The 8 Best Purpose-Built Convertibles Of All Time

Do auto writers at Car Throttle read the comments section of their articles? Yes they do, and as a point of fact, this particular article stems directly from a comment I received some time ago regarding my Mustang convertible. Specifically, the comment reads:

I admit, that one had a bit of sting, and not just because I was labeled a poseur, which is a fair assessment by itself because hey, I’ve met all kinds of poesurs in Mustangs - convertible and hard top. The sting was that, by such rationale, sizzling modern exotics like a Ferrari 488 Spider, or classics like the 1967 Corvette or Series 1 Jaguar E-Type would be poseur mobiles. I don’t agree with this assessment even a teeny bit, but sometimes such polarising opinions can lead to revelations.

I didn’t have a revelation, but I was inspired to take a closer look at the dynamics between coupe-based convertibles and dedicated drop-tops. And that led me on a crusade to identify some of the best purpose-built convertibles of all time. For the record, I’m only looking at road-going production vehicles, and if they include a bolt-on hardtop, that’s just fine. So thanks Razorr for posting that comment, if for no other reason than giving me a bit of inspiration to write something that will hopefully receive another round of flattering comments. And since you all know I read them, let’s get on with the fun.

I’ve been an enormous S2000 fanboy since the beginning. Of all the cars I’ve driven it remains the only one that felt more like an extension of my senses as opposed to a driving machine. Detractors love to rail on the S2000’s sky-high power band and lack of torque, but the S2000 is one of those special cars where more horsepower can actually be a bad thing. Yeah, I said it - driving pleasure isn’t just about going fast, and the S2000’s magic stems from Its perfect balance of precision and power. Muck with either, and it’s just another neat convertible.

2. Mazda MX-5

You can’t talk about dedicated drop-tops without mentioning the king (or is it queen?) of small, inexpensive, modern open-top sports cars. It’s lightweight, rigid, and exquisitely balanced, but it also serves to showcase the difference between a convertible designed to be topless from the get-go, versus one with the roof chopped as an afterthought. To make this live for you, go drive a 1991 Mazda RX-7 convertible, followed by a 1991 MX-5. The RX-7 is sublime as an open-top sports car, but the Miata is just a bit sharper.

3. Porsche Boxster

In between the S2000 and the MX-5 is the Boxster. It’s a brilliant car to drive, and over the years they’ve become quite affordable on the used market. Its mid-engine layout gives it a decidedly different flavour from other cars on the list; it’s not quite as form-fitting and surgical as the S2000, nor is it as care-free as the MX-5. Novice drivers can zip the Boxster around town all day long without much drama, but when pushed hard it’s enough of a handful to entertain more seasoned pilots seeking a bit more action.

4. AC/Shelby Cobra

Time to revisit the decade where purpose-built convertibles really came of age, and Cobra could be the most famous of them all. It was already a great little sports car before Carroll Shelby stuffed a V8 under the bonnet, but the melding of British finesse with American muscle didn’t just create a great open-top sport car. It created a legend that spawned numerous clone-close kits cars over the years. Even Shelby got back into the action with the Cobra continuation cars, using the familiar chassis with modern updates.

5. Lotus Elan

I hate to say this because it reflects bad on my countrymen, but American auto enthusiasts tend to overlook the Lotus Elan. That’s too bad, because few cars capture the epitome of simple, open-top, sports car excitement as well as the Elan. Its 1.5-litre twin cam engine could also send the car from 0-60 in about eight seconds, which for the time was outstanding in such a small roadster. They’re somewhat notorious for being rather maintenance intensive and frustrating to own, but for purists seeking an elemental driving experience, the extra effort is totally worth it.

Technically introduced in 1959, the best-known ‘big Healey’ is another iconic 1960s British roadster that should be on every enthusiast’s must drive bucket list. It wasn’t as swift as the Elan, but its smooth 3.0-litre inline-six delivered one of the best automotive soundtracks of the 1960s, wrapped in one of the most elegant, attractive designs of all time. It’s as much a pleasure to simply look at as it is to drive.

Ford Thunderbird

1957 was the final year for the original two-seat Thunderbird. Available with either a removable hard top or a soft top, the ‘Bird was Ford’s answer to the Corvette, and it positively trounced the Chevy in sales. It also rivalled the Corvette in performance with a 245bhp V8, a dual-carb 285bhp V8 or an optional 300bhp supercharged V8. Compared to British sports cars, the Thunderbird was more of an open-top luxury tourer with plenty of muscle, and it had a bright future as a performance machine until Ford execs super-sized it to a four seat hardtop in 1958. If it hadn’t been for that epic fail, there might be a second iconic American sports car to keep the Corvette company.

There isn’t a single place on earth where you wouldn’t turn every head pulling in with an Auburn Boattail Speedster. Built during the Great Depression in America, the Speedster was 16 feet of pure American glamour and Auburn’s last gasp of greatness before closing up shop in 1937. The Model 851 Speedster in 1935 is the best-known of the bunch, powered by 4.5-litre straight-eight engine that was also supercharged. At a time when cars struggled to reach 50mph the Auburn could go 100. Its timeless open-air design is just as elegant and jaw dropping today as it was back then. It’s also the car I would choose over everything else on this list.

If you have to ask why, well I guess you’re just a poesur. Shots fired!