I had this discussion the other day when a friend asked, "What is a roadster"? Can anyone tell me what the criteria is for a "roadster"? Where did the term "roadster" originate?
Cheers, Elliot

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).

for hot rod terms, I think a roadster is identified as a convertible, with no top at all

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.

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.

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.

1911 Marion Torpedo Roadster. Mr. Foose was not around at the time to dispupte the fact that this roadster has a top.

1896 "Robert Roadster" electric automobile. Notice folding top. Foose don't know roadsters.

1931 "Commander Roadster" (Studebaker)

WTF would Foose know about roadsters.... He'd porbably just want to put 22" wheels with spinners on it. What a tool

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.

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.

-Ben M.

ps -

QUOTE

WTF would Foose know about roadsters

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

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.

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

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

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