there used to be a somewhat popular class of vehicles

[rbgarr]

My son-in-law had a Subaru that was on its last legs and he hankered for a Jeep Wrangler four seat 4X4. He was on the west coast finishing his medical residency before moving east to near where we live now. He gave the Subaru to a friend to repair as much as he could and I bought the jeep for him in Georgia (he repaid me). That was so when he got here the rust-free car would be ready for him. I drove from Georgia to Maine with the roof off and got so many friendly waves. It was great. The Jeep community is a fun one. His kids love taking rides in it for even the most boring errands.

Years ago I wanted a Dodge Dakota convertible 4X4 pickup. A neighbor here has one and I've let them know I'll want first dibs on it when and if they sell.

[Garret]

Since the thread got bumped & I missed it the first time around... I had a 44 Willys MB - Air Force Jeep. It was great & the military gearing allowed it to do 50-55 without screaming. I also had 2 FJ40 Land Cruisers & they were great.

None of 'em were highway rigs though!

[Ted Hoppe]

Sadly this was discontinued recently. Would have been a great LA ride.

[AndanteEd]

I always had a bit of a soft spot for the Suzuki Jimny / Samurai.

92-suzuki-samurai-2-dr-4wd-fuel-injected-convertible-no-rust-clear-title-2.jpg

Like an old Series Land-Rover it was remarkably capable off-road, but less than ideal as an on-road vehicle. Unlike a Series Land-Rover, the Suzuki could generally be relied on to start and run when required.

The latest model is incredibly cool, but sadly not available as a soft-top:

New-Suzuki-Jimny-off-road.jpg

[Andrew2]

I got to use a CJ5 (?) for a Guinness Beer comercial. Plenty of grunt, if a bit thirsty on petrol. The director wanted it sand blasted to metal, so I had that done, along with the series Land Rover that was the other car in the ad.
Director didn't like the sand finish, but I told him that his idea was probable bead blasting. No chance were we were.
Drove the poor thing in the shallow water on the beach , I can't imagine what it suffered later.. salt everwhere on bare metal. To get the finish he wanted, we had to start early at 05.00 to scrub the jeep with wire wool and olive oil. Several times in the week.
Can't remember a period when I managed to do so much on so little sleep..

The advert was acclaimed by the industry, but puzzled the public. (about an UXB and a beach)

[stromborg]

I always had a bit of a soft spot for the Suzuki Jimny / Samurai.

92-suzuki-samurai-2-dr-4wd-fuel-injected-convertible-no-rust-clear-title-2.jpg

Like an old Series Land-Rover it was remarkably capable off-road, but less than ideal as an on-road vehicle. Unlike a Series Land-Rover, the Suzuki could generally be relied on to start and run when required.

The latest model is incredibly cool, but sadly not available as a soft-top:

New-Suzuki-Jimny-off-road.jpg

I've got a soft spot for the tintop version, sadly not available in any form here since 1995 so finding a good relatively unmolested one is tough. Solid cult following too so not exactly bargains if you do find one. Also, my guess is that much like my Bronco it isn't actually a very useful vehicle. I still stop and look at them when I see one on the street.

[Peerie Maa]

A different take on a 4WD rag top


Very popular with the bright young things of the swinging 60's

[AnalogKid]

^ Not 4WD. This was the closest thing to a true 4WD Mini derivative was the Ant, but really only the gearbox-in-sump A-series engine was in common.

[Bob Adams]

Those original Broncos are bringing stupid money now! I had an IHC Scout with the "half a V8" 4 cylinder. It was a tough and fun little vehicle.

(not mine)

scout-header-wide.jpg

[Garret]

A friend had a half V8 Scout that he used to pull a 3/4 full oil delivery truck out of a ditch. The truck driver was shocked.

[Canoeyawl]

Those original Broncos are bringing stupid money now! I had an IHC Scout with the "half a V8" 4 cylinder. It was a tough and fun little vehicle.

(not mine)

scout-header-wide.jpg

There was a version with a little 4cyl Perkins Diesel that was pretty cool.
Those scouts are crazy money now anyway...

[Canoeyawl]

A friend had a half V8 Scout that he used to pull a 3/4 full oil delivery truck out of a ditch. The truck driver was shocked.

They were seriously stout little trucks, which is why they still command a high price

[Breakaway]

I owned a 92 Bronco, exactly as pictured, with the 5.8L H0 V-8
I used to take the top off all the time. Was not open overhead, as you can see, but was open to the breeze. This may have been my favorite vehicle.

9277804-1992-ford-bronco-eddie-bauer-edition-std.jpg

Kevin

[stromborg]

My Bronco has proven to be a stout little truck too. Ridiculously stiff suspension but drop it into 4-low and not much can stop it.

(If you know anybody with stupid money they'd like to part with send 'em my way)

[Garret]

My Bronco has proven to be a stout little truck too. Ridiculously stiff suspension but drop it into 4-low and not much can stop it.

