26th Oct 2013, 12:23
Never liked vinyl tops, white walls or all the other dubious accessories that passed for taste back then, naturally evolving into opera lamps, carriage roofs, crushed velour seats, or if you preferred, "rich Corinthian leather".
I don't know where all that bad taste came from, but at least European functionality has resulted in huge strides in taste and engineering.
I bought a 2012 Focus ST last year, and it was staggering how some German engineering can turn the old Focus turdmobile into a fast, well designed compact.
I guess the vinyl top thing was a reaction to potential government regulations of the era, which would have banned convertibles entirely, not to mention that air conditioning was becoming a common feature on cars.
Want to see a true factory pimpmobile? Check out the 1979 Lincoln Mark V diamond jubilee edition. Available in light blue or gold with a matching landau roof, oval opera windows with a small diamond in the middle. The Lincoln was equipped with every available comfort and convenience feature that Lincoln could dream up.
20th Oct 2013, 12:34
The only vinyl roof I liked was a Triple Black Chevelle. I think the vinyl tops break up the body lines too much. In fact I own convertibles and even I only like them with the tops down. Which they stay down year round in my garage.