9781422278161

CONVERT I BLES

I N T R O D U C T I O N

ONE WITH THE ELEMENTS

A s far as automobiles go, “ragtops” are the ultimate in romance. Convertibles are the closest real life gets to a magic carpet ride. For many drivers during the second half of the twentieth century, the thrill of driving wasn’t complete without the sun on their necks and the wind in their hair. As an outgrowth of the post-World War II West-Coast chic, the convertible—which had been around as long as there had been cars— became the ultimate symbol of the laid-back, California “beautiful person” lifestyle. Many American men and women found that their favorite fantasy involved a straight stretch of open road and a hot car with the top down. Since 1945, Detroit’s car manufacturers, as well as car companies all around the world, have been keeping those fantasies alive by producing cars that are so sleek, so sexy, that they belong in a world of make-believe. Hollywood has certainly done its fair share to further glamorize the open-top automobile in countless movies and television programs. On a more practical note, convertibles were never produced in great numbers, making them valuable commodities to car collectors! This book focuses on these fantasy automobiles, magic carpets reserved exclusively for life’s best moments.

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