The summer seems to have arrived much earlier this season and the hot weather has definitely gone to our head!
With the weekend just around the corner we are heading off to Italy for a long drive to the coast. Rooftop off, Borsalino hat on, shades on the dash board, carefree on the fast lane in our beautiful convertibles…
It was back in 1922 that Ben P. Ellerbeck conceived the first practical retractable hardtop system — a manually operated system on a Hudson coupe’ that allowed unimpeded use of the rumble seat even with the top down. At the end this amazing automobile was never produced, but the myth of the convertible was born.
The 402 was characterized by what became during the 1930s a “typically Peugeot” front end, with headlights well set back behind the grille. The style of the body was reminiscent of the Chrysler Airflow, and received in France the sobriquet Fuseau Sochaux which loosely translates as “Sochaux rocket”.
Above 1938 Peugot 402
The XK120 was launched in roadster form at the 1948 London Motor Show as a testbed and show car for the new Jaguar XK engine. It caused a sensation, which persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production.
The “120” in its name referred to its 120 mph (193 km/h) top speed (faster with the windscreen removed), which made the XK120 the world’s fastest standard production car at the time of its launch.
Above 1950 Jaguar XK120
Strictly speaking not a convertible but we couldn’t resist. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster. It was the fastest production car of its day.
Above 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé – Ralph Lauren private collection –
To travel in style globetrotter.com
The mass-produced special, the queen of desires, protagonist of “Il Sorpasso” by Dino Risi, with Vittorio Gassman. One of the best-looking cars ever, it was eminently suitable for speeding along the Californian highways: many of the 761 units produced were sold in the United States.
Above 1954 Lancia Aurelia
We can definitely see ourselves wearing a Borsalino whilst speeding on a Lancia Aurelia…
The Porsche 356 was the company’s first production automobile. It was a lightweight and nimble handling rear-engine rear-wheel-drive 2 door sports car available in hardtop and coupe configurations.
Above 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster
The Alfa Romeo Spider is a roadster produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1966 to 1993. Widely regarded as a design classic, it remained in production for almost three decades with only minor aesthetic and mechanical changes.
Do you remember Dustin Hoffman in “The Graduate”…
Must start packing for the weekend!
