![]() Less expensive cars, such as the runabouts, sporting roadsters, or sturdy touring cars, remained either completely open air or were fitted with a rudimentary folding top and detachable clear side curtains. Examples of early cars with roofs include the phaeton (a two-seat car with a temporary roof), the brougham or a coupé de ville, having an enclosed passenger compartment at the rear, while the driver sat in front either in the open, or the landaulet, where the driver has a fixed roof and the passenger compartment has a folding roof. ![]() As car engines became more powerful by the end of the 19th century, folding textile or leather roofs (as had been used on victoria or landau carriages) began to appear on cars. Most of the early automobiles were open-air vehicles without any roof or sides. In the United Kingdom, the historical term for a two-door convertible is drophead coupé, and a four-door convertible was called an all-weather tourer. The term cabriolet originated from a carriage cabriolet: "a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage with a folding top, capable of seating two persons" however, the term is also used to describe other convertibles. Consistency is rare about the current use of cabriolet in preference to convertible. Other terms for convertibles include cabriolet, cabrio, drop top, drophead coupé, open two-seater, open top, rag top, soft top, spider, and spyder. Other types of convertible roofs include retractable hardtops (often constructed from metal or plastic) and detachable hardtops (where a metal or plastic roof is manually removed and often stored in the trunk). The majority of convertible roofs are of a folding construction framework with the actual top made from cloth or other fabric. A potential drawback of convertibles is their reduced structural rigidity (requiring significant engineering and modification to counteract the effects of removing a car's roof). The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers.Ī convertible car's design allows an open-air driving experience, with the ability to provide a roof when required. ![]() I'll be ordering some when I order my hardtop fitting parts (roughly monthly), so PM me for availability.A convertible or cabriolet ( / ˌ k æ b r i oʊ ˈ l eɪ/) is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. Don't bother ordering from your local or online USA Toyota dealer, we tried that for months with no success. In hindsight, a heat gun would probably have made the inner curve go easier. ![]() The pic above may look done, but had several such flat spots. Any 'flat' spots (run your hand over it, you'll know what I mean) are good candidates for water leaks. The curved part is tough, it'll give your thumbs a good workout (arthritics need not apply). Now start installing from the front back. Take the time now to wipe down the surface it's also a really good time to treat the rubber weatherstripping with your choice of rubber protectant. Almost guaranteed some paint will come off with it, but it will be covered by the new part. Just carefully pull the protector strip off starting at the front (pull down and out). I started out removing the weatherstripping, then quickly realized I didn't have to. A regular screwdriver or putty knife could be useful too, but I didn't use them.įirst, remove the old part. No better place to start than with my own hardtop, so why not make it into a 'how to' as well? Along the way while doing this I discovered a few things I did not know about the weatherstripping on the hardtop, and how to ensure against leaks. I've finally found a source for the 'protectors' that does not charge an arm and a leg (with apologies to those that I've supplied these to in the past, at the cost of arms and legs). ![]() and they are not available separately from Toyota. These are little plastic end pieces that are glued on to the "side garnish protector" for the hardtop weatherstripping. More and more hardtops are missing one or both of the little "triangles" that complete the weatherstripping between the hardtop and the A-piller (see pic below, marked with paint). ![]()
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