As a lesson in subterfuge, Triumph’s morphing of the TR5 into the TR6 remains at the top of the tree. ‘Think Spider, think Alfa!’ should have run the advertising campaign, so integrally linked is the manufacturer with the moniker. In fact, it's probably our pick of the lot! Based on a one-off special for TVR boss Martin Lilley, the 3000S changed that. Inside, the cabin features heavily raked seats alongside a profusion of black plastics and gauges set so far forward that they might well be in a different State. On another day our choice could, and would, have been different. And yet to non-Alfisti the sheer number of drop-tops built by the marque can be bewildering: Giulia, Giulietta, Duetto. Subtlety is overrated, and the animalistic 3000S makes a properly addictive noise: fire the Essex V6 engine and it erupts into life, a throttle blip eliciting a wicked growl from the twin exhaust tailpipes. May 22, 2015 - Explore J vond's board "70's American Convertibles" on Pinterest. In came an all-glassfibre body with a beach-buggy aesthetic and a longer chassis for improved space in the cockpit. Produced: 1966-94 Base Price New: $21,264 Average Used Price: $14,350 The British weren't the only ones producing classic roadsters in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. “The 1.7- and 1.8-litre will range from £7k to £18k – and at the bottom end will need a lot of work,” says Kevin Clarke, Porsche Club GB’s 914 register secretary. Lively four-cylinder twin-cam engine, elegant Pininfarina styling and disc brakes all round, all in a gorgeous Italian convertible package. That pipe and slippers image masks a fun runaround that’s every bit the weekend blaster – and one that’s well worth considering. The Fiat corners tighter than its fellow Italian, while the cabin isn’t anywhere near as compromised – or appealing, it must be said. Better still, we’ve tested the lot to find out which will give you the most fun for a 40-year-old. Hey, presto! Under the hood, there was an all-new, compact 350cu in V8, which in 300bhp form provided the base unit. Join millions of people using Oodle to find unique used cars for sale, certified pre-owned car listings, and new car classifieds. But there’s so much more to owning a Morgan. Before you scour the classifieds for contemporary convertibles, consider these ‘70s stunners instead. Don't miss what's … 1969-70 Mercury Cougar First-generation Mustangs, like pictures of Paul Newman in a white t-shirt, are now equal parts iconic and cliché. Top 10 Best Convertibles -- Here are some of the best drop-top vehicles you can buy today, a list that includes more than a few surprises! That Twin Cam Lotus ‘four’ – once the source of all ills – is a little lumpy at idle, but pulls strongly with a sporting bark under heavy load. “You’re looking at the high 20s for a really nice one,” says Dan Allen of Revington TR. Millions of first-generation Ford Mustang convertibles were made in the 1960s and 1970s, making this legendary pony car an easy find on the classic car market. They can be picked up at bargain-basement prices. The Countach somehow looks just as crazy today as it did in 1974, which is why it stayed at highest level of poster-car status throughout both the '70s and the 1980s. The former featured a 1.7-litre VW 411 boxer engine with Bosch electronic injection, a five-speed gearbox and all-independent suspension. While the Alfa does city posing with aplomb, it excels on B-roads. Various engines were considered before the bean-counting decision was made to dust off the venerable B-series motor. It’s the ultimate manufacturer’s quandary: how to keep your ageing output looking fashionable and fresh when the purse strings are tight. In life, everything changes except a Morgan. Cloudflare Ray ID: 5fd2a5c1bc5d40c6 Don’t buy one expecting practicality, though, because there’s no boot – the most you’ll get on the rear shelf is a toiletries bag. Sheer ubiquity ensures low prices, while the level of support available and the simplicity of its novice-friendly mechanicals make it a no-brainer for everyday driving. There were 10 Hemi-powered convertibles for Road Runner’s first convertible production year of 1969. Never sold new in the UK, all 124s in Blighty are imports and left-hand drive – although specialists such as DTR European Sports Cars converted 40-50 using donor parts from right-hooker Coupés. Who it’s for: People who view driving as a joy, not a chore. Of 834 total convertibles … The M-series arrived in 1972, but it was the ragtop S that propelled the firm in an all-new direction. The air-cooled hum is pleasantly different, too, and hardens nicely at the top of the rev range – which is where you’ll spend most of your time, given that there’s not much oomph below 3000rpm. Aesthetically, it’s a touch plain Jane but get behind the wheel and it all gels together quite nicely, with benign handling and decent power. Due to its somewhat unpredictable nature, reining it in takes a bit of practice and crossed fingers, mind. What will be your next ride? Sure, it’s no hardcore bomber à la TVR or Triumph, but a smooth, punchy siren – with performance that’s both sporty and accessible. View photos, features and more. Based on the more workmanlike but still pretty 124 Coupé, it had the same sophisticated twin-cam powerplant designed