[The first 4-door hardtop style bodies were made by GM
in 1955 in the "B" bodied cars (Buick Special/Century,
Olds 88/98 and Chevrolet/Pontiac. The "A" bodied cars
(Buick Super/Roadmaster & Cadillac) did not get 4-door
hardtop style until 1956]
--- Nicholas Essinger <crowncoupe@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> "TL" & "4 Toes"
> Some how I copied your addresses down wrong, so must
> send this way.
>
> The original concept of the "hardtop" dates back
> over 75 years. However, as
> we are familiar with the term, it was applied to the
> cars of the late 1940s
> - a result of the owner of a convertible who did not
> want to lower the top.
> The first real hardtops (in the 2 door version)
> appeared in 1949 model year,
> by GM. Chrysler had a prototype two door hardtop in
> 1949 also; it was on
> the "Second Series" body of the 1949 models, but was
> not introduced until
> the 1950 model year. I realize that I am in deep
> dudu here, but still feel
> that the first four door hardtops were not
> introduced until 1956 - by any
> company. [Check me on this - OK?]
>
> The visual difference between a 2 door and 4 door
> sedan versus the 2 and 4
> door hardtops is quite glaring, really. As you view
> the vehicle from the
> side, there is open feeling (visual and actual) in
> that there is no
> "obstruction" between the windshield and the
> backglass on a hardtop.
> Structurally, on sedans, there are three primary
> differences: first, there
> is a metal frame surrounding the glass which is a
> structural part of the
> door; second, there is a hard, steel "post" going
> from the floor pan to the
> roof rail; and third, the rear door hinges/mounts to
> this "post,"(excluding
> the 'suicide' rear door of the 1961-1969 Lincoln
> Continental).
> On a "true" hardtop, structurally, there is no
> "complete B post" from the
> floor pan to the roof rail, nor is there any metal
> frame around the
> window(s). [Today, or in past 25 years, "Detroit' &
> the advertising media
> have used the term hardtop when they were actually
> referring to the two door
> sedan coupe, on either of 2 models: the front door
> is that of the old
> hardtop style, but there is a full/solid "B post"
> (really, a hardtop sedan
> coupe---say a 1975/6 NYB coupe; or the actual front
> door of a sedan (metal
> window frame) on an actual sedan with the full "B
> post"---say a 1978 GM Olds
> Delta 88 Royale Coupe...or any 77-85 or so GM
> vehicle.] On a 2 door
> hardtop, the body/side behind the door and infront
> of the rear wheel well
> forms the "B post." On the 4 door hardtop, the "B
> Post" only rises to the
> point just below the level of the windows; it still
> must be there to mount
> the rear door to the car.
> As much as I 'think' about it, and try to find info
> to the contrary, I feel
> that the first 4 door hardtops were available as
> 1956 models. I do know
> that in 1949, the ill-fated Kaiser 'Virginian' was
> available as a 'four door
> hardtop,' and the Frazer 'Manhattan' was available
> as a four door
> convertible sedan, both for about 15-18 months.
>
> Any one out there who has additional information, or
> that is able to correct
> (or modify) the information: please chime in.
> Thanks for listening to one
> who now owns a two door hardtop (1964 Imperial Crown
> Coupe) and a 2 door
> coupe (or sedan? - 1978 Olds Delta 88 Royale Coupe)
> [and formerly a 78 Ford
> LTD four door pillared hardtop sedan as well as a
> 1971 Chrysler Newport
> Custom four door hardtop]. Later, ne
>
>
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