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A retractable hardtop, also known as ''coupé convertible'' or ''coupé cabriolet'', employs an automatically operated, multi-part, self-storing hardtop in lieu of a folding textile-based roof. American Ben P. Ellerbeck created the first practical retractable hardtop prototype in 1922 — a manually operated system on a Hudson coupe that never went into production. The first French version was the Georges Paulin designed 1934 Peugeot ''601 Éclipse'' Advances in electronics, hydraulics, and weatherproofing materials have made the modern retractable hardtop increasingly popular. Ease, enclosed car quality climate control with the top up, improved crash resistance, and passenger compartment storage security are traded off against increased mechanical complexity and expense and, more often than not, reduced luggage capacity. A 2006 ''New York Times'' article suggested the retractable hardtop may herald the demise of the textile-roofed convertible, and a 2007 ''Wall Street Journal'' article suggested "more and more convertibles are eschewing soft cloth tops in favor of sophisticated folding metal roofs, making them practical in all climates, year-round." == History == 1922 Ben P. Ellerbeck conceived the first practical retractable hardtop in 1922 – a manually operated system on a Hudson coupe that allowed unimpeded use of the rumble seat even with the top down – but never saw production. 1935 Peugeot introduced the first production, power-operated retractable hardtop in 1935, the 402 Éclipse Décapotable,〔 designed and patented by Georges Paulin.〔 The French coachbuilder, Marcel Pourtout, custom-built other examples of Paulin's designs on a larger Peugeot chassis as well.〔 The first Eclipse 402s offered a power-retractable top, but in 1936 was replaced by a manually operated version on a stretched chassis, built in limited numbers until World War II.〔 1941 Chrysler introduced a retractable hardtop concept car, the Chrysler Thunderbolt.〔 1953 Ford Motor Company spent an estimated US$2 million (US$ in dollars) to engineer a Continental Mark II with a servo-operated retractable roof. The project was headed by Ben Smith, a 30-year-old draftsman. The concept was rejected for cost and marketing reasons.〔 1955 Brothers Ed and Jim Gaylord showed their first prototype at the 1955 Paris motor show, but the car failed to reach production. 1957 Ford introduced the Skyliner in the United States. A total of 48,394 were built from 1957 to 1959.〔 The retractable top was noted for its complexity and usually decent reliability in the pre-transistor era. Its mechanism contained 10 power relays, 10 limit switches, four lock motors, three drive motors, eight circuit breakers, as well as of electrical wire,〔 and could raise or lower the top in about 40 seconds. The Skyliner was a halo car with little luggage space (i.e., practicality), and cost twice that of a baseline Ford sedan. 1989 Toyota introduced a modern retractable hardtop, the MZ20 Soarer Aerocabin. The car featured an electric folding hardtop and was marketed as a 2-seater with a cargo area behind the front seats. Production was 500 units. 1995 The Mitsubishi GTO Spyder by ASC was marketed in the U.S.〔 The design was further popularized by such cars as the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SLK.〔 and 2001 Peugeot 206 CC. 2006 Peugeot presented a concept four-door retractable hardtop convertible, the Peugeot 407 Macarena.〔 (【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Edmunds, 01-28-2006 )〕 Produced by French coachbuilding specialist Heuliez, the Macarena's top can be folded in about 30 seconds.〔 It has a reinforcing beam behind the front seats which incorporates LCD screens into the crossmember for the rear passengers.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Retractable hardtop」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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