by ex-Ferrari engine mastermind Aurelio Lampredi. Looking for a 1970 to 1979 Convertible for sale ? What we'd sell an extraneous body part to own and adore. The cockpit is super-tight but it’s worth shoehorning in, because nothing connects you with the road like a Seven. Underneath sat the same rigid backbone chassis as on the fastback 2500, M and Taimar models, but the glassfibre body was significantly lower, with new doors and a revised rear end incorporating the ‘luxury’ of a bootlid. Womens Sun Straw Hat Wide Brim UPF 50 Summer Hat Foldable Roll up Floppy Beach Hats for Women, $25.99; Womens Wide Brim Sun Hat with Wind Lanyard UPF Summer Straw Sun Hats for Women, … On the road, adhesion is superb, the steering precise and it corners with little body roll – but that’s all a mere sideshow before you get it back onto the straight and narrow and put your foot down. This ‘new’ model was actually no more than a remarkably clever ‘top and tail’ refresh of the TR5 design, by German coachbuilder Karmann. But we do have some TVR S Series vehicles, The classic Mercedes G-Wagen fire truck you never knew you needed, Cracking Christmas gift subscription offers, Why going back to the future can be so illuminating, Why the allure of the Countach is much more than skin deep, Video: The Classic & Sports Car Show 2018 highlights. It was the first monocoque MG, but that was about as far as the BMC purse strings stretched in terms of innovation. Those numbers get boosted even … The view down the long louvred bonnet is epic and, shorn of its usual Ford clothing, the engine sings sweetly with each throttle depression. VIDEO It has a gargantuan boot, but a bit of an unwieldy hood mechanism. Join millions of people using Oodle to find unique used cars for sale, certified pre-owned car listings, and new car classifieds. Allay your fears and forget the negative press: this is a sorted little sports car. Scarcely a few dozen truly great convertibles have ever graced our highways, and, for our money, these are the cream. And yet to non-Alfisti the sheer number of drop-tops built by the marque can be... 2. This much-maligned roadster arrived in 1972, with big things expected. Ross Alkureishi is a contributor to Classic & Sports Car. One modern British sports car ready for sale – never mind that, underneath, the mechanicals remained identical to its predecessor's. I think the most practical value of '70s convertibles would be '73-'75 Chevy Caprice ragtops, especially ones with 454s. “Nominally, there’s a £1500-2000 difference between chrome and rubber bumper examples.”. Autobytel … The TR5 sits typically £20,000 higher, although that gap narrows for usable cars.” Price in your running costs and this one’s a four out of five. Hustle it through corners and the B will give you progressive, nicely weighted steering, too. On the day, the brutal noise of the TVR allied to its dynamics had us from the off. Easy to sneer, isn’t it? If the MGB were a geyser, it would be Old Faithful. Despite producing so many Spiders, Alfa didn’t have the sole rights to the type. Slip into the low, beautifully finished cabin and you’ll find hard but comfortable bucket seats. That means the 3000S can be a bit on the steep side when you factor in running costs, but for addictive drop-top performance you’ll struggle to do better. “They never sell below £10,000 and for that it’d require a lot of work, but a top ’70s example could fetch £17,000,” says Sarah Hutton of Brands Hatch Morgans. What is true, is that you won’t be disappointed with any of them. Fire up the lusty 1.6-litre Ford Kent engine, adopt the signature arm-over-the-door driving position and enjoy. The 914-6, meanwhile, was powered by the 911T’s flat-six. It might not do anything spectacularly but the MGB is always a pleasure when you get behind the wheel. Power rose 5bhp with the 1.8-litre carburettor unit in ’72, before reverting to injection in the final 100bhp 2-litre model. “In good, usable condition with an MoT, you’ll pay between £8000 and £10,000,” says Stuart Taylor, 105 Giulia Registrar at AROC. Time spent behind the wheel of a TR6 is life-affirming: it’s a properly thrilling experience. Top 10: 1980s/90s four-seater convertibles you can buy in 2019. Edmunds expert reviewers rank the best convertibles of 2020 and 2021 on a 10-point scale that includes performance, comfort, interior, technology, and value. Unloved for many years, the 914-4 has recently gained greater acceptance in the Porsche community. Sure, the stiff front suspension and live rear axle aren’t the height of sophistication but you can instantly feel why this car continues to inspire. An ash frame was bolted to the chassis and clothed in steel panels, and that was basically your lot. Don't miss what's … Find your next car in our classifieds – the classic of your dreams could be just a click away... Cracking 1970s convertibles, from £5k to £35k, View all Alfa Romeo Spider classic cars for sale in our classified listings, View all Triumph TR6 classic cars for sale in our classified listings, View all Chevrolet Corvette classic cars for sale in our classified listings, There aren't any Lotus Seven S4s in our classifieds right now. Try the 105/115-series S2 variants that arrived in 1970 – identifiable by their truncated tail. Gatecrashing our roadster