02/02/2012 13:16 | By Richard Dredge, contributor, MSN Cars
Unique convertibles that shouldn't exist

Audi Quattro

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Most car makers offer at least one open-topped model in their range, usually built in-house. But it's not that long since independent coachbuilders were relied upon to create convertible versions of mainstream cars. Like these for example...

Before he went bust in a bid to create his own open-topped sportscar, Walter Treser used to chop, stretch and stick bodykits onto anything with an Audi badge. Where the Quattro was concerned, he sliced 39 of them open and added his own bodykit. Well, this was the eighties...

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25Comments
Nick Weeks (Le Critique)
02/02/2012 18:32
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They did a convertible Rover Metro / 100 a few years back. It was just wrong!! Some would argue that the Metro / 100 was wrong anyway but there were plenty about and quite a few are still on the roads today albeit a bit rusty.  
Russell Weller
02/02/2012 19:04
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The Marina coupe used the same doors as the saloon anyway. That was the main let-down in the appearance of the car - longer doors would have made a more convincing coupe look. Cutting the roof off just made things worse, I think.
John Medford
03/02/2012 00:35
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The cavalier convertible, for you who remember it, should of stayed on the drawing board !!!!!!!!!
john vaughan (J. S. Sebastian)
03/02/2012 01:59
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Love the DS ! but always have with or without a roof
paul is.........
03/02/2012 08:53
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sorry john for me the cavalier brought my childhood rushing back 
Michael Green (Go right ahead.)
03/02/2012 11:00
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Half hearted article. Should show these cars with the hoods UP as well as down.!
Oli Goss
03/02/2012 12:49
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Absolutely pointless article, if you can even call it that. No real explanations as to why some of these cars are included, despite a few of them being quite successful. I'd give my arms for some of the offerings from the 80's
bernard koussoulos (Watchinya)
03/02/2012 13:01
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I had a Calibra  that i really loved that car until some stupid woman on a mobile rear ended it and rit it off.any way!It would have been nice to see one of the Calibra range with a soft top would have been the ideal car .
lol carter (stewart littler)
03/02/2012 15:59
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this is the truth, no gives a dam about all this crap about, what should exist or not. Its not down to reporters to make such an article. Reporters always blind you anyway, as they work closely with the goverment anyway, there is always a political gain in story,s don,t let them blind you.

 

I say stop going on the figures, if you prefer a certain car and you know it feels right to you, it does,nt matter what others think, and you should not buy a car just because most people buy that car.

 

MAKE UP YOUR MINDS, THAT IS SOME THING THE ENGLISH DON,T DO ANYMORE. DO THINGS YOUR WAY, IF YOU KEEP LISTENING TO THESE TWERPS YOU NEVER LIVE YOUR LIFE, BUT TO FIND YOU LIVED ON THERE TERMS AND NOT YOUR OWN, THAT IS REAL LIFE.

Adam . (aj280)
03/02/2012 17:20
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"MAKE UP YOUR MINDS, THAT IS SOME THING THE ENGLISH DON,T DO ANYMORE. DO THINGS YOUR WAY, IF YOU KEEP LISTENING TO THESE TWERPS YOU NEVER LIVE YOUR LIFE, BUT TO FIND YOU LIVED ON THERE TERMS AND NOT YOUR OWN, THAT IS REAL LIFE."

That seems like an extreme reaction to some convertibles...
I don't think there's a political agenda in an article entitled "Unique convertibles that shouldn't exist"
Granted, on a political subject many papers and magazines do have political agendas but they aren't on this article or many of MSN's articles. Many of which are only a few paragraphs long anyway!
RAM .
03/02/2012 18:06
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THE SKODA ADVERT " LET THE SUNSHINE IN" ALL THE ONES I WORKED ON LET THE RAIN IN WITH OR WITHOUT A ROOF. HOWEVER ALL THESE VARIANTS PLAYED THEIR PART IN THE EVOLUTION OF TODAY'S VEHICLES..... I STARTED IN THE MOTOR TRADE WORKING ON SIMCAS, NSU EUROPAS ...THE GOOD OLD DAYS..LOLSad
Martin Taylor
03/02/2012 19:01
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This is an awful article, all these cars are classics in their own way.

 

My wife had a Punto Cabriolet for a number of years, it was a great little car, superb in the sunshine, and also with the hood up - a great little car.

 

Added to which, what wouldn't you do to own that Citroen now

 

Very lazy article

Malcolm Smith (smiggy21)
03/02/2012 21:07
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Looking at the wolseley hornet was a step back in time for me and  reminded me that crayford and tickford also styled and sometimes even chopped the ford capri

The chopped scoda used to be the butt end of everyone's jokes and was likened to a skip.

Martin Hinman (engineer M)
04/02/2012 18:46
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Wrong! all marinas had the same size front doors. It was still a rubbish car anyway.  

Meniven Norris
08/02/2012 23:57
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Citroen DS convertibles are beautiful, i see one locally now and again and it always turns my head.
There's now't wrong wi an XJS, just don't drive enthusiastically.
I see a Volvo p1800 locally too, they need to revert back to that sort of design.

This was a rather ill though out article.


luke minall
16/02/2012 16:02
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You missed off the Fiat Jolly(Google it) it's a beutiful machine lol
paul walker (uptheirownass)
16/02/2012 23:31
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I HATED AUSTIN ALLEGRO AND THE METRO PIECES OF RUSTY SH*T , OH AND ROVER PIECE OF SH*T NO WONDER THEY DONT EXIST .......  RIP  PIECES OF SH*T HEAPS  .......
paul walker (uptheirownass)
16/02/2012 23:36
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OH AND THE MARINA PIECE OF SH*T...   I JUST LIKE SAYING PIECE OF SH*T I THINK  ....
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