Convertibles came into use in America in the 1930s, and were first marketed as 'convertible coupes' or 'convertible sedans'. The former would previously have been called roadsters, and the second tourers. In fact convertibles had better weather protection than roadsters or tourers, with wind-up windows. In England the style was known as a drop-head coupe, and in France and Germany as a cabriolet, though some American makes offered a convertible cabriolet. The four-door, five/six-passenger convertible sedan was virtually extinct by the outbreak of World War II, but the two-door model, also seating five to six people, became the most fashionable American style throughout the 1940s to 1960s. The Cadillac convertible, in particular, was one of the best-known symbols of wealth and success. The American convertible declined in the 1970s, due to safety considerations, and April 21st 1976 was the sad day when the last Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado convertible left the production line. However small companies continued to convert closed cars to special order, and by popular demand by the mid 80s most American companies brought the convertible back into their ranges. In Europe open cars are more often sports cars, but since the 1980s many makers have included convertible or cabriolet versions of popular cars such as the Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 205 GTi, and the Saab 900. Even the Mini is now available in cabriolet form.
