What Is the Oldest Convertible?

The oldest convertible, if you mean the earliest automobile designed with a roof that could be raised and lowered, dates to the mid‑1890s when motorcars adopted carriage-style folding soft tops; notable early examples include late‑1890s Panhard et Levassor, Daimler, Benz, and Peugeot phaetons. If you mean the first power-operated retractable hardtop—the modern archetype of a convertible—it is widely credited to the 1934 Peugeot 601 Eclipse designed by Georges Paulin. This distinction matters because many of the very first cars had no roof at all and thus weren’t “convertible” in the strict, changeable-roof sense.

Why the Answer Depends on Definition

“Convertible” commonly refers to a car with a roof that can be converted—folded or retracted—to open-air motoring and then restored for weather protection. Early automobiles blurred the line because most were open by default, while some adopted carriage-derived folding canopies. As the term evolved, a stricter notion emerged: a body engineered for repeated transition between closed and open configurations, culminating in powered retractable systems.

The Two Key Milestones

1) The earliest folding soft-top automobiles (1890s)

By the mid- to late-1890s, several manufacturers were fitting motorized phaetons and victorias with folding canvas tops very similar to horse-drawn carriages. Surviving period photos, museum examples, and manufacturer records show this practice was widespread among premium European marques.

• Peugeot (late 1890s): Double-phaeton and vis‑à‑vis models offered carriage-style folding tops; examples from the Type 15/19 era are documented in collections such as L’Aventure Peugeot.
• Panhard et Levassor (late 1890s): Touring bodies built with coachbuilders routinely featured foldable canopies and side curtains.
• Daimler and Benz (mid/late 1890s): Early victorias and phaetons could be specified with folding weather gear, a direct carryover from carriage practice; museum cars illustrate these fittings.
• Early 1900s mainstream: By the 1900s, touring cars and runabouts (e.g., 1903 Ford Model A, later the Ford Model T) commonly offered folding soft tops, normalizing the convertible concept.

Taken together, these examples show that the “oldest convertibles” in functional terms appeared in the 1890s as soon as coachbuilt bodies migrated from horses to horseless carriages.

2) The first power retractable hardtop (1934)

While soft-top convertibles came first, the earliest known production car with a power-operated retractable hardtop is the 1934 Peugeot 601 Eclipse. Designed by dentist-turned-stylist Georges Paulin and built by Carrosserie Pourtout, its steel roof folded into the trunk at the touch of a control—decades ahead of mainstream adoption. The concept later inspired mid-century features like the 1957–59 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner in the U.S.

• 1934 Peugeot 601 Eclipse: Generally credited as the first production power retractable hardtop convertible.
• 1930s coachbuilt “Eclipse” derivatives: Additional Peugeot models (e.g., 402 Eclipse) expanded the idea pre‑war.
• 1957–59 Ford Skyliner: First mass-produced power retractable hardtop in the U.S., popularizing the mechanism.

These milestones mark the technological shift from manual fabric tops to integrated, motorized roof systems that define many modern convertibles.

What About Vehicles Older Than Cars?

If the question extends beyond automobiles, the oldest “convertible” vehicles were horse‑drawn cabriolets and landaus with folding tops used in the 18th and 19th centuries. The automotive term “cabriolet” directly descends from this coach type, underscoring that the convertible idea predates powered cars.

How Historians Frame “Oldest Convertible”

Because early motoring wasn’t standardized, historians often contextualize the answer rather than naming a single car. Below is a simple way experts categorize “oldest” depending on the criteria you choose.

1. Oldest motor vehicle with a folding top concept: 18th–19th century horse‑drawn cabriolets/landaus.
2. Oldest automobiles with folding soft tops: Coachbuilt phaetons/victorias of the mid‑to‑late 1890s (Peugeot, Panhard et Levassor, Daimler, Benz).
3. Oldest power retractable hardtop convertible: 1934 Peugeot 601 Eclipse (Georges Paulin/Pourtout).
4. Oldest widely mass‑market soft‑top convertibles: Early 1900s touring/roadster bodies, later popularized by cars like the Ford Model T’s touring and runabout variants.

This framework lets you pinpoint an “oldest” example that fits the specific meaning—conceptual origin, soft‑top execution, or technological firsts in retractable hardtops.

