To: Triumphs List, Inet
On Dec. 22, Bruce A Krobuse wrote:
I recently saw another reference to a "drophead" coupe. What
exactly is meant by that?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Bruce - as I understand it, a "drophead coupe" is simply another
way to describe a vehicle with a removeable top. I am not sure of
the exact distinction (and I am sure there are others, especially
across the pond who will be able to clarify it), but there is a
difference between a drop head coupe, a roadster, a convertible, a
spyder, a targa and a speedster. I believe that a convertible
refers to a vehicle with a fully lined top, roll up windows, etc.
and a roadster refers to a vehicle with side curtains (you do know
what those are don't you?). A spyder is originally an Italian
term which refers to any open car, such as a Fiat 2000 (complete
drop top) or a Ferrari 246 Dino Spyder (targa-style roof) (as my
Italian mechanic explained it to me). A targa is supposed to have
a top hoop of some type with either a fixed or removable rear
window (like Porsche 911's or a TR4 with a "surrey top"), and a
speedster is similar to a drop head coupe, i.e. side curtains, but
has the added distinction of a lower windshield or cowl height.
And of course, don't forget there are "phaetons" as well (don't
know what that is exactly but I think it is a big 4 seat
convertible) and as Jim Croce (God rest his soul) once wrote about
"Big Jim", "he driving a drop top Cadillac . . ." which I
suppose is just another Cadillac convertible. A drop head
coupe is (I think) supposed to fall somewhere between a roadster
and a convertible, but to be perfectly candid, the distinction is
somewhat baffling to me.
Oh, BTW, there are exceptions to the rules(?) above, such as any
early Jaguar XK-E type, which everybody refers to as a roadster
but which I understand the factory officially termed as a "drop
head coupe" even though it has roll up windows, which is why you
will sometimes see ads for Jags listing such obscure initials as
"DHC", meaning drop head coupe, as opposed to fixed head coupe
(FHC). And, no, DHC does not stand for "Dual overHead Cams" as I
originally thought in my youthful days.
Finally, all of the above is subject to attack by subscribers to
this list who are far more knowledgeable about such arcane
automotive facts than I. If I am wrong, oops. Sorry. You
didn't have any money riding on this did you?
Best of luck to you in finding the definitive explanation, and if
you do, please share it.
Ross D. Vincenti
'64 Spitfire Mk I (undergoing surgery)
|