Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

At the moment I'd melt if I was in an open-top car with the roof down, so when's the best time to use a drop-top car? My vote is summer (late evenings), and autumn.

Once upon a time I'd have the roof down all the time, bar heavy downpours, I must be getting soft

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[kevin2306]

any dry evening does it for me and my eunos - autumn, spring and summer. if its cold, i wear a hoody and a beanie hat..heater on and its toasty.
gotta watch the sunburn on sunny days tho..not that it can happen very often! (not run during the winter due to the salt on the road)

kev

[Riley Blue]

Years ago I had a Golf Convertible and drove from Somerset to Kent with the top down and got a lovely 'tan' on my right arm and right side of my face. It was raining on the way back

[Ashley]

Forty miles in heavy traffic in TR yesterday, I got quite hot, so MX5 today with aircon on and roof down.

[Ellis]

Right now I would say and enjoy it while the weather lasts.
Sadly, though I don't have an open topped car.

I could take the truck cab off the Series 2 Landy - does that count?
_________________
Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[mistericeman]

[JohnDale]

Hi Rick, I've had three convertibles over the years,two Zephyrs & a Singer Gazelle. The first Zephyr had a power hood(hydraulic operation) & I recall one Christmas time(long ago) when it was too cold & the hydraulic oil was too thick to operate the hood so we pushed it down manually against the oil. I would say any time is a good time for a soft top. Cheers,JD.
_________________
1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

[MikeEdwards]

I'm making the most of it. When I used to go out to work I'd regularly have the top down in the frost, a decent heater and heated seats negate any cold, though it could have done with a heated steering wheel sometimes. Generally, if it wasn't raining and I wasn't just doing a short run, I'd have the roof down. I've had one or two interesting occasions where I've had the roof down, it's started raining heavily, and .... everyone slams on the brakes and drops to 25mph! If they all carried on at 50 the rain would go over the top and I wouldn't get soaked on my way to a tree or bridge to raise the roof under. But no, it's raining, let's all slow down to walking pace.

I don't normally have the air-con on when the roof is down as it's just a waste, though I have done for the last few days. As it happens, though, it needs re-gassing and for some reason, the air-con service guy is busy until next week.

Although it's generally pretty good as it's a modern, I do find myself wishing it had sun visors like the "pagoda" Mercedes that flip up above the top of the windscreen, for when the sun is out but quite low.

[Roger-hatchy]

ROOF? WINDSCREEN? FOOLS


Done about 600 miles since last Saturday.
Plenty of sun cream, added a few times on the trip plus baby wipes and a towel for the hands,
and a good set of sun glasses.

Oh Yes nearly forgot, a leather helmet to cover the polished bit. (or more lotion )

[P3steve]

When I had a TR6 I used to have the roof down all year round though that was more to do with the state of the top. I soon learnt that if you dropped below thirty miles an hour in the rain you got wet so you planned ahead when you saw traffic lights coming up - all good fun though
_________________
If the world didn't suck we'd all fall off

[pogo]

I like spring, summer evenings and autumn. Any time the sun is shining and its not too hot!

Years ago, I went from the UK to Spain in a Sunbeam Alpine GT, hardtop but no hood. Opted for the open top all the way, the heater stopped working somewhere in France, so the nights were absolutely freezing, and the days were absolutely roasting! Sounds like a prison camp torture chamber, certainly felt like it.
Anyone who thinks summer nights are warm should spend several hours with the night air hitting the back of your neck and head. We ended up with our beach towels wrapped round our heads to try and warm up.

2 days before our return to the UK, the heavens opened, and it didnt stop raining, so the tonneau cover kept the worst of it off the seats. I had to keep the speed up to keep the luggage dry in the back 'seat', as we had friends on a motorbike following, and had all their luggage in with us.

We stopped at a service station in the south of france to sleep, 2 of us under the tonneau cover, and the bikers in full gear on the ground. One of them had a bright idea, and we nabbed some big cardboard boxes from a bin, and slotted them over him, and laid him down to sleep. During the night, I was woken up by the sound of running water, and giggling, then lots of swearing. Some french lads had decided it would be fun to pee all over my friend in his cardboard boxes, and he couldnt escape, just floundered about on the floor with his arms held by the boxes.

Would I do it all again with no roof and no heater? No way, Ide take the Jaaaaaaag with the aircon on. Thats getting old for ya!!
_________________
http://www.centralfrancestorage.com/index.html

[ukdave2002]

[bob2]

True Dave, I'd never go around in a roofless car during summer, too hot over here, however after 19.00 it would be a hoot!!
Unfortunately I never have owned one though something fun and roofless is definately on my wishlist!! some day maybe!!

[Ironhead]

been using my Herald convertible a lot in the recent good weather,too much lousy weather in this country not to take advantage of a few good weeks

[colwyn500]

We have been out all day in the Austin and there has rarely been a hotter day in my memory. Definitely give me hot weather, no roof and a floppy hat. I do have the advantage of an opening windscreen and little openable vents in the footwells
Cool!