Autoblog

Click on the image above to view in high-resolution

How do you top a car like the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster? It's simply one of the most desirable supercars on the market. But while the terms "practicality" and "Lamborghini" don't belong anywhere in the same sentence, the topless Raging Bull's roof is something best considered only for emergencies – just when the contraption's complicated installment procedures prove most frustrating (or so we hear).

Coming to the rescue are the American coachbuilders at Genaddi, who've designed a special roof for the special supercar. If the name rings any bells, Genaddi is responsible for such intriguing open-air conversions as the Corvette LSR Roadster, Maybach 62 cabriolet and the (limited) production version of the Ford GTX1 concept.

Genaddi's design for the Murcielago is far less complicated, but from the description, its simplicity could be its most redeeming quality. Made of carbon fiber, the six panels are designed to fit under the front hood of the roadster so it can be taken along with the car. They can be mounted in different configurations – completely open, completely closed, T-top or targa – and include a rear glass window. Genaddi expects to put the roof into production in May, when it will sell for $26,000.

Yes, that's enough to buy a decent complete car, but it's a small price to pay if it means getting more use out of your Lamborghini. And that's a worthy cause which we here at Autoblog support whole-heartedly.

Check out the press release after the jump and more images in the high-res gallery below.

After 22 years learning about and lusting after some of the most incredible vehicles on the planet, it seems as good a time as any to celebrate the duPont Registry. The duPont is that seminal catalog of classified ads featuring the highest caliber of motor vehicles. Along with Robb Report and Hemmings (and our own Luxist), the duPont Registry seems to have defined what is hot and what is not at the upper end of the automotive marketplace. Officially launched in April 1985 as duPont REGISTRY, A Buyers Gallery of Fine Automobiles, it featured a $1 million 1931 Bucciali Paris Show Car in the first issue, among other rare classics worth more than our measily little lives. Flash forward 22 years, and you're likely to notice the only Arancio Borealis Pearl Orange Metallic 2005 Porsche Carrera GT ever made, within the anniversary issue's pages.

Publisher Tom duPont has put together this anniversary edition to highlight some of the best of the best from the magazine's past and present. Not one, but two Top Ten lists accompany the issue, showcasing the consistently high level of quality offerings the registry has featured over the course of its 2.2 decades in publication. The duPont staff selected ten of the best vehicles from the first issue, and an additional ten from the current anniversary issue. The selection criteria were that the vehicles be "the most exceptional, valuable and popular entries" from among the listings. The list seems to have something for just about everybody, with cars ranging from muscle cars to exotics to coachbuilt classics.

Follow the jump for the rest of the story and the Top Ten lists.

[Source: duPont Registry]

The Ford GT was such an awesome car. Still is, but we use the past tense here to denote the recent completion of its production run. Mr. Top Gear himself, Jeremy Clarkson has made this car into somewhat of a legend among legends by documenting all the travails he's experienced with his personal GT. More so than the Corvette (even the vaunted Z06) or Viper, the Ford GT is the modern American supercar; mid-engined, with 550 hp, track car handling and styling inherited from one of the most iconic racecars of all time, the GT is capable of going toe to toe with Europe's elite. Along with those handsome good looks, the GT inherited the GT40's guillotine doors that wrap into the roof -- perhaps the one fatal flaw for buyers who would've otherwise use their supercar as a daily driver. You see, those doors required such a wide berth to open, that parking was extremely impractical without taking up two spots and risking the wrath of fellow motorists.

Kip Ewing of Ford's SVT team came up with a brilliant solution. He designed a new top for the GT that incorporated sliced-off doors in a 4-piece package that neatly fit inside the vehicle, then tapped Genaddi Design Group to build the concept. That show car, dubbed GTX1, received so much attention that Genaddi decided to put it into limited production. While the GTX1 was making the rounds, the company was busy developing the molds to be able to replicate it and began working on customer conversions. The first slot for a customer car was auctioned at last March's Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction and was delivered back in July.

Now Genaddi has announced that production of the GTX1 will continue until 500 units are built. We're not sure how many orders Genaddi has taken, but that seems like a pretty fair number. Here's the bigger news, though: in addition to the initial 500, which customers can tailor to their own tastes, a separate run of 100 "SEMA Edition" GTX1s will also be produced. Each of these will mirror the concept car, with its Titanium Silver stripes over Valencia Orange paint. They'll also get the prototype's unique wheels, Sparco seats, hidden rear bumper and a host of other changes, including the engine mods that boost horsepower by more than 150 up to 700+. Another special edition, this one built built as part of the run of 500, will be the Pan Americana GTX1. This 10-car run will be finished in racing colors and be made available exclusively to the South American market. Check out the press release after the jump or visit www.GTX1.com for all the details.

[Source: Genaddi]

The Genaddi LSR Roadster is not for the faint of heart. Only those strong in constitution would tear into a perfectly good Corvette Z06 to create something unique like the LSR. Designed by Wisconsin-based coachbuilder Mark Gerisch, the LSR eschews the Corvette's composite and carbon fiber body panels for ones made of aluminum. While doing so, Gerisch tweaked the Vette's rear end so it kind of looks like an Enzo's with "afterburner" style taillights. We think it falls short of a flattering imitation, but you can decide for yourself. Though nearly every body panel has been recast in aluminum, for some reason only the back half appears altered. The front half looks for all the world like a production Z06, except with a hood scoop and vents that run up the front fenders. The LSR uses the Z06 engine and adds only a "chip" that increases horsepower to 545 according to a representative. We're not sure if we had a Z06 that we'd trade it in for a Genaddi LSR Roadster, but we can't deny that it draws a crowd.