compare nsx to musclecar convertible experience

[huckster]

love the nsx---wanted to know about vintage musclecar convertible experience, price ranges, do and donts. the nsx targa isnt very 'open cockpit' feeling compared to a bigger convertible. now thinking about building a bigger garage

any comments from those who've travelled this road??

which cars would you look at? which would you stay away from?

im thinking gto, chevelle, maybe camaro---what do you suggest?

 

[mikec]

I've had a 59 Ford Galaxy sunliner conv., a 66 Pontiac Bonniville 2+2 conv. and ridden in a BMW 325 conv. and a Nissan pulsar T top.

In my opinion:

The NSX-T is not a convertable, but its way better than a sunroof or T-top.

There is nothing in the convertable field like the big boats of yesteryear. Huge wide open interior, full back seat, full trunk, and a top that folds neatly into the body. Lots of sunshine everywhere.

The BMW is close, but the top makes for a small cramped back seat and small trunk.

T-tops just don't give the convertable feel, and I hear that squeaks and leaks are common.


Sunroof? I usually keep mine closed!


And, I usualy keep my top off of the NSX.

The NSX-T is not a conv. but its the next best thing. The rear window does block out some sun and givs a smaller tighter feel.. but its nice to put the windows up even when its cool out and be comfortable. Not much wind noise either.

My next car will probably be a retractable hard top.



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keep the shiny side up
MikeC 01 #46

 

[McAttack]

Originally posted by huckster:
love the nsx---wanted to know about vintage musclecar convertible experience, price ranges, do and donts. the nsx targa isnt very 'open cockpit' feeling compared to a bigger convertible. now thinking about building a bigger garage

any comments from those who've travelled this road??

which cars would you look at? which would you stay away from?

im thinking gto, chevelle, maybe camaro---what do you suggest?

I used to have a '65 Corvette. Red on red w/ a black soft top. I also had the original red hard top along with the factory side pipes and covers. What was really cool given it was built in 1965 were the futuristic head lights which "flipped" almost 180' open, not up like the NSX. Mine was a matching ## 396 big block w/425HP and gobs of torque. If you want a muscle car convertible, NOTHING beats this car. Not sure of your $$$ but a small block nonmatching #, in need of a paint job and soft top replacement with a SOUND drivetrain would be the most $$$ reasonable and best way to go. BTW the fact that it's a 2 seater also added to it.

Finally, driving wise it's a completely different experience. The steering wheel was like a truck's (which also described the ride). I got a bit nervous if I went over 80 in it. Oh yeah, I've also noticed almost anyone will come over and start talking to you like you're a long lost brother with a "midyear" 60's Vette. I guess they can relate better? Not always the case with the NSX. Good luck.

 

[mikec]

Mac.. you should have kept that vette!!

I should have kept my 64 GTO too...

heheh..

 

[Dr.Honda]

My friend in K.C. has a kitcar based on the Austin-Healy 3000 with a Ford 400 in it . It's fast (1/4 mile times in the mid 11's), cheap and really cool looking (not as common as Cobra replicas). It's also scarier than hell at high speed, and really underbraked. I think this is the way I'd go if I wanted a convertible muscle-car, seems like really good, authentic American convertibles are getting prohibitively expensive.

 

[Jimbo]

Older vettes are cool.

I really like those mid-year Vettes (i.e. 1963-67) and I'd love to pick up a clean 1967 blue big-block convertible, but my first new car was a 1974 454 Vette. Medium Metallic Blue, 4 speed and T-tops, it was pretty cool for a 19 year old motorhead in 1974. It represented a lot of lawn mowings and saving my pennies for the first two years of my working.

I sold it after a year or so and regretted it every since. Don't EVEN ask me what I traded it in on. I'll deny it!

So, I found another one just a few years ago and it's identical except that it's white instead of blue. It had less than 10K original miles on it when I bought it from the original owner.

Sure, it rides like a truck and it's pretty outdated, but it's really cool to take the t-tops off and to cruise around on a cool late-summer night. I still love the look of the gauges and the view from the front seat.

-Jim

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

[This message has been edited by Jimbo (edited 09 September 2002).]

 

[McAttack]

Originally posted by mikec:
Mac.. you should have kept that vette!!

I should have kept my 64 GTO too...

heheh..

Had to sell it to make payroll.

 

[aaronb]

Is a late 70's British convertable considered a musclecar?

1.2 Liters of Raw Power:

Mine sounded like a weed eater at speed, but was a blast to drive to the beach!

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by aaronb:
Is a late 70's British convertable considered a musclecar?

Not whenever it's sitting at the mechanic's, getting repaired.

 

[aaronb]

MG's are more of a hobby than other cars. They are fun and easy to work on, but I prefer the climate control in my NSX -- among many other things!

My step up from a '65 MGB and a '79 Miget was huge in many ways, but I sometimes still miss the '65.

 

[Jimbo]

That's a clean MG!

I bet you have fun driving it. There's something to be said for small, fun convertibles.

-Jim

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[kgb_agent]

Originally posted by Jimbo:
That's a clean MG!

I bet you have fun driving it. There's something to be said for small, fun convertibles.

-Jim

I have been in lots of cars, but one of the most suprisingly fun cars to drive was a 92 Miata. This girl I knew had one a few years ago. After I drove it through some curves I could not stop laughing. It was like a street-legal go kart! I think I might have offended her, too...