Driving into work this morning and seeing a Citroen DS3 with some sort of patterned roof reminded me of the vinyl roofs of the 70's, which then lead me to wonder why!!??
What was the purpose of these things? Was it to make the car look like a convertible or what exactly?

 

Yes - they were originally applied to make a 'faux cabriolet'

They were big with the Septics in the 1960s and came here towards the end of the decade on luxury models - most notably the GXL/Ghia versions of Fords.

The Jaaag XJ-C had one, because there were wrinkles in the roof pressing...

 

Opel commodore....

 

DIY ones ( usually Fords ) done by spraying in underseal.

 

Commo A GS Coupe was one of my favourites.

Seem to remember one chasing a Pug 204 Cabrio round the Moyenne Corniche with Charlie Bronson in it...

 

My grandfather owned one. 1st car i drove in fact.

 

I was fascinated by how well-built and -engineered they were, when the Vauxhall equivalents were such shite.

 

The Old a Chap had an Opel Rekord in the '70's.

For what was then a large car, it went really well with 1.9 litre engine.

I remember it as an understated and rather classy car.



I used nag him about getting an Opel Commodore coupe - with vinyl roof - it was, and still is, a beautiful looking car.



The Opel Diplomat had a lovely vinyl roof - and a 327 cu. in. Chevy small block in it!

 

Here's a vinyl roof !!

The old man (in period shirt) sitting in his 3.0 S Capri working out how to run over my younger brother who, not having been fed for days, has resorted to foraging for berries in the front garden ...


Check out those groovy coachlines ...

 

Mk3 Cortina, colour scheme allegedly banned in Germany because it mimicked the national flag. Probably an urban myth.