos within British Leyland, the classic roadster faded away. The concept lay dormant until 1989, when Mazda launched the MX-5. It was a loving and brilliant tribute to the British roadsters of the 60s, particularly the Lotus Elan. Crucially, it added something the originals never had: an engine that started every morning and build quality that didn't require constant forgiveness. Its colossal success sparked a global revival of the very type of car the British had perfected, and then forgotten.

For The Record

What is the difference between a roadster and a convertible?

A roadster is by definition a two-seater with a sporting intent and a minimalist design. A convertible, or "drop-head", can be based on a four-seat saloon and is often more focused on comfort and luxury than pure driving pleasure. All roadsters are convertibles, but not all convertibles are roadsters.

What were side screens?

They were the primitive removable "windows" used on early roadsters like the MGA and Austin-Healey Sprite. They were typically a rigid frame with a sliding perspex panel, which you had to physically clip onto the top of the door. They offered minimal protection and flapped about noisily at speed.

Why did British roadsters have such bad heaters?

Many were designed in an era when a heater was considered an optional luxury. The basic Smiths-type heaters they used were often small, inefficient units that struggled to demist the windscreen, let alone keep the occupants' feet warm, especially in a draughty, uninsulated cabin.

Did the Mazda MX-5 save the roadster?

In many ways, yes. By the late 1980s, the affordable roadster was all but extinct. The massive global success of the MX-5 proved that there was still a huge appetite for the classic formula, prompting other manufacturers like MG, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz to launch their own roadsters in the 1990s.

Is a Porsche Boxster a roadster?

While it's a two-seat, open-topped sports car, its mid-engined layout and high level of engineering sophistication place it in a slightly different category from the traditional, front-engined roadster. It's a modern interpretation of the sports car, while the Mazda MX-5 is a more faithful tribute to the classic roadster.