T-tops, it seems, will be forever enshrined in the realm of automotive oddities. A funky design not seen on a production car for more than 20 years, T-tops entered the conversation in the late 1960s, going on to a heyday of adoption throughout the 1970s and most of the 1980s. Arriving at a time when convertibles all but disappeared due to fears of government prohibition, T-tops offered the thrill of al fresco driving.
Eventually, convertibles returned to the marketplace and T-tops went away because, really, who wants to fiddle with heavy glass roof panels prone to leaking, whistling, and rattling? However, the T-top remains a nostalgic favorite of the enthusiast set, and these 20 examples are some of the all-time best.
Our Selection Process
To make it on this list of favorite T-top cars, we only selected vehicles with a structural T-bar running between the windshield header and rear roof bulkhead designed to secure a pair of removable clear panels. So, no targas here, nor convertibles of any ilk.
Toyota MR2 (Second-Gen)
Toyota’s second-gen MR2 pulls hard on the ’90s nostalgia heart strings with pop-up headlights and mini-supercar styling. This mid-engine coupe was offered in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged guise, but crucially, it could also be had with a sweet set of T-tops.
1968 Chevy Corvette
Many Chevy Corvettes came with T-tops, but the 1968 C3 model lays claim to being the first U.S. production car with this “open-air flow-through” design when the roof sections and rear window were removed. Bonus points for the pop-up headlights, hidden door handles, and standard 327 V8 making 300 horsepower on this first-year C3 Corvette.
1996 Suzuki X-90
The cool, but forgotten, Suzuki X-90 was as wacky as they come or, in the Japanese automaker’s words, “an entirely new vehicle with singular avant-garde styling”. In either case, the ’90s-tastic X-90 drew stares with its rounded spaceship lines, brightly colored patterned upholstery, and sweet rear spoiler. Four-wheel drive was another neat-o feature of this unique T-topper.
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Forever entwined with Smokey and the Bandit, the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am came with a new “hatch roof” featuring removable panels on special edition T/A models. Nailing the ’70s muscle car look with its Screaming Chicken hood decal, glorious aluminum snowflake wheels, and gold highlights galore, this Firebird is in the T-top hall of fame.
1978 Chevy Camaro
Not to be outdone by its F-series pony car sibling, the Chevy Camaro started rocking T-tops in 1978. For an extra $625, this factory option for removable glass panels would go on to long-running success as the GM twins would become the last of the factory T-top cars in production until 2002.
1979 Ford Thunderbird
The 1979 Ford Thunderbird could be described as one of the most forgettable T-Bird generations in terms of styling, thanks in large part to design schemes like a Pastel Chamois finish with a Chamois vinyl roof and Light Chamois accents. Oof.
BUT, the “T-Roof” system of oven-tempered and tinted safety glass panels could be removed, lending credence to the “Come Fly With Me” T-Bird tagline.
1977 Ford Mustang II
If the ‘79 Thunderbird was not great, the unloved period Mustang II was unspeakable, but kudos to Ford for selling it as a “Sweet-handling SuperCoupe” and offering a 302 V8. Of course, it was the newly optional flip-up and removable open-air roof with bronze tinting that earned this Mustang a spot on our list.
1983 Ford Mustang
A 180 from its unloved Mustang II cousin, the Fox body Mustang was another purveyor of Ford’s T-roof design. A new feature starting in 1981, these Mustangs could be had as traditional 2-door coupes or what the Blue Oval called 3-door hatchbacks. If the T-top wasn’t for you, Ford also offered a single-piece flip-up and removable sunroof-like panel. These, folks, were open-roof glory days.
1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1978 ushered in a new Chevy Monte Carlo, one that the Detroit automaker described as “a very special automobile“. The base 105-horse V6 was perhaps not so special, but the available all-vinyl cabin trim in carmine red was an eye-catcher. However, we’d be remiss not to mention the optional T-top setup that Chevy sold simply as “removable tinted-glass roof panels”.
1991 Pontiac Firebird
Carrying the torch from its 70s predecessor, the 1991 Pontiac Firebird continued to offer T-tops as optional equipment across the entire lineup. Of course, the base Firebird with a 3.1L V6 was not nearly as exciting as the thumping 5.7L High-Output V8 available on the Trans Am.
