Roadster (automobile) 11 Roadster (automobile) AA roadster is an open (without a fixed roof or side weather protection) two-seat car with emphasis on sporty handling. While roadsters often have soft-tops, retractable hard-tops are becoming more common. Triumph TR3A, a traditional roadster Design history In 1916, the Society of Automobile Engineers defined a roadster as: "an open car seating two or three. It may have additional seats on running boards or in rear deck." Additional seating in the rear deck was known as a rumble seat or a dickey seat. A roadster is still defined as an open car with two seats. Roadster bodies were offered on automobiles of all sizes and classes, from mass market cars like the Ford Model T and the Austin 7 to extremely expensive cars like the Cadillac V-16, the Duesenberg Model J, and even the Bugatti Royale. They are popular with Early roadster competing for the Vanderbilt Cup citation needed collectors, often valued over other open styles.[[ ]] Traditional roadsters Specifications of a Stearns 45 roadster Roadster (automobile) 2 1926 Ford Model T roadster 1932 Duesenberg J Murphy-bodied roadster Esders Roadster body on a replica Bugatti Royale chassis 1949 MG TC Roadster (automobile) 3 Traditionally, roadsters did not have windows; in some instances, they did not have doors. A few manufacturers and fabricators still offer roadsters that meet the strict description. These include Morgan, with the windowless Roadster, Caterham, with the doorless Seven, and Ariel, with the bodyless Atom. Despite these examples, the traditional roadster has been superseded by two-seat convertibles with side windows that retract into the doors. These convertibles, including the Alfa Romeo Spider, MGB, and Triumph TR4, have been accepted as roadsters. The term [citation "roadster" now covers all two-seat convertibles, including those with power tops or retractable hardtops. needed ] Modern roadsters 1973 MGB Alfa Romeo Spider BMW Z1 limited production roadster Roadster (automobile) 4 First generation Mazda MX-5 A 2001 BMW Z3 2.5i Roadster Honda S2000 Roadster Third generation Mazda MX-5 with power retractable hard top (PRHT) Roadster (automobile) 5 Hot rod roadsters The American hot rod is based on pre-World War II roadsters and coupes. Late run Model Ts and 1932 Fords were the most popular starting points. Championship race cars The term roadster applies to front-engined AAA/USAC Championship Cars, associated with the Indianapolis 500. The Roadster engine and drive shaft are offset from the centerline of the car. This allows the driver to sit lower in the chassis thus facilitating a Hot rod based on a Ford Model A roadster weight offset which is beneficial on oval tracks. A mechanic might ride beside the driver. One story of why this type of racing car is referred to as a "roadster" is that a team was preparing a new car for the Indianapolis 500. They had it covered in a corner of their shop. If they were asked about their car they would try and obscure its importance by saying that it was just their (hot rod) "roadster". After the Indianapolis racer was made public, the "roadster" name was still attached to it. Frank Kurtis built the first roadster to race the 1952 Indianapolis 500. It was driven by Bill Vukovich who led for most of the race until a steering failure eliminated him. The Kurtis team went on to win the 1957 Kurtis Indy Roadster 1953 and 1954 contests with the same car. A. J. Watson and Quinn Epperly were other notable Roadster constructors. Roadsters had disappeared from competition by the end of the 1960s, after the introduction, and subsequent domination, of rear-engined machines. The last roadster to make the race was built and driven by Jim Hurtubise in the 1968 race and dropped out early. Hurtubise attempted to run the same car in 1969 but, while making his qualifying run at a very good speed, the engine failed on the last of the four laps. The car was entered many times after that but was never seriously considered fast enough to start. Some pavement midgets were built and raced into the early 1970s but never were dominant. References Article Sources and Contributors 6 Article Sources and Contributors Roadster (automobile) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=564747867 Contributors: -oo0(GoldTrader)0oo-, Ahoerstemeier, Alvis, Andrewman327, Anuran, Arrivisto, Atomic