Practical Note for Collectors and Enthusiasts

For those seeking the oldest convertible they might see driving, events such as the Royal Automobile Club’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (for pre‑1905 cars) regularly feature late‑1890s and early‑1900s vehicles with period-correct folding canopies. Availability, provenance, and roadworthiness vary by example and restoration history.

Bottom Line

If you mean the earliest cars with roofs that could be raised and lowered, look to the 1890s coachbuilt phaetons and victorias from Peugeot, Panhard et Levassor, Daimler, and Benz. If you mean the first power-operated retractable hardtop—the modern template—the honor goes to the 1934 Peugeot 601 Eclipse.

Summary

The notion of a convertible predates the automobile in carriage design. In cars, folding soft tops appeared by the mid‑1890s on European phaetons, making these the oldest practical convertibles. The first power retractable hardtop, defining the modern convertible mechanism, arrived with the 1934 Peugeot 601 Eclipse. Your definition—soft‑top origins versus powered hardtop innovation—determines which “oldest” convertible you cite.

What was the first convertible car?

The Peugeot 401 Éclipse of 1934 is considered the first convertible with a power-operated, retractable hardtop, a design pioneered by Georges Paulin that became a blueprint for modern convertibles. While earlier cars were often open-air by default, the Éclipse was a luxury vehicle that showcased a fully automatic, self-storing roof, predating other retractable hardtops by over 20 years.
 
Key Points:

• Georges Paulin and the Eclipse Technology: French dentist Georges Paulin developed the concept of a retractable hardtop that could be completely concealed within the car’s body. 
• First Production Model: Paulin’s design was implemented on the Peugeot 401 Éclipse in 1934, creating a new luxury segment. The technology was later refined and patented in the 1935 Peugeot 402 Éclipse. 
• Technical Innovations: The system featured an electrically operated, one-piece folding roof that disappeared behind the rear seats into a space created by a reverse-opening rear deck. 
• Foundation for the Future: The Eclipse’s innovative roof design laid the foundation for subsequent convertible models and was followed by American production cars like the 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner with similar technology. 

Early Automóviles were Open-Air: 

• Before the development of the retractable hardtop, most early automobiles were open-air vehicles without roofs or windows.
• However, by the 1920s, closed-body cars like sedans became the industry standard, making the convertible a more niche and luxurious option.

What is the best convertible car of all time?

The best convertibles of all time

• Ferrari F50.
• McLaren 12C Spyder.
• Honda S2000.
• AC Cobra.
• MGB.
• Porsche Boxster.
• Mazda MX-5 ND. You could make a case for each of the four generations of Mazda MX-5.
• Lotus Elan. When Gordon Murray set out to build the McLaren F1, what car do you reckon he benchmarked against?

What were the convertible cars in the 70s?

Popular 1970s convertibles included both iconic American muscle cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, and Chevrolet Chevelle, and European sports cars such as the MGB Roadster, Fiat 124 Spider, and Porsche 911. Other notable models were the Alfa Romeo Spider, TVR 3000S, and Triumph TR6.
 
American Convertibles

• Chevrolet Corvette (C3): Opens in new tabA recognizable sports car that remained a popular open-top option throughout the 70s. 
• Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda: Opens in new tabA rare and collectible muscle car convertible, particularly the 1971 model. 
• Chevrolet Chevelle Convertible: Opens in new tabOffered a powerful and stylish driving experience with its open-top configuration. 
• Other Muscle Cars: Opens in new tabModels like the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang Mach 1, and Pontiac Firebird Trans Am also had convertible variants available. 

European Convertibles

• MGB Roadster: A highly successful British sports car and the world’s best-selling open-top car for a long time. 
• Fiat 124 Spider: Another popular choice for those seeking a traditional sports car experience. 
• Porsche 911 and SL: Iconic European roadsters that continued to be popular throughout the decade. 
• Alfa Romeo Spider: A classic Italian convertible known for its sporty design. 
• TVR 3000S: A high-performance British sports car featured on lists of top 70s convertibles. 
• Triumph TR6: A well-regarded British roadster that was a common sight in the 70s. 
• Morgan 4/4 and Jensen-Healey: Other European offerings that provided a classic driving experience. 

Why are convertibles no longer made?

“… Reasons for the decline of convertibles include practicality, durability, cost increases, and new panoramic sunroofs and glass tops, according to experts. Automakers are also investing capital in off-road models and electric vehicles.