1988 Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac was building excitement back in the 1980s, but its Bonneville was billed as a member of the premier personal luxury segment with standard features like a full coil suspension and custom wheel covers. Of course, the optional T-tops are what has us so excited about these old Bonnevilles.
1986 Dodge Daytona
One of an untold number of K car iterations, the Dodge Daytona looked sporty with its fastback lines and backed that up in Turbo Z trim. Boasting a “race-proven” 2.2L turbocharged inline-4 making 146 hp, the Daytona could also be optioned with a T-Bar Roof Package. Along with dual removable panels, Dodge fitted the T-top system with anti-theft locks to deter hooligans looking to pilfer big, heavy sheets of glass.
1980 Chrysler Cordoba
Is there a more forgotten automotive nameplate than the Chrysler Cordoba? Built across two generations, it is the second, straight-edged series we’re after today. Fresh-faced and downsized for 1980, the Cordoba came with a Franklin Minted hood ornament and a “striking” form. Along with options like a Cashmere-colored simulated convertible roof (read: vinyl), buyers could tick the simply named “T Bar” option box for maximum magnificence.
1986 Chrysler Laser
From the era of comically pathetic badge engineering, we give you the 1986 Chrysler Laser. Virtually identical to its Dodge Daytona stablemate, the Laser offered a sweet name, classic T-tops, and the Chrysler hood ornament. It only lasted for a few short model years, and from certain angles, the Laser is all but impossible to distinguish from the Daytona. But it earns a spot here simply for its rad moniker and total lack of originality.
1980 Datsun 280ZX
Nissan Z cars, originally sold under the Datsun brand, date back further than 1980, but this was the first year the Z offered T-tops. Debuting with the new 280 ZX, this “T bar roof” was optional on the 2-seater GL models. Tacking on the Gold Accent Package with its gold-trimmed 4-spoke wheels defined “The Mystique” of the new Z car.
1984 Nissan 300ZX (Z31)
With the launch of the new 300ZX in 1984, Nissan made it clear that T-tops were not exclusive to the domestics. All-new from the ground up, the Z31-generation Z-car featured a 3.0L V6 in naturally aspirated or turbocharged guise. But it is the T-Bar roof that, once removed, made the new Z so cool. As Nissan noted, just pop a New Wave tape into the cassette deck for a day of driving with the wind in your hair. Oh yeah!
1990 Nissan 300ZX (Z32)
Perhaps the most exciting Z car in Nissan’s legendary series was the 1990s Z32 generation. Low, wide, and sleek, this 300ZX has aged well and continues to command respect in 300-horse twin-turbo spec. In its first year of production, the T-bar roof with removable glass panels was standard equipment, but leather, bronze-tinted glass, and a thumping Bose audio system with FIVE speakers was extra.
1992 Nissan NX2000
The early ‘90s compact import coupe scene was wild with the likes of the Civic Del Sol Si, Mazda MX-3, and this – the Nissan NX2000. Weighing less than 2,700 pounds and making 140 horsepower from its 2.0L inline-4, the little NX2000 was a “delectable sporty coupe à la cheap” in Car and Driver’s words. It could also be equipped with T-tops and a CD player for about $16,000.
1985 Toyota MR2
Toyota’s mid-engined Mister Two was sold across two generations during the ‘80s and ‘90s. Both offered T-tops, but the square-edged W10 first generation is our favorite for its looks and drool-worthy tri-spoke alloy wheels. Plus, it’s hard to beat marketing poems like “The car and I are as one, my eyes flame orange as I race to beat the setting sun.”
1984 Subaru BRAT
Before the Baja, there was the BRAT, a screwy two-door 4WD mini truck loaded with weird, but ahead of their time, features. Like rear-facing jump seats in the bed and crucially, T-tops. Specifically, a pop-up and removable Halo Twin Roof. Looking more like two individual sunroofs, the Halo Roof panels hinged on the central T-bar to resemble wings in pop-up mode. As Subaru said, “There’s nothing like it!”
T-Tops: Gone, But Not Forgotten
Those on the lookout for something a little different, something with some character, should take a look at the T-top marketplace. Though this unique automotive design has been out of production for more than 2 decades, there were plenty of interesting T-top cars built along the way worth considering.
If we were to pick a favorite, it would have to be the Z32-gen Nissan 300ZX Turbo. Fast and fun with the roof removed, this is a T-top for the enthusiast. What’s your pick? Let us know in the comments!