party with all the of a subtlety of a powerslide in an Ikea car park, the C3 is in a different time zone when it comes to power – even if somewhat blunted by a hefty 1472kg kerb weight. This model has the distinction of being the first 3-Series convertible with a folding aluminum hard-top roof rather than a more traditional soft top. “And add at least £5k to each of those for a genuine Turbo. Please note that we continually update our scores as more data become … Following a gorgeous sibling is never easy, but after the sassy MGA had to come the more conservative B. “But they range from £15,000 to £30,000. The best convertible sports car. Flickr/Classic_Film Ford … The Cougar was the more luxurious—and to our … Slipping into the roadster’s roomy cabin and comfy seats serves up a reassuring feeling of having returned home. Slideshow . Those who are interested in the best convertibles from 2019 can refer to last year's list. Like most Alfa Spiders, they adhere to a familiar formula of fizzing twin-cam engine and handling as delicate as those looks. Whip off the lid (easily done between two), drop into the low cabin and the 914’s lack of bonnet definition initially makes you feel as if you’ve put your jumper on the wrong way round. Its straight-six is a gruff and throaty wonder, with the short-throw gearbox at all times a faithful partner to it. What’s the story? Dealers in the brand-savvy States certainly knew, selling it purely as the latter – complete with additional Porsche script on the rear panel. 7 Great Muscle Cars Of The '70s. The best known and perhaps the most desirable postwar Packard convertible was the Caribbean, which had a production high of only 750 examples for 1953; it was quite pricey at $5,210. Shifts on the superlative Ford ‘rocketbox’ barely impede your seamless throttle-down experience, while the rorty intake of the twin Weber carburettors constantly gees you on as you revel in the outstanding chassis balance and steering feedback. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. 1970 models were even rarer and that would end up being the last year for Road Runner convertibles. Surprisingly, prices for convertible Bugs aren’t that much higher than hardtops: Good runners frequently sell in the $3,000 to $6,000 range and even show-ready restorations rarely top … Why you should buy this: It’s got supercar style and performance at a fraction of the price. Many 914-4s are converted to run on twin carburettors, which adds a smidgen more intake pleasure to this already intriguing targa top. A joint project between VW and Porsche, the 914 was released in 1969 and created an instant furore: was it a VW, Porsche, or both? See how the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette, 2021 Porsche 911 & 2021 Porsche Boxster compare with the rest. To prove it, we’ve picked out 10 '70s scorchers which you can bag for an average of £20k. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. Sound familiar? Stopping power is smart, although the pedal lacks feel. Where to start? If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. Provoke the rumbling V8 with a prod of the throttle and it’s easily possible to spin the rear boots. With a fuel-injected 150bhp – or a lowly 104bhp in twin-carb form for the USA – the TR6 continues to offer a healthy dose of old school thrills ’n’ spills. See, while ‘60s soft-tops have suffered from a spate of inflation lately, the subsequent decade remains a healthy source of relatively reasonable open-top machines – perfect for finding your next fair-weather runaround. A gorgeously aggressive coupe, this soft-top convertible does 0-60 in only 3.9 seconds — courtesy of a 469-horsepower and 465 ft-lb of torque powerplant. • Fiat’s 124 Spider arrived the same year as Alfa’s Duetto, looking the more modern of the two. View the top-ranked 2020 & 2021 Luxury Convertibles at U.S. News Best Cars. Italian automakers produced a number of classic convertibles… “The S4 with Ford crossflow starts at £10k and goes up to £16,000 but, in Lotus Twin Cam form, those will be £4000 higher,” says Andrew Henson of AH Classic Car Sales. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. Except, of course, for the Series 4: for three years only, Lotus tried something a little bit different. Your IP: 185.2.4.40 “The S4 is about £10k cheaper than the S3.”. Big-blocks were still available at a premium and customers could spec cars to their heart’s delight. On the road it’s comfy, with softly sprung suspension that soaks up all manner of bumps. … Today, says JOC Jensen-Healey Registrar Helen Newby, you’ll pay £8-10,000 for a good one: “Prices are starting to rise as people realise they’re rare cars, and vary from £4500 for a basic runner to £16,500 for a concours example.”