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> Roadstser, What qualifies
Elliot_Cannon
post Sep 21 2005, 01:29 PM
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I had this discussion the other day when a friend asked, "What is a roadster"? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) Can anyone tell me what the criteria is for a "roadster"? Where did the term "roadster" originate?
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tdgray
post Sep 21 2005, 01:33 PM
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From the etymology dictionary.

Roadster "open two-seat automobile" is from 1908, earlier of light carriages (1892), originally "a ship lying near the shore" (1744), which is from the nautical sense of "narrow stretch of sheltered water" (c.1320, cf. Hampton Roads in Virginia).
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TravisNeff
post Sep 21 2005, 01:45 PM
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for hot rod terms, I think a roadster is identified as a convertible, with no top at all
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airsix
post Sep 21 2005, 01:49 PM
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Todd has it. Technically it is a two-seat convertible. Boxster, S2000, 914, MR2 Spyder, Miata, Z3, Z4, all roadsters. 911 cab, not a roadster.

-Ben M.
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seanery
post Sep 21 2005, 02:13 PM
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According to Chip Foose, roadster's do NOT have tops, so ya better find that overpass when it starts raining!


I agree with his definition, too.
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airsix
post Sep 21 2005, 02:32 PM
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QUOTE (seanery @ Sep 21 2005, 12:13 PM)
According to Chip Foose, roadster's do NOT have tops, so ya better find that overpass when it starts raining!


I agree with his definition, too.

The definition of roadster was well established before Foose was even born. It was well established before Henry Ford was even born. It described a two-seat buggy with a folding fabric top. Hot rodders have their definition, but it's not universal.

-Ben M.
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airsix
post Sep 21 2005, 02:36 PM
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1911 Marion Torpedo Roadster. Mr. Foose was not around at the time to dispupte the fact that this roadster has a top. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)
(IMG:http://galthistory.org/carshow/2004car/403.JPG)
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airsix
post Sep 21 2005, 02:42 PM
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1896 "Robert Roadster" electric automobile. Notice folding top. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) Foose don't know roadsters.
(IMG:http://info.detnews.com/dn/joyrides/2004/pre00styling/1896roberts.jpg)
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airsix
post Sep 21 2005, 02:49 PM
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1931 "Commander Roadster" (Studebaker)
(IMG:http://www.autogallery.org.ru/k/s/31st8cylPresident4seasonsroadster_LB.jpg)
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tdgray
post Sep 21 2005, 02:56 PM
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WTF would Foose know about roadsters.... He'd porbably just want to put 22" wheels with spinners on it. What a tool (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)
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JWest
post Sep 21 2005, 03:10 PM
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In the early days, manufacturers used names like roadster, phaeton, cabriolet, sedan, coupe, business coupe, victoria, etc. They all meant something, and you could picture the body style just by hearing the name.

The roadster was a two seat convertible without roll-up side windows (they used side curtains). A cabriolet had roll-up windows. A phaeton was a four door version of a roadster (convertible top, no side windows), NOT a sedan as VW now thinks for some stupid reason.
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airsix
post Sep 21 2005, 03:27 PM
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QUOTE (James Adams @ Sep 21 2005, 01:10 PM)
In the early days, manufacturers used names like roadster, phaeton, cabriolet, sedan, coupe, business coupe, victoria, etc. They all meant something, and you could picture the body style just by hearing the name.

Amen. Long live names that actually meant something. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/clap.gif)

-Ben M.

ps -
QUOTE
WTF would Foose know about roadsters

Foose knows a lot! He's read every issue of Car Craft magazine!
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lapuwali
post Sep 21 2005, 03:33 PM
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Actually, all of these terms come from coachs (the horse-drawn variety) long before there were automobiles, and the coachbuilding trade simply kept using the terms after the horses were replaced by engines. After all, most car bodies were made by firms that once made horse-drawn coaches up until WWI.

Roadster = two-seat top goes down, Cabriolet = more than 2 seats, top goes down.

The side-curtains thing didn't enter into it. The MGB is generally considered a roadster, and it has roll-up windows.
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Flat VW
post Sep 21 2005, 03:39 PM
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QUOTE (lapuwali @ Sep 21 2005, 01:33 PM)
Actually, all of these terms come from coachs (the horse-drawn variety) long before there were automobiles, and the coachbuilding trade simply kept using the terms after the horses were replaced by engines.  After all, most car bodies were made by firms that once made horse-drawn coaches up until WWI.

Roadster = two-seat top goes down, Cabriolet = more than 2 seats, top goes down.

The side-curtains thing didn't enter into it.  The MGB is generally considered a roadster, and it has roll-up windows.

Here in Arizona, a 914 is classified by the state as a "roadster" for registration purposes.

John (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif)
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jd74914
post Sep 21 2005, 07:24 PM
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QUOTE (airsix @ Sep 21 2005, 04:27 PM)

ps -
QUOTE
WTF would Foose know about roadsters

Foose knows a lot! He's read every issue of Car Craft magazine!

Yeah, but he would still put 20inch rims on them (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif)
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Cap'n Krusty
post Sep 21 2005, 07:56 PM
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QUOTE (Flat VW @ Sep 21 2005, 01:39 PM)

Here in Arizona, a 914 is classified by the state as a "roadster" for registration purposes.


Same in California. The 356/356A Speedster is a roadster, as is the Convertible D, and the B series Roadsters. The open spyders, too. The 356 through 356C Cabriolet, while nearly identical to the roadsters, with the exception of a padded top and a fixed windshield frame, is a Cabriolet, as are all VW aircooled convertibles.
The Cap'n
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