I've never big on convertibles but 20-30 years ago they brought big money more than any other body style. Today when I look at cars from the early 60s they are bring less than the hard tops.
Convertibles are fine until you need to replce the top. Aside from my 46 Ford convertible which I loved I'll stick to hardtops.
I’ve had 6-7 convertibles. They are fun but can be a pain in the ass too. I don’t study the market, but it seems to me that convertibles still bring more than the same model with a steel roof.
I always loved the look of convertibles over hardtops. I always wanted one.....until I bought a 64 Galaxie XL. I found out that a bald head and a convertible in the deep south can lead to problems. Your hat blows off and your head burns. I sold it.
I've only owned one, but that was enough. It needed a new top, was drafty, noisy, leaked, couldn't find anybody to replace the top, so I sold it. Great with the top down on nice days, sucked on cold, wet days. Most of them when the top went bad got parked then the interiors and floors rotted out, that's why they bring premium prices now, not as many good ones left.
Had an OT FE powered 66 YOM convertible, best of both worlds; closed or open car. Convertibles generally have lower production runs with good ones hard to find for reasonable money when compared to hardtops, coupes etc. They can suffer however from exposure to the weather when neglected, a rotten soft top and deteriorated floorpans. My current 35 Chebby phaeton lacks wind up windows but has a roof with side curtains and NO heater or demister. Not too bad however I've have a closed car and am building another closed car. A friend is building a 47 Olds vert, and again, he has the best of both worlds, open top and wind up windows so he can chose similar to having a cabriolet.
Love their looks but I bought a 56 Olds rag top in high school....hated it. The top ballooned up at speed and the high desert of central Oregon was just too cold for a convertible. And that thing had bad cowl shake....no rust and a 1/2" plate at the frame's X. I yanked the 240 HP motor to go in a cherry 50 ford and dragged the Olds carcass out into the sage brush...came along 3 years later to find someone had finished stripping the car and shot it full of holes. Good riddance.
I've never been a "convertible kind of guy". Whenever I rode in one as a youngster, I always felt "exposed" and like I was riding in a fishbowl. That, and the fact that there were some truly beautiful hardtop rooflines, especially in the 60's that were lost in a convertible. All of the '60's era GM Bubbletops, Ford's '60 and '61 Starliners, the Box-top Galaxies and T-Birds and especially the '63 and '64 Ford Galaxie fastbacks. All of these lovely features go away with their convertible versions. So then, 16 years ago I go out and acquire a '32 Highboy Roadster with no top. Go figure!
At present I have three convertibles... yet they are each very different. A convertible for every occasion. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I'm a big fan of convertibles, I've had several. I relate the experience similar to the "in the wind" I had with my Harley, and Indian..a bit safer though with todays cell phone drivers. I never drove any of my convertibles with the top up (defeats the purpose of a convertible). If I only had one collector type car, it wouldn't be a convertible.. practical side prevailing
Except for my 54 F100, everything else I own is a convertible. I guess I just like driving topless and my wife does too! 1941 Plymouth 1950 Desoto 1962 Rambler American 1964 Corvette Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
My first drop top was a '55 that I built pretty much stock. My next was my '29 roadster. And finally my '19 Dort. Now I have none!
I owned a 61 Pontiac bonneville convertible then a 68 GTO Convertible then built my 48 Olds convertible. They are a pain in the ass to build but I love driving it
I’ve had two converts with no top, one I never even installed the frame, the other had the bare frame in place. I always felt the top should only be used on rare occasions anyway. other that the several late models I’ve had.
I have a 72 Cutlass Convertible. I seldom put the top down. I think it looks better with the top up. I bought it because it was cheap ($1,000) but that was 1999.
I always wanted a convertible. Bought a OT one because price was right for a cheap driver, Had it for about 3 months and HATED it. Same here wind noise,drafty when it rained it leaked. Took forever to get rid of it.. Took a loss on it but GOOD RIDDANCE! Never again
Was just wondering, I know a guy in Jasper that has a baby blue 64, thought it might have been the one you had.
The only convertible I ever had was a 56 bird one trip on the highway with the top off was enough. The only time it came off after that was to detail in inside of the car.
My first convertible was a '62 Vette I got in 1964. At the time my daily driver and gasser towing car was a power pack 283, 3 speed overdrive Impala 2drht. I traded the Vette off in 1979 for my second convertible, which I still have. Convertibles are the tits!
When the weather is right nothing is better. Minnesota kind of sucks for open top vehicles. I run mine topless so like a motorcycle your going to get wet sometimes.
I've owned convertibles all my life and both of my daily drivers are now. Plus my roadster. They've come a long way since my first 57 Ford. With the top up on them today you don't even know your in one. When people used to bad mouth them for being loud, leaking, cold etc. I always told them that those summer nights when it was still 80 deg. at midnight made it all worth it.
The Jalopy Journal
