Chrysler Sebring photo from the CC Cohort by canadiancatgreen.
The joy of riding a motorcycle cruising through the country must be experienced. If not into bikes, then drop the top on a convertible and take off on a trip of a few miles or maybe a few thousand miles. It is my belief that everyone should own a motorcycle at least once in their lifetime. If not a motorcycle, then a convertible.
Ironically, I’ve never owned a motorcycle, but I have had the privilege of having owned two convertibles and had a few other brief experiences with some others.
Image from Stellantis media.
My first convertible was a gold 1996 Chrysler Sebring with a four cylinder engine. I bought it used in 1999 from an auto auction through a dealer friend of mine. It was gold like this one and it was beautiful.
What made this Sebring so very different than the Mitsubishi version of a Sebring 2 door coupe was that the convertible was specifically built to be a convertible and not just a coupe with no top like other models were.
2 Door Sebring Coupe on Mitsubishi Galant chassis.
While the coupe and the convertible had similar interior dimensions, the convertible was the clear leader in fun and style while driving with the top down. Which I admit was not always a comfortable way to travel in traffic in San Antonio during long hot summers, but on a clear crisp day, the top would often come down.
For reasons I can’t remember, the Sebring was sold after a year or so of ownership and about a year after selling it, I bought another used convertible.
1997 Green Ford Mustang with the 3.8 V6 and Automatic. Image from the web.
Once again, the Mathis family was able to enjoy driving through the great outdoors with the top down.
And in case you’re wondering which convertible I preferred, the answer is clear, the Sebring. As I mentioned the Sebring was designed to be a convertible as opposed to the Mustang, which was essentially a coupe with the top cut off and thus had a more pronounced cowl shake. That and the fact that the Ford was not as quick and responsive to drive as the Sebring was.
Both convertibles were weekend cars for me and not my daily driver, so after owning the Mustang for about a year or so, I also sold it. I’ve had other automotive toys since 2004, but no more convertibles. But even so, I did have access to a Mazda Miata NA once for about a week. Naturally, with the 5 speed.
Miata image from the CC Cohort by canadiancatgreen.
I would argue that if and when anyone buys a convertible, buy a Miata. MIATA: Miata Is Always The Answer.
And as I close out this CCOAL (Convertible Cars of a Lifetime), I want to share one more convertible I had access to for a week or so.
Porsche 550 Spyder Replica by Beck.
Lightweight fiberglass body and a flat four VW motor was never so much fun as was this replica.
Note: All images are not my actual cars, but shown for reference.
How true. In college I drove a friend’s Honda Super Hawk a few times and decided that a motorcycle was way too dangerous for my style of driving. My first convertible was a very used ’59 Ford with the base 292 and Ford-a-Matic purchased 58 years ago. I fell in love with convertibles and have owned at least one ever since. At one time I owned 3 at one time! My current convertible is a 2012 Mustang Shelby GT 500 bought new. I will never be without a convertible.
My Dad owned the following convertible’s in the 1960s
1960 Corvette. Half brother born-Corvette sold
1961 T Bird
1963 Cadillac used
1965 Buick Electra 225. New
1966 Cadillac. Used. Quickly sold
That was the last of the flings.
I owned about 15 motorcycles over 50+ years. Rode hundreds of thousands of miles. One convertible for about 6 months, maybe 3000 miles. No comparison 😀.
I loved motorcycles and rode regularly for over forty years. I agree that they are not for everyone. Convertibles on the other hand, can be enjoyed by anyone. And you don’t have to wear a helmet. In my opinion three wheelers like the Can Am or even worse, the Slingshot, seem to combine the worst of cars and bikes. You can’t lean it into the turns, you can’t split traffic, they have limited weather protection, and you still have to wear a helmet. Slingshots are big, they are more like a car missing a rear wheel than a regular trike.
Splitting lanes is nuts IMHO. Why? Because other drivers are unpredictable and clueless.
I agree that convertibles are fun, and much safer than motorcycles.
Here’s my dad’s 1955 Jaguar XK -140 Type C Roadster. He drove it to work every day for over 30 years and owned it for 55 years.
Very nice!
I’ve owned 2 convertible cars as well. A 1990 Volkswagen Cabriolet and a Miata.
I made a very bad purchase on a used Miata, and I was soured a bit. My own fault, but still.
As far as “convertibles that were never designed to be convertibles” the Rabbit with a roof-ectomy was pretty darn good. It felt tight and cowl shake was minimal. That may be due to the “basket handle”.
