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Roadster is the North American term (spyder in England and a spider in Italy) used for a 2-seater lightweight car without a permanent top. The term was also used for a light carriage, synonymous with "buggy".

Even with the soft top convertible raised and deflecting "windows" (if existing) snapped in, the driver and passenger remain somewhat exposed to the elements. "Convertible" is an abbreviation of "convertible coupe" or "convertible sedan" which in 1920s-30s parlance indicated that the top of the car can "convert" the car from a car with the passenger habitacle covered into a car without having the passenger habitacle covered, transforming vehicle into a "cabrio". Thus, the term is used for describing also vehicles with more that two seats for which the roof can transform the general aspect of the car from coupe / sedan into a "cabriolet".

Most modern day production roadsters do not meet all of the above criteria. Here, the use of the name "roadster" is more of a marketing gimmick than a technical label, recalling the feeling of an open-top machine for enjoyment, like those of the past.

Contents 1 Old roadsters 2 Hot Rod Roadsters 3 Modern roadsters 4 Notable roadsters 4.1 Modern 4.2 Classic 4.3 Gallery 5 See also 6 Roadster Pedal Toys 7 References

Traditionally, roadster bodies were used on anything from a Ford Model T to a Cadillac V-16. It was a body style favored by those who preferred enjoyment to practicality. Roadster-bodied cars are popular with collectors, and are often valued higher than even other open styles.

One particularity of the roadsters, is that they embed technological peaks well beyond sedan cars of their times. Even today, a 30 or 40 years roadster is able to equalize or even overcome in speed in agility an average car destinated to the common market (2006 Toyota Yaris, max. speed: 165km/h, accel: 0-100km/h:11s vs. 1972 Fiat Spider, max. speed: 180km/h, 0-100km/h: 10s.

The American Hot rod is largely based on Ford roadsters and coupes. Late Model T Fords, and 1932 Fords are by far the most popular starting points.

The roadster name experienced a resurgence in 1989 with the introduction of the Mazda Miata/MX-5. Though not roadsters in the traditional open sense, since the tops are permanently attached, not removeable, many manufacturers today offer "roadsters". They can be described as "convertible sports cars" because they stress driving rather than practicality - like sports cars, modern roadsters are 2-seaters.

Originating in Italy, the term Spider, describes a two wheels fast and very agile horse-cart used in antiquity by the Romans in the army of the Roman Empire, destinated for short and quick interventions. It was commonly towed by several horses (See Gladiator Movie). In England, the word was borrowed, however to avoid association with spiders (arachnids), "y" replaced "i", becoming "Spyder". This also preserved the original pronunciation of the word in English as it is spelled in latin languages.

• Audi TT (Germany)
• BMW Z3/Z4/Z8 (Germany)
• Cadillac XLR (U.S.A.)
• Chevrolet Corvette (U.S.A.)
• Chrysler Crossfire (U.S.A.)
• Daihatsu Copen (Japan)
• DeLaChapelle Roadster (France)
• Fiat Barchetta (Italy)
• Honda S2000 (Japan)
• Lotus Elise (U.K.)
• Mazda Miata (Japan)
• Mercedes SLK (Germany)
• MG F/TF (U.K.)
• Morgan Roadster (U.K.)
• Nissan FairLady Z (Japan)
• Opel GT (Germany)
• Pontiac Solstice (U.S.A.)
• Panoz Esperante (U.S.A.)
• Porsche Boxster/911 Carrera S Cabriolet (Germany)
• Saturn Sky (U.S.A.)
• Smart Roadster/Roadster-Coupe (Germany)
• Tesla Roadster (U.S.A.)
• Toyota MR-S (Japan)
• Vauxhall Tigra TwinTop (U.K.)
• Venturi Fétish (Monaco)

• AC Ace, Cobra (England)
• Alfa Romeo Spider (Italy)
• Austin-Healey 100, 3000, Sprite (England)
• Deusenberg (USA)
• Fiat 124 Sport Spider, Dino Spider (Italy)
• Ferrari 275 GTS, 330 GTS (Italy)
• Jaguar E Type (England)
• Lotus Seven, Elan (England)
• Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: 300SL, 230/250/280 SL (Germany)
• MG MGA, MGB, MGC, T, M, P (England)
• Porsche 550 Spyder, 914 (Germany)
• Triumph Spitfire, TR4, TR250, TR6 (England)
• TVR 3000S (England)

Alfa Romeo Spider (1992)	Audi TT Roadster	BMW Z8 (2001)	BMW Z3
BMW Z4 Roadster	Cadillac XLR (2004)	Chrysler Crossfire	Fiat Barchetta
Honda S2000	Mazda MX-5/Miata (2007)	Mercedes-Benz SL65	Mercedes-Benz SLK350
Pontiac Solstice (2006)	Saturn Sky (2007)	Porsche Boxster (2002)	Tesla Roadster (2007)
TD2000 Silverstone Mk II

• Cabriolet
• Convertible
• Coupe roadster
• Hot rod
• Sports car
• Spyder
• Runabout

• Classic Reproductions of 1932 Ford Roadsters and other Vintage Pedal Car models

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