Bird, AyrtonSenna, BMT, Bigmac3, Bilbo1507, Blucky87, Bluedawe, CBM, Caleb999999999, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Cbustapeck, Chasingsol, Cookietoad, Corumplex, Crazyvas, CsDix, Cvik, DH85868993, DeLarge, DeansFA, Dennis Bratland, Dereckson, Dino246, DocWatson42, Doctor Whom, Doctorindy, EdBever, Eddaido, Epbr123, Epinheiro, Fang Aili, Fbarw, Flamejob, Fratrep, Furrykef, GTHO, Garglebutt, Greatersam, Grouchy Chris, H falcon, HaeB, Hotrodmac, Hugecolin, Icairns, JHP, Jake Wartenberg, Jamiecole, Jeffreyhermann, Jovianeye, Just zis Guy, you know?, Kazvorpal, Kompadmin, Kopper, Kruldeath, Kslays, Langermannia, Lavenderbunny, Leviel, LifestyleAuto, Liftarn, Loonymonkey, Magioladitis, Malcolma, Mani260580, Marc NL, Martyman, Matthiaspaul, Maxlor, McSly, MegX, Milkmandan, Miracle Pen, Moebiusuibeom-en, Montanabw, Morven, MurfleMan, Myrtlegroggins, NaBUru38, Nativeborncal, Nopetro, OSX, PamD, Patstuart, Pavvolio, Peter Isotalo, Peugeotfan, Pil56, Porsche997SBS, RNLion, Raymar2k, Reinthal, Rumbin, Sadads, SamBlob, SamH, Scott Paeth, Sennen goroshi, Sevesteen, Sfoskett, Skb8721, Sunsinkola, Sylblican, TFCforever, THF, Tainted spinach, TedE, TheHeat3, Tillman, Titoxd, Toddst1, TorstenGuise, Treybien, TrueRhino, Typ932, Wikiuser100, Zach4636, Zahn, Zunaid, Александър, 176 anonymous edits Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors File:Triumph TR3 red Triumph Rijders 2007.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Triumph_TR3_red_Triumph_Rijders_2007.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Contributors: Petr Kadlec File:1909 Vanderbilt Cup, American roadster.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1909_Vanderbilt_Cup,_American_roadster.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Bain News Service, publisher File:Steranstouring1908.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Steranstouring1908.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader was Stude62 at en.wikipedia File:Fire Chief's Model T.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Fire_Chief's_Model_T.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: Don O'Brien File:1932 Duesenberg J Murphy coupe convertible.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1932_Duesenberg_J_Murphy_coupe_convertible.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors: Chief tin cloud, Infrogmation, Sfoskett File:Royale Esders Roadster type 41 (1930slash1990) pic2.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Royale_Esders_Roadster_type_41_(1930slash1990)_pic2.JPG License: Creative Commons Zero Contributors: AlfvanBeem File:1949MGTCMidget.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1949MGTCMidget.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: dave_7 File:'73 MG MGB Roadster (Hudson).JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:'73_MG_MGB_Roadster_(Hudson).JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Bull-Doser File:Alfa Romeo Spider front 20110410.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Alfa_Romeo_Spider_front_20110410.jpg License: Attribution Contributors: Rudolf Stricker File:BMWZ1.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:BMWZ1.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors: Karrmann File:1993-1997 Mazda MX-5 (NA Series 2) hard top (2011-06-15) 01.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1993-1997_Mazda_MX-5_(NA_Series_2)_hardtop_(2011-06-15)_01.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: OSX File:2001 BMW Z3 2.5i topaz blue.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:2001_BMW_Z3_2.5i_topaz_blue.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Sunsinkola File:HondaS2000-004.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HondaS2000-004.jpg License: Attribution Contributors: Rich Niewiroski Jr. File:2011 Mazda MX-5 PRHT -- 04-28-2011 front.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:2011_Mazda_MX-5_PRHT_--_04-28-2011_front.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: IFCAR File:1928-29 Ford Model A Roadster Hot Rod.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1928-29_Ford_Model_A_Roadster_Hot_Rod.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: Sicnag File:Kurtis Indy Roadster Donington pits.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kurtis_Indy_Roadster_Donington_pits.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 Contributors: John Chapman (Pyrope) License Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ .