Top Ten Forgotten Convertibles
Since the advent of the automobile, automakers have always been compelled to go topless with a variety of cars, and occasionally, trucks. For a brief period in the late 1970s, after rollover safety standards threatened our wind-in-the-hair, sun-loving ways, it was nearly impossible to find a real convertible to buy in America. Instead, automakers introduced alternatives like the targa and T-top that maintained a modicum of protection from a vestigial roof.
All that changed as the '80s approached and the convertible once again took its rightful place in the line-ups of nearly every automaker doing business in America. This resurgence gave way to a host of new drop-tops on the market, and who can forget the throngs of Chrysler LeBaron convertibles or the game-changing Mazda Miata?
Today, though, we're taking a stroll through memory lane with some of the least popular convertibles we could dredge up from our quickly fading memory banks. To qualify for this particular list, the car had to be a true convertible, which excluded such gems as the Suzuki X90, Nissan Pulsar NX and Daihatsu Rocky. Without further ado, then, we bring you the Top Ten Forgotten Convertibles of the past 30 years.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Eric Bandholz 12:05PM (5/20/2009)
You know, I was going to make a suggestion for another - but I had forgotten what it was. :D
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Franz 12:07PM (5/20/2009)
I remember when I first saw the Dakota convertible in a Car and Driver magazine. I thought it was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen.
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FThorn 12:56PM (5/20/2009)
It won MotorWeek's "Best Convertible" for like three years running!
mikecanada 1:49PM (5/20/2009)
I worked at a Chrysler store in the 90s and we had one in the used car inventory. Black in color and low mileage. It was really fun to drive, and people always asked questions about it.
godzilla808 3:05PM (5/20/2009)
I was definitely a fan of the Dakota convertible. Sad to say, I saw one being (ab)used as a work truck in Jersey a couple years back. Boo!
Chazz 5:43PM (5/20/2009)
Very surprised to see the Dakota Convertible on the list. That truck was one of the products I thought showed Chrysler's innovation. Thumbs down to Autoblog - BAAAADDD Call.
Mike 12:11PM (5/20/2009)
What about the Geo Tracker or metro , no love no love
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StickShift 9:31PM (5/20/2009)
Definitely agreeing on the Metro, though the Mercury Capri (the stubby 90s ones, not the 80's one featured here) also comes to mind.
LoneWolf 12:13PM (5/20/2009)
Uh, there are people that don't know the Avanti?
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PumaGTO 12:28PM (5/20/2009)
I didn´t.
FThorn 12:57PM (5/20/2009)
Had Avantis in the neighborhood I grew up in. So, yeah, I knew them well.
Erik 12:19PM (5/20/2009)
Great compilation - love me some convertibles! They are all cool, but my fav is the Dakota.
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FThorn 12:58PM (5/20/2009)
Did you see the Concept Dakota at the Chicago (at least) auto show circa 1989/90? It had a power retractable roof panel. Was super cool.
liamlunchtray 12:21PM (5/20/2009)
What, no Yugo?
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John 12:33PM (5/20/2009)
Agree. The most forgotten (and for good reason).
FThorn 1:44PM (5/20/2009)
A drive in car meet this weekend had to Yugos (maybe more?). I don't think a convertible was around.
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5026/picture5t.png
bearpaws 12:35PM (5/20/2009)
Convertibles. What people took before Zoloft.
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jrhmobile 12:34PM (5/20/2009)
Alas I'll never know what these convertibles are, because I've given up on clicking through 11 pages to find out.
If you start putting them on one page in the future instead of 10, then I will.
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k.w.a 1:03PM (5/20/2009)
times have definitely changed....
we've gone from people building pyramids to people complaining about pressing a "click" button.
John 1:13PM (5/20/2009)
"we've gone from people building pyramids to people complaining about pressing a "click" button. "
Or don't know spelling and only know cryptic "text messaging" language.