By Graham Robson

OPENTOP STYLE: An a-Z of convertible autos is a celebration of a type of car that seemed destined for extinction, but has seen a tremendous revival worldwide. There can surely be few more pleasurable motoring experiences than cruising with the soft-top furled, in touch with the surroundings and in tune with the car's handling and speed; and the beautiful lines of some of the open-top cars illustrated must be a temptation to ignore than rain in the name of style!

From the Jeep to the Jaguar, the Ferrari to the Fit, OPENTOP STYLE examines them all: an authoritative text, including full specification panels, is illustrated with evocative full-colour picutres of the cars in action. The special design features of each model are analyzed, along with the inherent problems faced by the coachbuilders and designers in any Cabriolet/Targa conversion of an existing model, particularly after the introduction of integral body/chassis units.

Some wonderful motoring moments are evoked: the bucking, marshmallow-soft suspension of a big-finned 1959 Cadillac Convertible for example, the distinctive exhaust rumble of the 1962 Monza Spyder, turbo-charged (a weird idea which would surely never catch on!) and the 21st birthday of the Porsche 911 Targa, the car that refuses to die even when supposedly superseded by its younger 928 brother. Whether you're a fan of the MG Midget, or dreaming of a Panther DeVille, OPENTOP STYLE takes the roof off, for your inspection.

Hardback - 128 pages

Published 1988

Very good condition