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
![Toyota Supra convertible](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2022/05/supra.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=309&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=552)
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
![2003 Lincoln Town Car convertible](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2022/05/kalabaha1969-wiki.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=413&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=551)
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.
1970–72 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
![1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2022/05/1970.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=369&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=499)
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
![1966 Volvo 1800 S Volvoville convertible](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2022/05/5-1.jpeg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=331&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=497)
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!
I think the Monte Carlo had the perfect roof line for a convertible. Alexander Soultanis’ suggestion of the 69-71 Lincoln Mark series really gave me something to think about. I had a 1969 Mark III. At first I thought the car was a little too long but compared to some of the Impalas of the time the roof line was more compatible.
I saw a V8 fox body Mustang convertible with ‘93 cobra panels and emblems. It was yellow, but I never forgot about the possibility of buying a convertible fox, painting it one of the three ‘93 Cobra colors, and making it a full ‘93 Cobra tribute convertible. I owned a ‘93 Cobra and purchased it right off the truck at the beginning of the run before people started paying over MSRP. I was young and poor, and could only hold onto it for three years before I got tired of having no money. Now the only ones worth buying are sky-high in value.
The Monte Carlo and Challenger would have been the best-lookers of this bunch as convertibles. The Supra is so ugly, I am not sure even converting it would help. The P1800 always looked weird to me in coupe (not wagon) form, and the convertible appears to look a bit better, even if a bit reminiscent of a 1961 Dodge Dart convertible in smaller scale.
We own a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible, and a 2011 Chrysler 200 convertible. The 200 was built in the Sterling Heights MI assembly plant. While the PT Cruiser was not built in the USA, it was built in the Chrysler plant in Toluca, Mexico.
We love our droop-tops. You can keep your European made cars.
I have loved convertibles and roadsters my whole life. At 85yrs, my everyday driver is a Miata. When my dad was buying a new car he would bring home the sales brochure and I would try to get him to buy the convertible. NO! he would rationalize all the reasons against it. I told him when old enough to drive, I wouldn’t have anything else. In 1969, I gave him one of my 1940 Buick convertibles. It totally changed his attitude. He loved that car till the day he passed. He did many car activities, tours, shows, and parades.
My small collection are all convertibles or roadsters of various years and makes. Happy Motoring, Bob
Well, I’ve got to be that guy…I had a ’75 Monza Coupe. Dad bought it new for my brother & me to commute to school. It had the odd 4.3liter (262 c.i.) V8/2bbl/4speed trans. It was/is a homely looker, but it was pretty quick. True, a droptop would’ve been a waste of time/money for that platform, however, the back seat being way too small for any high school ‘activities’ the top down would’ve provided some extra legroom
(wink-wink). Monza Spyder was a hot little number in ’75. The hatchback looks alot better than a ragtop.
The ’66-’67 Chevy Nova gets my vote. Years ago I saw a yellow one at the Woodward cruise and looked great! I’ll post a picture if that’s allowed.