Roadster/ Convertible

[Joe C.]

Every time that I refer to my 1965 Corvette as a "roadster" I cringe, because I know that it is improper. Most of us know that true roadsters never had glass side windows. Real postwar roadsters (MG TC/TD et. al.) rather, had side curtains which were battened down just like those in boats. The only true Corvette roadsters were 1953-55 models. All later iterations were convertibles.
So, why do we, who are so obsessed with "correctness", continue to refer to our post '55 cars as roadsters.

Joe

[Roy B.]

Re: Roadster/ Convertible

It's hard for old dogs to learn new words and young pups listen to the old dogs.You must be a new breed ?

[Chuck S.]

Re: Roadster/ Convertible

Ah, roadsters...I think Corvette owners persist in using "roadster" to describe a convertible because it is a romantic term...it brings back a time when men were men, roadsters had jump seats, college boys wore fur coats, flappers were loose, and drinks were sneaked. At least that's what my grandpappy said.

[Joe C.]

Sometimes It's Refreshing To.......

......shake the trees, and see what falls out.

Do you still refer to bars as "saloons"?
Do you still call a refrigerator an "ice box"?
Do you still display the Flag with 48 stars in the field?
Do you still wear goggles when you drive the Tin Lizzie to Church on Sunday?
Do you still have to stop every mile to squirt some oil on the rocker arms?
Do you still call root beer "sasparilla"?
Do you still.....

[Jack W.]

Re: Sometimes It's Refreshing To.......

hey Joe, I bet you still say that you "dial" someone's phone number - what, you don't have pusbutton phones at your house?

do you say "hand me the clicker" when referring to the remote? Do you mean to tell me you still have an old Zenith with a remote that actually "clicks"?

speaking of TVs, do you still refer to channel surfing as "cruising around the dial" looking for a show?

I'm all of 41 but I still say these things, and more . . . (but I have never said "pop" for soda, even when I lived furhter west than Ohio, the line of demarcation on that)

[Mike M.]

Re: Roadster/ Convertible

to add confusion to the roadster/convertible issue, how about calling the 56 up vettes(non coupes) cabriolets, a term that describes them as accurtatly as convertibles. in 1931, if you went down to the local chevy dealer and wanted a drop-top 2 door chevy, a roadster(no roll-up windows) and a cabriolet(roll-up windows in the doors) was available. mike

[Wayne K.]

[Nicholas L.]

Re: Sometimes It's Refreshing To.......

if you live in Massachusetts, soda is called tonic. My mother-in-law still refers to station wagons as beach wagons.

[Joe C.]

Re: According to....

I like open air pleasures, too. Unfortunately, it's much harder to do it in a "roadster", and easier in a "cabriolet". I.E.: YOU NEED A BACK SEAT!

Joe

[Mike M.]

Re: According to....

joe: most all roadsters(Pre 1940) had rumble seats as did most pre 1940 cabriolets. I've never done it in a rumbleseat but my ole 31 cabriolet could handle doing it by midgets only. regards, mike

[Joe C.]

Re: Sometimes It's Refreshing To.......

OK Jack, now you really hurt me, and really gettin' much too personal!! Why, I feel like takin' a road trip up to them Connecticut hills an' give you somthin' that no amount of Sloan's Linement can fix.
Push button phone? No, but I do have to wind it up to charge it before I place a call. Call me at NOrthside-5555 if you don't believe me. Sorry, no clicker, but the DuMont only gets 3 stations, what with them rabbit ear antenners.

PS: I used to live in New Fairfield, CT. Is that in your neck of the woods?

PPS: Sounds like you have a nice car. Especially the part about "327/365SHP".

Joe

[Joe C.]

Re: According to....

Oh yeah!!

Saloon (s&-lun') Merriam Webster N: 1) .............................2) Br. a parlor car; SEDAN (a 2 or 4 door automobile seating 4 or more persons, and usually having a permanent top).

So there!

Joe

[Chuck S.]

After Date Dessert...

Mike, the all time champion cars for the drive-in had to be mid-fifties Oldsmobiles...that front seat was wide enough to lay out straight (if you were a little short) and use the arm rest for a pillow! But, too bad, ole grandpappy's Oldsmobile ain't gonna be comin' back unless you build one for yourself from rusted hulks. A 57 2 door HT would be nice...always liked that three-section back glass.

[Wayne K.]

[Wayne K.]

Yeh, the original split window *NM*