Touring car driver turned Fifth Gear host has a chance to compare two lightweight convertibles that you wouldn’t normally put in the same category. He admits to liking the Mini Cooper S Convertible but he says that the Mazda MX-5 is much more fun. So which is quicker around their test circuit the Japanese roadster or the BMW owned Brits?
We’ve all seen the inordinate number of convertibles cruising along America’s highways these days, but how often do you see a fully-restored 1955 Mercury Montclair Convertible out on the streets? Not a lot, right?
Anybody who’s willing to spend for an American classic would be wise to use it on this one and only classic from 1955. Predominantly white with some red trimmings and a soft, black rooftop, the ’55 Montclair’s enduring legacy is a testament to its classy look and superior drivability.
The car retains most of its original stylistics while also adding a few technologically advanced features, infusing the car with a combination of old-school ‘feel’ with new-school technology. This particular Montclair convertible comes with automatic C4 transmission, front sway bars, tilt steering, power windows, CD player.
Moreover, the car has undergone a full off-frame restoration, complete with originally modified front disk brakes, converted to 12 volt, A/C, intake and carburetor. The cars’ frame has also been powder coated, giving it extra protection from unnecessary wear and tear. Likewise, the car’s original nuts and bolts have been upgraded to stainless steel, thereby reducing the amount of rust these parts could accumulate.
While this ’55 Mercury Montclair Convertible has had its fair share of restorations, the enduring image of driving on the roads with this one-of-a-kind vehicle is still something we all secretly dream of doing someday.
As promised Fiat offered today a preview of its future 500C set to be revealed in March at the Geneva Motor Show.
The 500C has the same dimensions as the coupe version: 3.55 m x 1.65 m x 1.49 m. It is also powered by the same three engines available in the hardtop: a 1.3-liter 75 hp Multijet turbodiesel, 1.2-liter 69 hp gad unit, or 1.4-liter 100 hp gas engine. The big difference is what Fiat calls, "a fully fledged window to the sky."
The 500C follows in the tradition of the original Fiat 500 and uses a rolling roof design that allows the car to retain the shape of the coupe. Because the car does not lose its B or C pillars, structural rigidity that can easily be lost when turning a car into a convertible should be minimized here. The soft top will be available in three colors (ivory, red and black) and sales should begin in Europe in the spring.
It would take a really impressive supercar to make the Ferrari F430 Scuderia look infantile, but German carmaker Veritas – lost in obscurity for so long – has returned with a car that may have accomplished just that.
The legendary car manufacturer, responsible for some of the fastest racing cars back in the 40’s and 50’s has risen from the ashes to return with a vengeance.
Their latest supercar, Veritas RS III, which they produced under the Volkswagen flagship and in partnership with manufacturer Vermont, is, by all accounts, a machine unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.
Ford gearing up for summer! The American automaker has revealed a few details about the 2010 Mustang Glass Roof and Mustang GT Convertible. Both models are now on sale.
The Glass Roof is being available on both V-6 model and the GT at a price of $1,995. The 2010 Ford Glass Roof Mustang offers consumers convertible-like driving without the need for sunscreen, because its factory-installed panoramic glass roof filters 90% of the sun’s heat-generating infrared (IR) rays and 96% of burn-causing ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Classy and sophisticated maybe the two best words to describe this 1960 Ferrari 250GT Series II Cabriolet. Almost 50 years after it was rolled out of the production line, the car looks like it’s barely lost its luster.
Despite having had a number of restorations throughout the years, the Ferrari 250GT Series II still commands the attention as soon as it shows up in any place. The car’s chrome bumpers and the Borannis on the exterior remain in optimum condition, a testament to the quality and painstaking dedication in ensuring the car stands the test of time. Likewise, the car’s interior, including the fully-restored Nardi steering wheel, remains a symbol of the class and elegance of the 1960’s. The Ferrari’s astute appearance has made it a favorite among vintage car shows all over the world, having appeared most recently at the Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance.
As you can see, aside from the rag top, the convertible E is very similar to the coupe. The future E-Class will be offered with a variety of power plants under the hood. The E250 CDI and E 350 CDI will be powered by a 2.1 Liter diesel four cylinder that makes 204 HP and a 3.0 Liter V6 pumping out 231 HP. The E250 CGI and E350 CGI will be offered with a 1.8 Liter direct injection biturbo engine making 204 HP and a 3.5 Liter V6 with the same gas saving piezoelectric direct injection producing 292 HP. Of course, the big boy E500 will get a 5.5 Liter V8 making 388 HP.
There has not been any word about an AMG convertible, despite the speculations about the 2010 E Coupe’s future as a high performance Benz. Especially because a factory tuned two door will directly compete with any future CLK that Mercedes is planning on bringing to market. So, we will just have to wait until September to see exactly what the German automaker has planned for their restyled midsize sedan.
The Audi A5 is proving to a favorite for high end European tuners, with its compact shape and bold new lines, the A5 is a refreshingly sporty new car from the German luxury automaker. There has even been speculation about the rebirth of a Sport Quattro model based on the popular two door fast back.
Caractere is a tuning house based in Belgium; they have chosen the A5 convertible as the latest vehicle to receive one of their signature makeovers. The front bumper has been replaced by a more aggressive unit with larger air intakes. The A5 also features a redesigned grill that comes complete with a special Audi/S5/Caractere emblem. Out back the stylists have added a new rear apron that is available with cutouts to match the tips from the Caractere high performance exhaust, or that simply adapt to the stock tailpipe. A small spoiler has been added to the deck lid, sending air straight up and rear end straight down into the pavement. Not only does this piece work well, but its subtle, non-intrusive design adds a lot to the vehicles new aggressive lines. No creation from Caractere would be complete without a set of their signature 10 spoke rims, the tuners from Belgium are offering them in both 19 and 20 inch diameters for the A5.
This Audi A5 convertible by Caractere combines the classic shape that came from the factory with a few muscular add-ons that transform the exterior of the two door vehicle from being a cute little convertible, into a fire-breathing, exhaust spitting high performance machine. Well, at least now it looks that way.
After announcing the European prices for the Infiniti G37 Convertible, the Japanese luxury automaker has also announced the vehicle’s pricing for the U.S. market. The drop top Infiniti will go on sale June 19, and prices will start from $43,850 for the G37 Convertible and $43,900 for the G37 Convertible Sport with a six speed manyal transmission.
When it is released, the Infiniti G37 Convertible will be powered by 3.7 Liiter V6 engine mated ro either a 7-speed automatic transmission or a responsive close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission making 325 HP.
Infiniti Europe has just announced pricing for the new G37 Convertible. The cost will vary from country to country, meaning that the customers in France, Italy, and Spain will pay €52,600, €53,900, and €56,100 respectively. The top of the line, GT premium package adds an extra €3,600. Prices for the U.K. will be announced at a later date.
The Infiniti G37 Convertible is powered by a 3.7 Liter V6 that sends 320 HP straight to the rear wheels. The drop top Infiniti will sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.2 seconds (for the manual version) and reach a top speed of a limited 155 MPH.
Standard equipment for the G37 Convertible includes: 19 inch alloy wheels with sport brakes to slow down the new V6, a wind deflector to keep your hair from getting tangled, luxurious leather seats, active cornering Bi-Xenon headlamps and LED rears, dual-zone adaptive climate control with automatic air recirculation, Infiniti Intelligent Key. The GT Premium package adds a 30Gb HDD navigation system.
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