convertibles/roadsters
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Sales dropped off. GM was not losing money on convertibles, but eliminating them allowed GM to build only one body style, standardized the production line, and reduced parts cost overhead by not having to purchase and stock pile convertible parts.
In retrospect, the bean counters were correct. Not having a convertible did not affect sales volume.
In retrospect, the bean counters were correct. Not having a convertible did not affect sales volume.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,678
Likes: 3,129
From: Shamong, NJ
The Corvette convertible wasn't alone. All convertibles died, or were killed off, in the mid 70's.
The higher cost to build convertibles, and the low sales volume for them, definitely was a contributing factor.
The popularity of T-top equipped cars, also contributed to the death of convertibles. Just about everything was available in T-top form in the 70's. Mustangs, Firebirds, Monte Carlos, Cutlasses, and many others, were all available with T-tops. T-tops offered better protection from the weather, were warmer, and cheaper to buy. They cost less to insure, than a convertible also.
The growing popularity of sunroofs, probably didn't help the sales of convertibles either. Though usually the cheaper popup type, sunroofs started to become available in more cars, and not just the high end luxury brands.
Finally, there were rollover regulations coming from the Federal Government, that convertibles could never meet. I think in the end, convertibles were made exempt from the regs, but by then, manufacturers had already decided to abandon convertibles.
The higher cost to build convertibles, and the low sales volume for them, definitely was a contributing factor.
The popularity of T-top equipped cars, also contributed to the death of convertibles. Just about everything was available in T-top form in the 70's. Mustangs, Firebirds, Monte Carlos, Cutlasses, and many others, were all available with T-tops. T-tops offered better protection from the weather, were warmer, and cheaper to buy. They cost less to insure, than a convertible also.
The growing popularity of sunroofs, probably didn't help the sales of convertibles either. Though usually the cheaper popup type, sunroofs started to become available in more cars, and not just the high end luxury brands.
Finally, there were rollover regulations coming from the Federal Government, that convertibles could never meet. I think in the end, convertibles were made exempt from the regs, but by then, manufacturers had already decided to abandon convertibles.
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
While on this topic, it is vert interesting to note that near the death of the convertible (1974 and 1975) those cars were actually cheaper to buy than a coupe. It has totally reversed now a days, where convertibles bring more money than coupes. GM was trying to lure people in to buy the verts with a cheaper price but I guess it did not work. Interesting enough, back in the 60's with the C2 corvettes, the convertible outsold the coupe most years. It is how times change.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Price is set by supply and demand.
In the case of Corvettes, it wasn't that convertibles went out of favor, in a generic sense, it's that T-tops were new, and buyers considered them the best of both worlds, therefore they demanded a premium. If you look at other brands, ones that did not have a removable top, the convertibles were still more desirable, and demanded a cost premium.
1972 C3 Corvette Prices
Sports Coupe: $5533.00
Convertible: $5296.00
1972 Mustang prices, Eight Cylinder Models:
2dr Hardtop: $2,766.00
2dr Sports Roof: $2,823.00
Convertible: $3,051.00
Hardtop Grande: $2,952.00
Mach 1 Sports Roof: $3,003.00
In the case of Corvettes, it wasn't that convertibles went out of favor, in a generic sense, it's that T-tops were new, and buyers considered them the best of both worlds, therefore they demanded a premium. If you look at other brands, ones that did not have a removable top, the convertibles were still more desirable, and demanded a cost premium.
1972 C3 Corvette Prices
Sports Coupe: $5533.00
Convertible: $5296.00
1972 Mustang prices, Eight Cylinder Models:
2dr Hardtop: $2,766.00
2dr Sports Roof: $2,823.00
Convertible: $3,051.00
Hardtop Grande: $2,952.00
Mach 1 Sports Roof: $3,003.00
