Convertible Style

Top-down driving used to be the ultimate form of motoring pleasure. Teens looking for their first car gazed longingly at convertibles, hoping Mom and Dad wouldn't guide them toward a mild-mannered sedan instead.

MINI Convertible

Years ago, domestic manufacturers had long lists of convertibles at their dealerships to satisfy such urges. In 1967, for instance, Chevrolet alone offered a total of seven, from the compact Corvair to the full-size Impala Super Sport. Plenty of import brands came in soft-top form, including the Volkswagen Beetle and Karmann Ghia, and such British entrants as the Morris Minor, as well as a flock of European-made sports cars.


Though plenty of convertibles continue to dot showroom floors, they're neither as numerous nor as popular as they were a few decades back. Jack Pitney, general manager of MINI in the U.S., noted at the 2004 New York Auto Show that, globally, convertibles are going strong, but less so in America. Young folks appear to prefer compact hatchbacks and pickup trucks.

Open-Air Corvette

Just over half of our major automakers offer convertibles, but only a handful have more than one soft-top model. Most are compact or midsize at a maximum, if not smaller sports cars. With the demise of such mammoth exotic motorcars as the Rolls-Royce Corniche, full-size convertibles are largely a relic of the past.


Among journalists, in particular, the smallest car at the New York Auto Show appeared to attract the most attention. Not unlike the original Mini Cooper that debuted two years ago, the new 2005 MINI Convertible stands poised to add a distinctively friendly and exuberant flavor to summer motoring.