(If you know anybody with stupid money they'd like to part with send 'em my way)

I've got 500 really dumb dollars - that work?

[Durnik]

^ he did say 'stupid money'.. 0-:

a quick c/l search..


Screenshot_2022-11-22-19-01-16.jpg

[Paul Pless]

I've got a soft spot for the tintop version, sadly not available in any form here since 1995 so finding a good relatively unmolested one is tough. Solid cult following too so not exactly bargains if you do find one. Also, my guess is that much like my Bronco it isn't actually a very useful vehicle. I still stop and look at them when I see one on the street.

my neighbor has this for sale
he bought it new in 1988 and it has spent its entire life in az
$8k

BBFF3B11-6366-4072-9F54-28F9F22AAA56.jpg

[stromborg]

^ he did say 'stupid money'.. 0-:

a quick c/l search..


Screenshot_2022-11-22-19-01-16.jpg

Mine's in better shape

[Durnik]

^ Much! looks sweet. I'd not change the tire size, but might go for a slightly more A/T tread.. lot of grassy/dirt compound slopes in my part of TN.

eta: put another way, there's next to no level ground - & I like it!

[Joe (SoCal)]

I like the new Bronco in the CLASSIC colors

[AnalogKid]

I'm thinking the lack of 4x4 soft tops is down to a couple of trends in the motor industry:

1./ Separate body on ladder chassis construction is something of a rare legacy feature now. With a full chassis underneath, chopping the top was easy.

2./ Safety - 4x4s and roll-overs have a somewhat deserved association in the minds of the public, and so doing away with the roll-over protection of a hard top only highlights a vulnerability.

Of course, the demise of ladder chassis construction is also at least partly related to safety.

I wonder whether the 'skateboard' architecture of purpose-designed EVs , where all the drive train and structural integrity of the vehicle are concentrated into the floor pan, will free up designers to once again introduce soft tops on electirc SUVs, along with other 'alternative' or 'lifestyle' styling options.

[birlinn]

Citroen's rival for the Mini Moke. Although most were 2WD, there was a 4WD version available. I don't think there were any 4WD Mokes.

mehari.jpg

[Peerie Maa]

Citroen's rival for the Mini Moke. Although most were 2WD, there was a 4WD version available. I don't think there were any 4WD Mokes.

mehari.jpg

Never made it to production, but did exist

The Four-Wheel-Drive Moke
If the Twini-Moke was never going to make a feasible production car, it did at least have an important spin-off: it led to the creation – under the direction of Issigonis - of three single-engined Mokes fitted with four-wheel drive. The first car was apparently on the road by September 1963, and of the other two cars one had a Cooper engine and was based on another of the original batch of prototype Mokes - complete with pannier-less sides.

[dutchpp]

I drove a Fiat Panda 4x4 once in the terrain and it was....... absolutely stunning!

An example
fiat-panda-4x4-garage-italia-customs-car-and-vintage-2020-021.jpg

[Andrew2]

The Twini Moke was aimed at the army, but they passed on the idea. I did read a quick road test of one.

My 2CV manual covered the twin engine Safari version. Never seen one.

Drove a Moke from Portugal to UK in March, no heater or side screens. They have their limitations.....
Couple of Panda 4x4 locally, also aparently Agnelli's favourite car.

[Beowolf]

I like the new Bronco in the CLASSIC colors

What I really like about those are the painted (steel?) wheels.

I’d like to have those available on every trim package and painted to match the body color.

[Sandlapper]

I think the first of the breed was the International Harvester Scout which was a tough ride with no amenities to speak of. Rarely see one anymore.

[Art Haberland]

These things don't strike me as practical at all - most have no roll cage, which I suppose I could live with, but how do you keep the heat in or out, depending on the season? Or do you all live in places that don't have seasons like that?

I can't answer for the 4x4s.. but when I had my Fiat spiders, unless it was raining or snowing, the top was down. Yes, that included below freezing days.

[rayman]

landrover sport.jpg somebody mentioned landrover, so how about this single seat centerdrive Defender

[Joe (SoCal)]

Sadly this was discontinued recently. Would have been a great LA ride.

Maybe because they completely ripped off the Land Rover Evoque Convertible ?

9571BEB3-53D8-4EF3-BF88-E2E9F0705678.jpg

[Art Haberland]

landrover sport.jpg somebody mentioned landrover, so how about this single seat centerdrive Defender

I could own and drive that. It looks fun in that masochistic way all Landy owners prefer their vehicles.

[Garret]

I like this! Any more info on it?

landrover sport.jpg somebody mentioned landrover, so how about this single seat centerdrive Defender

[AnalogKid]

^ That'll be because Kahn is an independent Land Rover / Range Rover tuning house.

Kinda like Alpina is to BMW, but even less official.