What is your fav small convertible?

I am in the market for a new project and it needs to be a convertible.

I have to be able to haul 2 adults and 2 non adults (dogs or kids, take your pick)

and I dont want a land yacht.

I have been looking around at the corvairs and ramblers and I like them. I dont know much about the brit offerings like mg and trump (or even if they have backseats)

Fast is a consideration but I have plenty of fast so this one can be tame.

and no............I dont like beetles.

what else is out there

 

You can still get a great deal on a complete corvair. If you've got 10-12 grand to spend it may even be a completely restored gem. They'll fit all of you no problem. My other favorite is a '62 Buick Special. Again, plenty of room. Also look at Darts and Valiants.

 

Early Falcons.

 

Not exactly H.A.M.B. material, but I have a 85 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo Convt. Amabsolute blast to drive, lots of grunt when the turbo kicks in and about 30 mpg to boot.

 

TR6's are cool cars (and really fun to drive), but they only have two seats.

I guess you could shove 'em in the trunk.

 

This is a traditional website- why limit yourself to postwar cars? Why not a tub like Jake's??

 

Not hamb but I vote early
mustang

 

Early to mid '60's Studebaker Lark Convertibles are nice mid size cars and can be found for reasonable money. If you're lucky, you might find a Lark Daytona Convertible with a supercharged Studebaker 289 in it.

 

Sunbeam Tiger if your dogs are very tiny.

 

I've owned corvair convertables mid to late 60s and they are good cars.My best old convertable was a 63 1/2Pontiac Tempest LeMans with the 326 V8 they came stock with an automatic transaxle but the 3 and 4 speed transaxles were an easy swap.That car handled very well with almost 50/50 weight bias and the V8 had good pep and could be built up pretty easy with 4 wheel independent suspension it handled great

 

If you fold the kids in half...Id go with a Metro Convert...Slammed with Moondiscs!

 

I'm in the middle of a 59 Nash Metropolitan ,too small, Sally and I have a 60 MGA that we really like, really too small, my favorite that I used to own was a 63 Chevy II changed out the 195 to a 250 and it really flew! I would have a late 50s early 60s Rambler If I could find one....forget small, what I want is a 48,49 Cadillac convertable..yeah

 

early tempest same size as a corvair but they've got half a 389 in them

 

Small, toss-around, fun-in-the-Sunconvertible? Hands down, the 1964 Corvair. Unfortunately, I owned a pre-'64 Corvair and learned about the swing-arm rear axle the hard way. I never sued GM, 'cause I knew it was MY OWN FAULT. Later years had a sexier body, earlier years had the dreaded swing arms. Neither are traditional, both are Off Topic, but I'd still love to have a cherry 1964 convertible -- until I remember the 30,000 mile rebuild to get the oil scum off the rear vents.

 

My favorite small convertable? Porsche 911, hands down.

For what you're talking about?

62 Buick Special.

Nice looks, front & back seat, and a lot of 'em had 215 Aluminum v8's. Neat little motor, lots of parts availability and performance potential if you want to warm it up a little.



Here's a cheap one -

http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/0/6/84762806.htm




.

 

We have a 64 falcon conv. sprint V8 4-speed. Me the wife and our three kids have a blast cruising it around.

 

I love the 1963 ford falcon. I think Auto Krafters can get the panels if you buy a project.

 

I'd have to go with an early ChevyII!

 

i had a 63 chevyii convert. there nice lil cars

 

vw karman ghia they make a killer custom cheap to build

 

63-66 narrow body dart/valiant. Or a 67-69 wide body dart(stay away from the 67-69 barracuda. You'll pay an arm,leg, and an eyeball). You can't go wrong with either a slant 6 or a 273/318. Just my two cents

 

A 62 to 65 Chevy II with a 283 4 speed would work. Damn nice little cars, and light enough to really perform with a mild 283.
I have a 65 and a 67 Merc Comet conver, but even though they are "mid size", they are like a boat compared to the Deuce.
A mild performer with beautiful lines and jumper seats in the back, is the Mercedes 190SL. I am still kicking my butt for selling the one I had 42 years ago. They are getting spendy now.
A 40 Ford, or the ~47 Chev or Ford conv would be another choice that I would go for in a big way.
Bob

 

the nova was only offered as a convert in 62 and 63 ....i am partial to the 63 S.S. since i used to have one before i let my son talk me out of it....they are very easy to make v-8 powered .

 

Goggomobil,
yup real car!!
http://www.goggomobil.com.au/Dart.htm

 

+1 on the early A bodies.

 

My 1st car.................63 Falcon

 

Miata.

 

Well, it would probably be difficult to find, but Hillman used to make a convertible. Definitely no land yacht, and a hopped up model B or V8-60 (or anything else for that matter) would make it fly. I saw one in the swap meet area at Spokane Goodguys 2006. Figured if I had a place to put it, I'd fab a stronger chassis, shove the 215 I got in it w/ a small case 700R4 (got one o those too) and cruise off into the sunset. I think it would be maxed out with 2 adults and 2 kids / dogs.

 

Any year 55 to 63 VW bug Vert
Way fun and tons of parts to build one

 

1963 Nova SS, My all time favorite car