angrynorth

There is a guy at work who insists that the 206 cc was the first car with the folding hardtop roof.

I am convinced that it was the Merc SLK.

I don't think I have gone bonkers but I need some reassurance that the SLK was first.

Are there any websites/documents anyone can point me too.

Hope I'm not wrong now.

ProperCharlie

i'm pretty sure it was a merc.

does the 206 count as a car in any case ? maybe it would qualify as the first shopping trolley with a folding metal roof.

imlach

Yep, SLK was first by YEARS!
SLK came out around 1996/97. The std 206 wasn't even around then...

ajm

Neither. I reckon it was actually an American car (circa 1970?) The roof occupied the whole of the huge boot!

I can't remember the name of it but they have one at the Haynes Motor Museum!

MJW

The SLK was definitely before the 206CC

OllyK

Don't think the 206 CC has been out for 3 years yet. Am sure I went to the launch and had the invite after I had bought my GTi, whoich would have been 3 years old in March this year.

angrynorth

Good good

I knew it was I remember seeing the SLK when I was still at school, but I just thought I may have gone mad.

Although I have just found that a Peugeot engineer came up with the concept in the 1920's. Which does slightly take the shine off being right.

Ah, well nevermind eh?

Thanks for the help!

OllyK

SLK - 1996 Onwards, on Parkers (so may even be before that)
206 CC - 2001 onwards, the 206 in general only launched in 1998, so still 2 years after teh SLK at least

kend

SLK ahead by years.

The 206cc was the first cheapish car to have such a roof.

The 206cc did have the advantage of offering you a daily moment of excitement, while you waited to see if the roof would make it all the way to the top without jamming.

tiggers

What about the Honda CRX - mid 90's surely.

Anyway the 206 is a bag of French crap so who gives a **** whether it has a folding roof - just my 2 cents worth.

tiggers

what would scooby do

late 1950's Ford fairlines had a retractable hardtop

mad_dr

Do you mean the Del Sol? IIRC the roof doesn't actually fold but is stored on poles that retract into the boot! Genius really! Always wondered what it would look like to see one try to operate the roof at 70mph!

Senior_AP

You're right, he's wrong.

I don't know if Merc was first but certainly wasn't the gay 206!!