What's the history of folding tin tops?

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Mon 25 Oct 2004 15:45
What's the history of folding tin tops? - Chad.R
Who made the first proper automatic folding metal roof ?
When I say proper, I mean like in the Mercedes Benz SLK and (latest) SL, not like the automatic "targa" roofed Honda CRX of the early-mid nineties.

I vaguely recall seeing some American cars of the Fifties/Sixties that had folding roof sections which would be automatically stored in the boot....???

In recent years, MB seems to have been first with the SLK and secondly with the SL, though lately both the Pug 206CC and 307CC along with Renault's new Megane Cabrio have got in on the act.

What the definitive answer?

Chad.
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Mon 25 Oct 2004 17:06
What's the history of folding tin tops? - Stuartli
My guess would be Karmann of Osnabrück, which has specialised in this field for many years for VW, Mercedes etc:

Its roof development story is at:

www.karmann.com/__C1256DF700512B86.nsf/html/en_400...l
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Mon 25 Oct 2004 18:53
What's the history of folding tin tops? - Chad.R
Thanks for the link - interesting reading.
The correct term, that eluded me, for this type of roof seems to be "retractable hard top".

Chad.
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Mon 25 Oct 2004 19:46
What's the history of folding tin tops? - DavidHM
Peugeot, surprisingly, with the 402 Eclipse of 1937.

Naturally they made a great play of this. In terms of 50s cars, apparently they made a 1958 Corvette prototype with one (although I only know about this through googling now) and there was also the 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner.
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