Roadster 519878 223960009 2008-07-06T18:28:52Z 91.47.106.194 /* Classic */ <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Other_2.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1932 [[Ford Model 18]] roadster with top]] --><!--[[Image:Bolt_on.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1932 [[ford model 18]] roadster winshield, posts and mirror]]--> [[Image:1950 Jaguar XK120 34.jpg|right|thumb|320px|1950 [[Jaguar XK120]] Roadster]] {{Otheruses4|the car body style|}} '''Roadster''' is the [[North America]]n term ('''[[spyder]]''' in [[England]]) used for a 2-seater lightweight car without a permanent top. The term was also used for a light [[carriage]], synonymous with "buggy". Even with the soft top [[convertible]] raised and deflecting "windows" (if existing) snapped in, the driver and passenger remain somewhat exposed to the elements. "Convertible" is an abbreviation of "convertible [[coupe]]" or "convertible [[sedan]]" which in 1920s-30s parlance indicated that the top of the car can "convert" the car from a car with the passenger habitacle covered into a car without having the passenger habitacle covered, transforming vehicle into a "cabrio". Thus, the term is used for describing also vehicles with more that two seats for which the roof can transform the general aspect of the car from coupe / sedan into a "cabriolet". Most modern day production roadsters do not meet all of the above criteria. Here, the use of the name "roadster" is more of a [[marketing]] gimmick than a technical label, recalling the feeling of an open-top machine for enjoyment, like those of the past. ===Old roadsters=== [[Image:1932 Duesenberg J Murphy coupe convertible.jpg|left|thumb|280px|1932 Duesenberg J Murphy-bodied roadster -- "It's a Duesy"]] Traditionally, roadster bodies were used on anything from a [[Ford Model T]] to a [[Cadillac V-16]]. It was a body style favored by those who preferred enjoyment to practicality. Roadster-bodied cars are popular with collectors, and are often valued higher than even other open styles. ===Hot Rod Roadsters=== The American [[Hot rod]] is largely based on Ford roadsters and coupes. Late Model T Fords, and 1932 Fords are by far the most popular starting points. ===Modern roadsters=== The roadster name experienced a resurgence in [[1989]] with the introduction of the [[Mazda Miata|Mazda Miata/MX-5]]. Though not roadsters in the traditional sense because their tops were permanently attached, not removeable, many manufacturers today offer "roadsters." They can be described as "[[convertible]] [[sports car]]s" because they stress driving rather than practicality. Like sports cars, modern roadsters are 2-seaters. Originating in [[Italy]], the term '''Spider''' described a fast, very agile two-wheeled [[chariot]] used in antiquity by the [[Roman army]] for short, quick interventions. It was commonly towed by several [[horses]] (See [[Gladiator (film)]]). In [[England]], the word was spelled with a "y" instead of an "i" to avoid association with [[spiders]] ([[arachnids]]), becoming "Spyder". This also preserved the original pronunciation of the word in English. ==Notable roadsters== ===Modern=== [[Image:Mercedes SL55 R230.jpg|right|thumb|250px| [[Mercedes-Benz]] SL65 [[Mercedes-AMG|AMG]] ([[Mercedes-Benz R230|R230]])]] *[[Audi TT]] (Germany) *[[BMW Z3]]/[[BMW Z4|Z4]]/[[BMW Z8|Z8]] (Germany) *[[Cadillac XLR]] (U.S.A.) *[[Chevrolet Corvette]] (U.S.A.) *[[Chrysler Crossfire]] (U.S.A.) *[[Daihatsu Copen]] (Japan) *[[De La Chapelle|DeLaChapelle Roadster]] (France) *[[Dodge Viper]] RT/10 (U.S.A.) (a "true" roadster with a very basic top, no