I like the Porsche 550 Spyder, replica or not.
In HS and college I went through a convertible phase myself, but with the opposite problem of San Antonio’s heat. I had rain.
1959 Austin Healy Sprite (clapped out but so much fun)
1959 Karmann Ghia convertible (some bad nose bondo)
1965 Volkswagen Type 1 convertible (great ex-surfer rig from California coast, rusty floor pans)
Convertibles are great. Not very practical but who cares. In order of purchase:
1962 Chevy II
1964 Corvair
1971 Spitfire
1974 Spitfire
Long spell without while raising kids
2003 Mustang
1970 Spitfire
2010 Mustang
1990 Miata
1985 Alfa Romeo
2016 Mustang (current)
We had three convertibles from 2004 into 2015:
– 1992 BMW 318i, 5 speed
– 2000 Porsche Boxster S, 6 speed
– 2001 BMW 330i, 5 speed
All great cars, but the 2001 BMW was the best…great driving car and very good gas mileage.
The only cycle I really desire is a V-Rod, but my bride continues to say NO.
Convertibles, I’ve had a few. First was an 80s LeBaron Turbo convt, think Jon Voight style. Great car despite what you might think of K cars. Then my first Miata was a 90 Base, manual everything except brakes. Went crazy modding that car. At some point I also had an early 90s Capri alongside the Miata. Then many MANY more Miatas followed, NA6, NA8 and NB2 examples. Alongside Miatas I had a 90 “7-Up” edition Mustang 5.OL convt and a 92 GT convt. A 95 Vette was almost a convt, the whole top came off. Now just my latest NB2 Miata and an E46 Sport pkg/manual convt. Wife hates to ride in either one – something about her hair –
If I may bytch a moment!
Typed out a whole post about my various convts, past and present, then one of these damn ads took over my whole screen, then I hit post and it all just vaporised.
Rag tops, gotta love ’em .
I have decided no more rag tops and am slowly resurrecting a junk 1971 BMW R75/5, the few times I have been able to ride it I know I made the right choice .
My son had a MIATA, wow they’re great little cars .
-Nate
Had about 25 convertibles: 10 vintage US, and 15 or so Brit sports cars. Also have had about 20 motorcycles. Motorcycles are the ultimate sports car: faster, more nimble, the zenith of open motoring allowing truly experiencing the countryside as you ride through it, the temperature changes, the fragrance of vegetation (or pollution!), the speed, the wind, it’s the maximum sensory experience. Sold the Mustang convertible but still have 3 vintage bikes. Did have one very most favorite convert, long sold, pictured.
Had 2 back in the 70s , 1968 Camaro 327. 1972 Cutlass 350.
I have very little, but happy experiences with motorcycles. It was the late 1960s, and lets just say I was a bit slim and frail in high school. Yes, I was bullied. My female cousin who had graduated two years previously was a bit wild and we were like brother & sister, she being the older protective sister. She had friends in the Hells Angles and they were not all bad guys. At age 15, I was still riding the school bus, another unsupervised place to be bullied. So one day her biker friends picked me up in front of all the school buses and away I went on the back of a hog. Exciting and scary at the same time riding on the back of a Hog. This went on for a few days, then I was back on the bus with bikers following the school bus for another week. I will just say, bulling stopped just because of those bikers.
I have been a car nut since age four. Grew up with convertibles starting with a new 1955 Olds Starfire, then a new 1960 T-Bird conv. Other non family convertibles included a 1957 T-Bird and a new 1960 Impala convertible. In my early driving years owned a new 1974 Buick conv., a new 1976 Eldo conv. Now have a 1966 T-Bird convertible and hope to drive top down until they put the lid down on my box.
Always loved convertibles, these are the ones I’ve owned, 1965 Mustang, 1970 Mustang (still have), 1985 Toyota Celica GTS (wish I still had), 1979 Super Beetle, 1993 Mustang, 1999 Toyota Celica (just got it).
Always. Even when it’s not a “true” convertible.
Always loved cycles and convertibles. Had motorcycles and convertibles all of my motoring life. My convertibles included a 71 Mustang which I’ve owned since 1979 and still own, a 72 Impala with a 402 big block (what a gas hog), a 2011 Miata, and a 04 Corvette. Still love motorcycles, but quit riding after be cut off one too many times by distracted drivers. Still own the 71 Mustang, 11 Miata and 04 Vette. Convertibles, like cycles, are the perfect attitude adjustment for a bad day. Good topic. Loved reading everyone’s stories and experiences.