Driving a convertible is a car lifestyle that is closest to nature. People who yearn for freedom are eager to break the constraints of the A, B, and C pillars of the car and break through the confinement of the narrow space structure; therefore, retro and modern designs have become convertibles hot topics. It seems that convertibles are declaring to everyone that cars can not only bring convenience to people, but also provide a new lifestyle.
convertible evolution
Just like a complete desktop computer including software and hardware, convertibles also have hard tops and soft tops. The earliest hard-top sports car can be traced back to the 402 Eclipse launched by Peugeot in 1937. However, the model with the original folding hard top did not make waves in the car world at the time. What really made the hard-top convertible sports car popular was the Mercedes-Benz SLK. Although Mercedes-Benz itself failed to predict this at the time, the SLK's convertible hard-top not only opened up a period of brilliant models The history of development has also affected the future trend of convertibles, leading to the situation that most of the newly launched convertible models have hard tops.
Due to its relatively simple structure and the same origin as the carriage, the soft-top convertible has a much longer history. In 1886, when Carl Benz brought the world's first car to people, you would It was discovered that this first car in human history had no roof! It can be said that the development of soft-top convertibles is in step with the development of the car itself. Therefore, "classic" has become the unique advantage and most prominent label of the soft-top convertible. Since the development of convertibles, major automobile manufacturers have used nouns for convertibles in endlessly. The common ones are Convertible and Cabriolet. As for Cabrio, it is only the abbreviation of Cabriolet. Roadster and SpiderSpyder appear more in the names of single convertible models.
If the origin of European convertible car culture can be attributed to racing, then Americans, who have always been informal, are definitely much more open-minded about convertible car culture than Europeans. The United States is the largest country of immigrants in history. The interweaving of diverse races has led to diverse cultural factions, and the rich land resources have made them start to imagine the convertible culture. In the 1950s, the appearance of convertibles represented by the Ford Thunderbird officially opened up Americans' practical interpretation of open cultural concepts and personality expression. This model also became the Dream Car in the minds of young people at that time.
899 Opel Patent Motorwagen System LutzmanOpel began to produce cars in 11899. The Lutzman brand car is a three-seat 3.5-horsepower single-cylinder engine convertible. This is one of the earliest cars in the world and the earliest convertible.
936 BMW 328 RoadsterIn 1936, BMW launched the 328 roadster. The slender body and the slender front grille made this car look dynamic; in the competition, it won the first place with an absolute advantage. , and in the next 10 years, BMW won at least 130 competitions.
966 Alfa Romeo Spyder DuettoIn 1966, the convertible became an instant hit in the classic film "The Graduate" starring Dustin Hoffman. The simple Spyder Duetto became one of the classic Italian open-top sports sedans.
The unstoppable yearning for convertibles
Although the development of convertibles has been uneventful, even in the era of smoke or economic crisis, it still cannot stop people's yearning for freedom and romance; these can be called the world's most classic convertibles The car is the best proof.
Bugatti Type 57Grand Raid RoadsterPerfect work of art
This Bugatti Type 57 sports car attracted the attention of the entire Atlantic. Every Bugatti Type 57 is a special specimen in itself, and this one is particularly special. Only 10 units were built at that time. Grand Raid Roadster, only two of which had specially customized body designs, and the 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Grand Raid Roadster was one of them.From the exquisite interior panels, to the wrapped wheels, to the foldable additional seats at the rear of the car, they are all designed by Swiss 's famous designer Carrosserie Worblaufen. After the car was completed, it was just in time to compete in the d'Elegance competition held in Montreux in 1935, and won the championship.
Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz ConvertibleRocket Car Era
Designed by the famous designer HarleyEarl, the antique car Eldorado Biarritz Convertible, known as the pinnacle of Cadillac in the 1950s, is definitely a symbol of the American car spirit of that era! Biarritz is the name of the French resort on the Bay of Biscay, which became famous during a visit by Empress Eugenie during the era of Napoleon III. This name appeared on the Cadillac Eldorado convertible from the late 1950s to the early 1960s. Cadillac Eldorado used an extremely exaggerated and individual appearance design, coupled with luxurious interior equipment, to fully embody the symbol of power represented by the Cadillac brand. Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe all became loyal fans of this car.
Duesenberg J 116/2136 Dual Cowl PhaetonAmerican Native Glory
Compared with other famous brands, Duesenberg seems to be known by few people. However, if you turn the time back to the 1920s, the popularity of this American brand is not inferior at all! It is not only highly sought after by big stars like Clark Gable, but also attracted princes and nobles such as the Duke of Windsor and King Alfonso XIII of Spain. It is a pity that Duesenberg failed to survive the Great Depression in 1937... Although this brand survived for less than 10 years, it created enough miracles and its special value It was not the jaw-dropping land speed of that era, but the extremely beautiful appearance design and advanced manufacturing technology.
Jaguar E-TypeThe royal racing car is the favorite
No one will be stingy in praising it. In 2008, " Daily Telegraph " selected it as "the most beautiful car in history". It has been a classic for 50 years and once became the royal racing car. My favorite...this is E-Type from Jaguar. The alluring styling features, the "catfish mouth" air intake and the streamlined body were definitely ahead of the curve for that era, and the soft-top convertible was also an essential feature. It is no exaggeration to say that the convertible version of the E- Type reached the highest level of similar models at the time. Its soft top can be folded with one click; the side windows can be completely lowered; the windshield is a full-width curved glass; and the cockpit is also extremely spacious.
