According to you: 10 cars that deserved to be convertibles
It’s pretty amazing that most, if not all, of the earliest cars were open-top wonders of modern transportation. Horseless, true, but also roofless. As the decades progressed, advancements like fully enclosed cabins, affordable HVAC systems, and chassis designs that were both stable and safe at high cruising speeds ensured that convertibles would be relegated to limited production and/or the creative aftermarket. The world isn’t fair, but could we have done better by having a few more roofless wonders? According to Hagerty readers, yes.
Thanks to technological advancements for OEM engineers and local fabricators alike, just about any vehicle could be a droptop rockstar with very few downsides. I previously covered one such vehicle that proves the point and was made by an Orlando-based Kia dealership. So I asked everyone in the Hagerty Community about their dream convertible conversions. The feedback was impressive, both in volume and variety. You can see every comment here, but we curated the standouts here.
Chrysler LX platform
Aftermarket designs for all variations of the Chrysler LX platform cars (i.e. LX sedan, LC and LA coupe) have been around for at least a decade, and the Challenger coupe looks good enough to be a production vehicle. Multiple members of the Hagerty Community are surprised that the LX platform hasn’t lost its top with the blessings of DaimlerChrysler, Chrysler, or Stellantis. Perhaps Chrysler wouldn’t have needed so many different corporate overlords if it had simply sawed the roof off its flagship and raked in the profits.
2019+ Toyota Supra
The current Toyota Supra represents a bit of an identity crisis. Perhaps making it even closer kin to the topless BMW Z4 whence it came wouldn’t help its case with Toyota purists; on the other hand, considering how badge-engineered the A90 Supra is under its unique skin, why not bring the two vehicles even closer with a shared disdain for the enclosed body?
Ford Panther platforms
Just about everything said about the Chrysler LX applies to Ford’s famous Panther chassis. The aftermarket fashioned alternatives, while some even retained the B-pillars for extra safety. Ford itself seriously considered making a Panther with only two doors and one roof, as manifested in the 2002 Mercury Marauder concept car pictured at the top of this article. What a shame the Blue Oval didn’t make that concept a reality … but it remains another example of Ford stealing victory from the defeat that met this platform in 2011.
Chevy Monza Towne Coupe
Hagerty Community user
Citroen C6
No, not that C6. The Citroen C6 is an executive sedan from the famous French automaker known for its pillowy ride and spacious interior. While the original concept car sported coach doors worthy of a 1961 Lincoln Continental, even the production model would make for a wonderfully French interpretation of the classic Conti. At least one person sees the forest despite the trees, as Hagerty Community member
BMW 6 Series (E24)
The shark-nosed BMW sports coupe had excellent performance for its era, putting two-seat sports coupes on notice in the process. But the E24 was indeed a larger touring coupe with room for four people, thus making it a legitimate candidate for an even broader appeal if it ditched the fixed roof. Possibly a superior alternative to the E30 convertible, but a roofless E24 would certainly be a more expensive proposition. Just imagine that iconic nose with fewer vertical lines distracting from its presence. The E24 convertible coulda been a contender.
2015+ Shelby GT350
Datsun 240Z
The original Z-car opened new doors in America to the diverse brands/product offerings available from Japan Inc., but removing its roof could have made those proverbial doors swing just a little wider. It could have been a secondary halo atop the halo-effect present in the 240Z, and it clearly had the body lines worthy of becoming a convertible. At least one such creation came to life, and it proves just how worthy the 240Z was to the convertible treatment.
1970–72 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
There are plenty of personal luxury coupes, but there’s only one Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The affordable entryway to mass-market luxury sported a deliciously long hood, flowing hardtop roofline, and an understated decklid—all perfect for a natural transition to a convertible body style. While Chevrolet sported a bumper crop of roofless alternatives in the 1960s and 1970s (Impala, 1st gen Camaro, and C2-C3 Corvette), something about the personal-luxury Monte Carlo made it feel worthy of the same treatment.
