what is different about these two cars that one is labeled a cabriolet, and the other is labeled a roadster?
because I see two cars that have only the split windshield and fenderskirts as an items they don't have in common. Maybe the Roadster doesn't have a rumble seat
My understanding is that a "roadster" has two seats, but a "cabriolet" has four.
Additionally, in the 1920's, the designation also included whether the car had roll up windows vs. curtains...and back in those days, a "convertible" was a four door with a folding top and two doors were not "convertibles" but either a roadster or cabriolet
The major difference was that the cabriolet has roll up windows and the roadster does not. If you look closely the 37 roadster has buttons along the outside door near the window opening and the 36 cabriolet does not.
A cabriolet is a soft top or drop head coupe with roll up windows. A roadster does not have roll up windows. It has an optional soft top and clear side curtains for windows.
As a general rule, the Roadster style has no roll-up windows; side-curtains only. The Cabriolet has the luxury of roll-up windows. There were other differences in the doors and top mechanism to accommodate the windows vs. side curtains. Thanks for putting together my favorite site. I admire your dedication to this on-going project. Jon Lee Brunswick, Maine
Roadster had side curtains vs roll up windows and had a shorter door. The windshield frame bolted to the cowl while the cabriolet was built in. There were interior differences as well.
The fixed side windows vs curtains is generally correct but it depends on what the manufacturer called it. I have a 1929 Studebaker cabriolet but the top doesn't fold. It had the same windshield and (front) doors as a sedan. There is one the same in the US if you google it - has a beige body and blue fenders. If it was Ford A it would be a sport coupe. Re the comment above from OLDREK about cabriolets being 4 door converts - a four door is either a 'touring'(called a tourer in British countries), or a phaeton. Buick four door convertibles of the 1930s were labelled Convertible Phaeton.
My understanding is that a "roadster" has two seats, but a "cabriolet" has four.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, in the 1920's, the designation also included whether the car had roll up windows vs. curtains...and back in those days, a "convertible" was a four door with a folding top and two doors were not "convertibles" but either a roadster or cabriolet
The major difference was that the cabriolet has roll up windows and the roadster does not. If you look closely the 37 roadster has buttons along the outside door near the window opening and the 36 cabriolet does not.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a ford guy, but it might have something to do with roll-up side windows....
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Ford guy, might it might have something to do with having roll-up windows or not?? I thought cabriolets were 4-door converts???
ReplyDeleteI believe the roadster has side curtains, and the cabriolet has roll up windows.
ReplyDeleteA cabriolet is a soft top or drop head coupe with roll up windows. A roadster does not have roll up windows. It has an optional soft top and clear side curtains for windows.
ReplyDeleteAs a general rule, the Roadster style has no roll-up windows; side-curtains only. The Cabriolet has the luxury of roll-up windows. There were other differences in the doors and top mechanism to accommodate the windows vs. side curtains.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting together my favorite site. I admire your dedication to this on-going project.
Jon Lee
Brunswick, Maine
Roadster had side curtains vs roll up windows and had a shorter door. The windshield frame bolted to the cowl while the cabriolet was built in. There were interior differences as well.
ReplyDeleteSome manufacturers used roll up windows vs. side curtains to differentiate - Cabriolets had roll up glass windows and often a headliner.
ReplyDeleteThe fixed side windows vs curtains is generally correct but it depends on what the manufacturer called it. I have a 1929 Studebaker cabriolet but the top doesn't fold. It had the same windshield and (front) doors as a sedan. There is one the same in the US if you google it - has a beige body and blue fenders. If it was Ford A it would be a sport coupe. Re the comment above from OLDREK about cabriolets being 4 door converts - a four door is either a 'touring'(called a tourer in British countries), or a phaeton. Buick four door convertibles of the 1930s were labelled Convertible Phaeton.
ReplyDelete