<div>The "convertible" designation from the Austin Design Office is "J"...that is due to the top (hood) being fixed at the rear, rather than the take off style hood. The rear seat designation-no matter how small is a "T" for Tourer as they did not consider the car a two seater "N" denotion. Side Screens or roll-ups were not considered a factor in the naming. Why a taxi has an "X" designation can only be contributed to the wry British humor. Who would want to refer to the BJ8 as a "BJT8"? Hank<br>-------------------- <br><br>From: "Michael Salter" <michael.salter@gmail.com> <br>To: "Harold Manifold" <manifold@telus.net>, "Healey List" <healeys@autox.team.net> <br>Sent: November 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM PST <br>Subject: Re: [Healeys] Drophead Coupe or Roadster </div>
<div style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Good question Harold and something that I've often wondered about. </div>
<div style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">There is no question that the "sidescreen" cars fulfill the accept definition of a "roadster" however the wind up window body style really is not a drophead coupé because it has more than 2 seats.</div>
<div style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">I think the factory described them as "convertibles" because they had rear seats even though they really were only of use if you had "legless" friends.</div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg"><strong>From:</strong> Healeys <healeys-bounces@autox.team.net> on behalf of Harold Manifold <manifold@telus.net><br><strong>Sent:</strong> Sunday, November 30, 2025 11:59:14 AM<br><strong>To:</strong> Healey List <healeys@autox.team.net><br><strong>Subject:</strong> [Healeys] Drophead Coupe or Roadster
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<div>Hello,</div>
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<div>I have a question for the group regarding the Austin-Healey.</div>
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<div>Is the car considered a drophead coupé, a roadster, or both? Specifically, are the earlier cars with side curtains considered roadsters, and the later cars with roll-up windows considered drophead coupés?</div>
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<div>Thanks for your input,</div>
<div>Harold</div>
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