Volvo P1800
Unlike the Monte Carlo, the Volvo P1800 wouldn’t compete in the crowded parking lot of a local car dealership. It would stand head and shoulders above everything else—and Volvoville in Long Island, New York, agreed. The Volvo dealership took matters into its own hands, named its creation the “Volvoville convertible,” and charged an extra $1000 for the privilege. Volvoville supposedly sold 30 units before Volvo in Sweden got wind of the open-air motorcar, whereupon the corporate mothership leveraged another grievance to end production: The dealership could keep its contested name but had to stop making the P1800 drop-top. (It remains in business today as Volvo Cars of Huntington, with barely a trace of the original name in its digital footprint). Ah, the things we do to make money while simultaneously keeping our bosses happy!
Hard roof sport cars ought not to be sports cars with convertible tops. Like the Cobra, I think Daytona?, faster and more solid than a rag top. Cutting the roof off might make a nice tourer but the race heritage and prowess goes away. Does anyone really care what anyone does to a Citroen? I suppose technically swell, but so what? Roof or no roof, the French ought to stick to cheese and wine.
Right!!!! Who is waiting for the convertible MONZA???? That’s a reach Hagerty
The Cadillac ElDorado was never made a convertible by the factory during its 10 year run in the ’90s but they sent a hundred per month to Coach Builders in Florida and added $25K to the price and the convertible is stunning.
It’s just ok. I prefer the silhouette of the regular hardtop
No…. Just no on the following:
BMW-6 – the roofline!!! It’s the whole car!
Chevy Monte Carlo – (see above)
Datsun240 – (see above)
Don’t laugh…
but the 1974 (the model with the smaller, tighter grille) Mustang II. It would of added a sporty, luxurious image to a car often (and wrongly) associated with the Pinto.
The hardtop was a good looking car.
Also, an early ’90s Chevy Beretta convertible.
In Phoenix I saw one a couple of times. I think it was in town for testing at the proving ground.
A couple other suggestions..along with the Monte Carlo, how about the other Personal Luxury cars of the era..the T-Bird and Cordoba?
And a No brainer for Ford…the Mark III, IV and V.
The V would have been a hit in the “luxury” obsession of the “Dallas”-era.
You have lost your hot rod privileges for mentioning:
Mustang ll
Berlinetta…………I think the Monza may be better and that’s sad.
The BMW Z4 is the 2019+ Toyota Supra convertible. Or more accurately you can say the Zupra is the BMW Z4 Coupe.
The Original Z car and especially the most current Shelby cars are surprising they did not do a convertible since they did on the previous Shelby’s. Either way I pretty much always prefer a coupe.
Is this the Ken Holloway from Regina Saskatchewan? I happen to have the same publication!
A convertible DeLorean, just think how that might have turned out.
I stand by my prior comment about the Shelby GT350. The P1800 would have been a great convertible then and would make a great custom convertible now that would leave all but the most ardent enthusiasts wondering what it is.
I drive a pretty little 2006 Toyota Camry Solara convertible! Red with a black ragtop. I bought it last year for $5,500.
I have yet to drive it with the top down. I need warm weather and a confident attitude!!
69-70 Pontiac Gran Prix
Buick Grand National
Some of the choices are deserved even with the removal of characteristic and unique roof designs. Same would have happened with the first couple of ‘60-‘70 Riviera’s generations ; but my gosh: they would still have been gorgeous land cruisers
A Chevy Minza? Make sure you get your cannibis from trusted and licensed sources!
In the section about the 1st generation 70-72 Monte Carlo, it states “While Chevrolet sported a bumper crop of roofless alternatives (Impala, Camaro and Corvette) at the same time,….” When did Chevy manufacture and offer a 2nd generation Camaro convertible??????
Oh you got me! I will fix that now!
The only things worse than the Chrysler 200 convertible would be a 300 / Charger convertible. With the ultra-high door sills and absurdly high trunk, the convertible 200 almost needed a periscope to see out of. A proper convertible should have door sills low enough for the driver to rest an arm on.
The Ford taxi (panther) was never cut out to be anything more than that. A utilitarian plain sedan with two feet in the grave, its crampt interior and poor build quality made the Crown Victoria / Lincoln town car a ridiculous proposition. A convertible version is a solution to a problem that doesn’t need solving.
The Vega-based Monza is also a ridiculous choice. Awkward from any angle, and no usable passenger space, it was a car that even a mother could not love.
So what would have worked? The clean lines of the Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen 2 door coupes. The unibody construction would have required extensive reinforcements, but the car would have been attractive and affordable.