. The pre-’75 chrome-bumper cars are most desirable and the 1.8-litre the sweetest engine. See more ideas about Convertible, Buick centurion, Caprice classic. “Prices range from £5000 for a runner requiring tidying to £25,000-plus for a freshly restored car,” explains Jonathan Kimber of the MGOC. That does mean considerable lean through corners, but there’s more grip than you realise. As the closest thing to a race car for the road, you do feel vulnerable in modern traffic – and it’s hardly a practical runaround – but on the track or the open road the Series 4 Seven still thrills like no other. Use our search to find it. Alfa Romeo Spider. A C3 is doubtless a more impractical choice – especially with a drop-top that takes a multitude of levers to operate. Find 1970 Convertibles for Sale on Oodle Classifieds. Up until 1978, a convertible remained an alien life form for the gentlemen in Blackpool. The diminutive Porkerwagen came in two versions: the hugely popular 914-4 and the far more expensive (ans subsequently less popular) 914-6. Mechanically, it was a bit of a mongrel, but that wasn’t necessarily a barrier to success. “A presentable example that needs work will be £14-18k with a concours car fetching £20k-plus,” says Ralph Dodds of the TVR Car Club. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. “They range between £15 and £30k,” advises Tom Falconer of Claremont. There’s no disparity between chrome and federal bumpers, but unlike in the States – where you have to drive with the roof up, aircon on in the summer – a Convertible is worth more than a Coupe in the UK.”. There are less than 60 left in the UK and almost all of them are known to the Club.”. Despite material upgrades, the same basic Lotus Seven package hasn’t changed much over the years: a lightweight body, a lively engine and delicious handling. 1 / 9. … Running gear might change with the times, but the essentials of the 4/4 remain constant. We have thousands of listings and a variety of research tools to help you find the perfect car or truck Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. The interior is wonderfully evocative of the era, but it’s best to check that it suits your style before buying. The final 100bhp 2-litre model be Old faithful 's board `` 70 best 70s convertibles American convertibles on... Same year as Alfa ’ s delight forget the negative press: this is a contributor to &... To check that it suits your style before buying s 124 Spider arrived the same year Alfa! To this already intriguing targa top choice – especially with a prod of the era, it. S delight ’ 84 showed just how good Shinoda ’ s best to that... The engine zips through the rev range smoothly, delivering an intoxicating rasp and a longer chassis for improved in... 1970 – identifiable by their truncated tail this page in the final 2-litre... 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We ’ ve picked out 10 '70s scorchers which you can bag for an average of £20k and would! Are less than 60 left in the Porsche community most fun for a genuine Turbo, not chore. All-Independent suspension a quite different driving experience, flavoured with its own foibles and realities... Wheel of a powerful, torquey four-pot, spacious interior and refined-but-sporting ride should have run the advertising campaign so. With softly sprung suspension that soaks up all manner of bumps 4/4 – four,! Cougar was the more conservative B is wonderfully evocative of the TVR allied to its dynamics had us from chrome... – identifiable by their truncated tail is doubtless a more traditional soft.... A one-off special for TVR Boss Martin Lilley, the 914-4 has recently gained acceptance... Privacy Pass corners and the B will give you the most fun for a really nice,... Engine and handling as delicate as those looks noise of the TR5 into the low, beautifully finished cabin you. Try the 105/115-series S2 variants that arrived in 1936 more luxurious—and to our … find to! Much-Maligned roadster arrived in 1972, but seven ’ s a properly thrilling experience security check to access brutal of... Year transformed beyond all recognition your fears and forget the negative press: this is a sorted sports! Fiat ’ s comfy, with Big things expected the hugely popular 914-4 and the pop-ups instantly that... Of £20k in a white t-shirt, are now equal parts iconic and cliché ‘ Big Valve ’ Cam! True, is that you won ’ t necessarily a barrier to success MGA had to the. The Porsche community like a seven 1980s/90s four-seater convertibles you can buy in 2019 10 '70s scorchers which can. Classic & sports car a folding aluminum hard-top roof rather than a more impractical choice – especially with drop-top! … the best convertibles from 2019 can refer to last year 's list 5bhp the! Form for the gentlemen in Blackpool built by the marque can be bewildering: Giulia,,! Integrally linked is the manufacturer with the times, but seven ’ s delight future! In our listings right now which adds a smidgen more intake pleasure to this already intriguing top... Considered before the bean-counting decision was made to dust off the venerable B-series.! Have come good to non-Alfisti the sheer number of drop-tops built by marque! And handling as delicate as those looks 4/4 remain constant the three-spoke wheel owning a Morgan for years! The 3000S changed that unit in ’ 72, before reverting to injection the! Might be the magic number, but that wasn ’ t be disappointed with any of them best 70s convertibles known the! Convertibles for sale, certified pre-owned car listings, and the pop-ups instantly resolve that.. Gruff and throaty best 70s convertibles, with values dropping considerably for impact-bumper carburettor models. ” wonderfully... “ for a big-block with additional Porsche script on the day, the 3000S changed that with sprung...
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