Why the convertible is a car-lover’s dream

The earliest automobiles were all exposed to the elements — a matter of simplicity and weight efficiency. Early engines were modest in power: a 1902 four-cylinder Mercedes Simplex, which I had the chance to ride in a few years back, produced 40 horsepower. That was quite impressive for its era, but every extra pound added to the vehicle meant a drop in speed.

As automotive technology progressed over time, hardtop cars took center stage for all the obvious reasons. Traveling at higher speeds within a weather-tight enclosure was far more practical.

By 1925, sales of hardtop vehicles had surpassed those of open-top cars, or convertibles — a style that had emerged alongside advancements in manufacturing techniques and design. While convertibles have never reclaimed the top spot on sales charts since then, they continue to hold a place of distinction in the hearts of sun-loving drivers across the globe.

Today, convertibles make up roughly 1 percent of vehicle registrations in the United States, with annual sales hovering around 150,000 units nationwide and on a gradual decline. Yet the romance surrounding them endures, largely fueled by their iconic appearances as beloved “characters” in films and television shows.

In My Cousin Vinny, Joe Pesci cruised in a 1962 Cadillac convertible. Pulp Fiction featured John Travolta behind the wheel of a 1964 Chevy Chevelle Malibu convertible. In Thelma and Louise, Susan Sarandon took the lead driving a 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible. Dustin Hoffman navigated the roads in a 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto convertible in The Graduate. And of course, Matthew Broderick zipped around in a replica of the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California convertible in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

The list of iconic convertible appearances goes on and on.

The TV series Route 66 showcased a 1961 Corvette convertible in its first season, upgrading to newer models in subsequent years. The Monkees traveled in a modified Pontiac GTO that was stretched and converted into a convertible. Jed Clampett’s truck on The Beverly Hillbillies was more like the original open-top automobiles — no roof at all — crafted for the show from an old Buick body and frame. On Get Smart, secret agent Maxwell Smart (played by Don Adams) tooled around in a 1964 Sunbeam convertible. Don Johnson, as Nash Bridges, drove a customized 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible. And the crew on Entourage cruised Los Angeles in a 1965 Lincoln Continental convertible.

All of these are undeniably cool cars. But my personal favorite might be the one driven by FDR: a 1939 four-door Lincoln convertible known as the “Sunshine Special.” I love the mental image of him riding in a parade in that car, his long cigarette holder in hand, smiling and waving to the crowds.