windows, and no external door handles) *[[Fiat Barchetta]] (Italy) *[[Honda S2000]] (Japan) *[[Honda CR-X del Sol|Honda del Sol]] (Japan) *[[Lamborghini Murcielago]] Roadster(Italy) (a "true" roadster with a very basic top) *[[Lotus Elise]] (U.K.) *[[Mazda Miata]] (Japan) *[[Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class|Mercedes SLK]] (Germany) *[[MG F|MG F/TF]] (U.K.) *[[Morgan Roadster]] (U.K.) *[[Nissan 350Z|Nissan FairLady Z]] (Japan) *[[Opel GT]] (Germany) *[[Pontiac Solstice]] (U.S.A.) *[[Panoz Esperante]] (U.S.A.) *[[Porsche Boxster]]/[[Porsche 997|911 Carrera S Cabriolet]] (Germany) *[[Plymouth Prowler]] (U.S.A) *[[Saturn Sky]] (U.S.A.) *[[Smart Roadster|Smart Roadster/Roadster-Coupe]] (Germany) *[[Suzuki Cappuccino]] (Japan) *[[TD2000]] (M'sia) *[[Tesla Roadster]] (U.S.A.) *[[Toyota MR-S]] (Japan) *[[Opel Tigra|Vauxhall Tigra TwinTop]] (U.K.) *[[Venturi Fétish]] (France) ===Classic=== * [[AC Cars|AC]] [[AC Ace|Ace]], [[AC Cobra|Cobra]] (England) * [[Alfa Romeo Spider]] (Italy) * [[Austin-Healey]] [[Austin-Healey 100|100]], [[Austin-Healey 3000|3000]], [[Austin-Healey Sprite|Sprite]] (England) * [[Duesenberg]] (USA) * [[Fiat]] [[Fiat 124 Sport Spider|124 Sport Spider]], [[Fiat Dino|Dino]] Spider (Italy) * [[Ferrari]] [[Ferrari 275|275 GTS]], [[Ferrari 330|330 GTS]] (Italy) * [[Jaguar E Type]] (England) * [[Lotus Cars|Lotus]] [[Lotus Seven|Seven]], [[Lotus Elan|Elan]] (England) * [[Mercedes-Benz]] [[Mercedes-Benz SL-Class|SL-Class]]: [[Mercedes-Benz 300SL|300SL]], [[Mercedes-Benz W113|230/250/280 SL]] (Germany) * [[MG (car)|MG]] [[MG MGA|MGA]], [[MG MGB|MGB]], [[MG MGC|MGC]], [[MG T|T]], [[MG M|M]], [[MG P|P]] (England) * [[Porsche]] [[Porsche 550|550 Spyder]], [[Porsche 914|914]] (Germany) * [[Triumph Motor Company|Triumph]] [[Triumph Spitfire|Spitfire]], [[Triumph TR4|TR4]], [[Triumph TR250|TR250]], [[Triumph TR6|TR6]] (England) * [[TVR]] [[TVR 3000S|3000S]] (England) * [[Wiesmann]] [[Wiesmann#MF_30|MF 30]] (Germany) <!-- please put some classic roadster models here, someone--> ===Gallery=== <gallery> Image:Alfa romeo spider serie4 open.jpg|[[Alfa Romeo Spider]] (1992) Image:Audi.tt.arp.750pix.jpg|Audi TT Roadster Image:Bmwz8.JPG|BMW Z8 (2001) Image:BMW Z3 black vl.jpg|BMW Z3 Image:Bmwz4.JPG|BMW Z4 Roadster Image:Cadillac XLR 2006.jpg|Cadillac XLR (2004) Image:Chrysler Crossfire Cabrio black vr.jpg|Chrysler Crossfire Image:Fiat Barchetta black hl.jpg|Fiat Barchetta Image:Honda S2000 1.JPG|Honda S2000 Image:2006 Mazda MX-5.jpg|Mazda MX-5/Miata (2007) Image:Mercedes_SL55_R230.jpg| [[Mercedes-Benz]] SL65 Image:Mercedes-Benz-SLK-350.jpg| [[Mercedes-Benz]] SLK350 Image:2006 Pontiac Solstice side.jpg|Pontiac Solstice (2006) <!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Saturn Sky.jpg|Saturn Sky (2007) --> Image:Boxster model 2002.jpg|Porsche Boxster (2002) Image:TeslaRoadster-front.jpg|[[Tesla Roadster]] (2007) Image:My_TD_10.jpg|[[TD2000]] Silverstone (2003) </gallery> ==See also== * [[Cabriolet]] * [[Convertible]] * [[Coupe roadster]] * [[Hot rod]] * [[Sports car]] * [[Spyder]] * [[Runabout (car)|Runabout]] ==Roadster Pedal Toys== *[http://www.PoweredByPedals.com/ Classic Reproductions of 1932 Ford Roadsters and other Vintage Pedal Car models] ==References== {{Unreferenced|date=February 2007}} [[Category:Roadsters| ]] [[Category:Car classifications]] [[Category:Car body styles]] [[bg:Роудстър]] [[de:Roadster]] [[es:descapotable]] [[fr:Roadster (automobile)]] [[ko:로드스터]] [[it:Roadster]] [[nl:Roadster]] [[id:Roadster]] [[ja:ロードスター]] [[no:Roadster]] [[pl:Roadster]] [[pt:Roadster]] [[ru:Родстер]] [[fi:Roadster]] [[sv:Roadster]] [[tr:Roadster]]