Contributed by Russ Muller Photography
Spring is in the air, and that means many things: Flowers and trees blooming, pollen everywhere, and warm weather. Weather that is, dare I say it, perfect for going topless. No, not that type of topless. I’m talking about top-down cruising in convertibles. Now, get your mind out of the gutter and join me as I take a brief look at three very different drop-top classics, one from each of the Big Three.
1962 Oldsmobile Starfire
The Starfire was Oldsmobile’s personal luxury car, featuring full-size comfort and sporty styling. Bucket seats with leather trim, and console with floor shifter and tachometer were standard equipment, along with brushed aluminum exterior trim, and dual exhaust. The 394 cubic-inch V-8 produced 345 horsepower and 440 
lb.-ft torque, with 10.5:1 compression and a Rochester 4-barrel carburetor. With a base price of $4,740 (roughly $49,000 in 2025 dollars), this particular car features several options; air conditioning ($435), Super deluxe signal seeking radio ($126), power windows ($108), electric clock ($20), and back-up lights ($10). There were 41,988 Starfires made in 1962 of which 7,149 were convertibles, or roughly 17% of the total produced.
1964 Lincoln Continental
The fourth generation Lincoln Continental debuted in 1961. It was the first Lincoln since 1951 with suicide doors, and it was also the first post-WWII four-door convertible from an American car maker. The 430 cubic-inch V-8 produced 320 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft torque and was backed by a three-speed automatic 
transmission. Weighing in at 5,390 pounds, this luxury liner was built for cruising, not racing. Motor Trend road-tested one, seeing 0-60 mph times of 12.1 seconds, and ¼ mile performance of 19.1 seconds @71 mph. With a base price of $6,935, this Continental features optional air conditioning ($505) and an AM/FM radio ($85). There were 36,297 Continentals made in 1964 of which 3,328 were convertibles, or roughly 9% of the total produced.
1971 Dodge Challenger
The first-generation Challenger was introduced in 1969 for the 1970 model year to compete in the upper end of the pony car market against the likes of Pontiac Firebird and Mercury Cougar. Engine options ran the gamut, from the time-tested 225 cubic-inch Slant Six up to the mighty 426 Hemi. This example features the 
383 cubic-inch Magnum V-8, which features 8.5:1 compression to run on regular fuel. It produced 300 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft torque. The dark bronze color makes this Mopar look more upscale than the high-impact colors that were more popular in the day. With a base price of $3,100, this Challenger features optional center console, dual sport mirrors, air conditioning, Rallye wheels and hood pins. There were 27,377 Challengers made in 1971 of which 1,857 were convertibles, or roughly 7% of the total produced. Only 167 were equipped with the 383 Magnum, making this one uncommon Challenger.
The convertible craze was in full swing through the 1960s. From 1962-1966, they accounted for 6% of all new cars sold. By 1971, that number dropped to 2-3%. 1971 was the last year Chrysler made convertibles. Ford stopped after the 1973 model year and GM ended most convertible production in 1975 (Cadillac continued through 1976). Happily, Chrysler reintroduced the convertible in 1982 as part of their K-car line, but not before GM made a drop-top 1982 Buick Riviera available. Ford went topless again in 1983 with the Mustang. Currently, convertibles make up less than 1% of all new car sales…
