Scott
"drophead coupe" is a quaint and outdated term for a convertible.=20
As opposed to a roadster. Originally "Roadster" referred only to cars =
with very minimal or no weather protection at all, no roll-up windows, =
often no trunk or luggage space, no door locks or external door handles, =
low windscreen. Basically a race car, or a very minimalist road car.
Drophead coupes were cars with rollup windows etc, but had soft tops =
that could be lowered, like virtually every modern "convertible." =
Meaning that they had the comfort of coupes, with a soft top. In =
German cars this is known as a Cabriolet. The only modern production =
roadster I'm aware of is the Viper RT-10 (latest versions have electric =
windows though.) Now, roadster seems to mean any open two-seater, and =
convertible means any open four-seater
Jag XKs are a good example - there were roadsters and drophead coupes, =
at a show if you can see an example of each you'll see what I mean.
Porsche 356's also: there are Speedsters (roadsters) and Cabriolets.
The roadster is almost invariably the version that the manufacturer =
campaigned in races, and was the club racers car, the drophead coupe was =
usually similar in performance, excepting weight penalties for the extra =
weather gear. It was the touring or civilized version.
By this definition all non-GT, MGBs are dropheads as are all except the =
earliest Midgets =20
MGAs are either coupes or roadsters, no dropheads.
T-types are roadsters - with the exception of a few Tickford-bodied TAs =
as far as I know.
Phil Vanner
Mk1 Midget (roadster)=20
-----Original Message-----
From: Scott McKorkle [SMTP:bmc@aa.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 1998 12:51 PM
To: mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: Ignorance rises again--what is a "drophead" coupe?
I hate it when I can't figure these things out on my own!! Someone =
please
define what a drophead coupe is. I see the term often, but I haven't =
been
able to fully discern its meaning. I hate to risk starting another =
lengthy
thread, but...
Thanks!
Scott McKorkle
Issaquah, WA
1978 MGB
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