Porsche 911(901) S 2.0 Targa SportomaticIn the name of Targa Fröge
In 1965, Porsche responded in a very pragmatic way to a discussion in the American market at that time about "open top equals unsafe", with A 20cm wide roll cage at the B-pillar and a removable roof and rear created the first "safe convertible". The rear roof was later replaced by a heated panoramic rear window. The convertible derivative was named "Targa" after the "Targa Florio" event in Sicily, where Porsche had already competed four times in this legendary event. Win the championship.
Ferrari 250 GT California SpiderLuxury-loving California
The production of Ferrari is always less than the market demand, and the same is true for the California Spider. Only about 106 units of this legendary roadster were produced from 1958 to 1963, which is very rare. . The extremely rare 250 GT California Spider is already extremely valuable today. Once it appears at a classic car auction, it will always set off a bloody storm of money! The appearance of the Ferrari 250 GT California Spider also inherits Ferrari's unique smoothness and fashion. Coupled with the convertible, the shape is more stylish than the hard-top version; it seems to show off to us that the great sunshine in California and the convertible can only It's a perfect match.
Reach out and touch the sky and fall in love at first sight
Whether it is a limited edition or worth tens of millions, [convertible] dreams are everywhere. In this era when convertibles are popular, people have countless reasons to love it and pursue it, and convertibles It also greatly stimulates people's yearning for another kind of car life.
Porsche 911 TargaCarrying forward the past
The body of the Porsche 911 Targa draws on the design elements of the 992 model. Compared with its predecessor, the front wheel arch of the body is significantly more prominent, and the significantly concave front hood between the LED headlights is reminiscent of The design of the first generation 911. The rear of the car adopts a widened and infinitely adjustable extended rear spoiler and an elegant light strip that is seamlessly integrated with the body. With the exception of the front and rear, the entire body shell is now made entirely of aluminum. As mentioned before, the original selling point of the Targa was that it was a "safe roadster with a roll cage", but with its detachable roof, the car quickly became an independent vehicle concept and style icon. To this day, the Porsche 911 Targa still combines the "open-top driving" fun of a roadster with the everyday comfort and safety of a coupe.
McLaren 720s SpiderExquisitely British
Powerful and elegant, this most powerful "Predator" supercar on the earth shows its elegance. After many generations of models, continuous improvements are made to ensure the best performance. It can be said that every line of the McLaren 720s Spider's body is serving fluid dynamics . The daytime running lights and headlights on the front face are integrated with the front air vents, which can effectively avoid chaotic airflow at the entrance. A new spoiler has been added to the side, making the side view more aggressive, and its wheels are larger. Every detail of the overall body reflects the nobility.
Ferrari Portofino MLove California
Portofino is a seaside town located in the Italian Riviera. It brings together countless masterpieces carefully crafted by master architects and skilled craftsmen. The houses scattered in the harbor have bright and bright colors. The life in the town It brings together elegance, dynamism, exclusivity and luxury... Just like this Ferrari Portofino M, it shows Ferrari's latest achievements in the field of "2+GT" roadster technology. A new 8-speed gearbox and a Manettino control knob that provides five modes including "Race" - this is the first time that the Prancing Horse brand has applied this configuration to its GT Spider model, aiming to further enhance the model's already excellent handling performance and grip. Soil performance.
Bentley Continental GT ConvertiblePremium experience
Bentley Continental GT Convertible has a wonderful combination: the 6.0-liter W12 twin-turbocharged gasoline engine can burst out 635 horsepower output, helping the driver to speed through the spring; and can complete the process in 19 seconds The electric soft top, which can be opened or closed, allows the driver to freely choose between speed and romantic wind. The electric top, designed with a unique Z-shaped structure, is available in 7 colors to match the body color and has better sound insulation. In the cockpit, it is equipped with 20 electrically adjustable front seats with ventilation and heating functions, and provides a rich choice of interior materials such as leather and wood. On the center console, you can also see the rotating display screen of Bentley , which can present touch screens with different functions.
Rolls Royce DawnInterpretation of grace
A convertible can not only have a romantic style, but also interpret a sense of elegance and luxury. Rolls-Royce Dawn interprets this style to the extreme. The thick body outline and smooth lines continue the pure pedigree of Rolls-Royce . The designer designed a detachable aerodynamic rear seat cover called "Aero Cowling" made of carbon fiber and aluminum alloy. When it is installed in the open state, the 4-seat Dawn looks like a It is an elegant, streamlined and dynamic two-door two-seater sports car. When disassembled, it remains a large luxury GT with a 4-seater layout. Open the carriage-style door, and the interior cabin looks like a luxury yacht. The master carefully selected high-grade logs, cut very thin cross-sections from them, and then ground and sanded them by hand, and finally applied five layers of paint before they could be applied to the interior of the car.
Aston Martin DB11 VolanteBeautiful Travel
DB11 Volante is undoubtedly one of the most elegant convertibles of Aston Martin . The new DB11 Volante joins the DB11 Coupe in 2016 and has received widespread praise for its performance, innovation, engineering and style setting. . On the outside, the Volante features a striking one-piece aluminum bonnet and the innovative aerodynamic design of the DB11 Coupe, its slim blade rear taillights with a bold C-shape design, and newly designed forged alloy wheels. The DB11 Volante has been engineered to be the most advanced and complete convertible Aston Martin has ever produced, with a focus on smoothness, handling, responsiveness and perfection to express its unique driving feel and fun.
editor / No. 6
writer / Liu Qian
layout design / Sun Yanhua
