Hooniverse Asks-What's Your Favorite Changeable Car?

Robert Emslie
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Transformers, robots in disguise. You know, I was not of the generation where that lead made any sort of impression, but I have seen my share of cars that can transform. I thikn the first that I remember was a Ford showcar – based on the Fiesta platform – that featured interchangeable rear caps. It could be a notch, a sloped hatch, small wagon, or even a jeep-like open backed free for all.

That one never made it past the auto expo security guards, but a similar proposition was offered by the Nissan Pulsar NX, and it added T-tops. That was one of the coolest looking cars of the eighties with its optional wagon back and pop up headlights, even if Nissan sold fewer extra backs than did KFC. Some other transforming cars are the Chevy Avalanche, The GMC Envoy XUV, and Ferrari 458 Italia, which may turn into a smoldering hulk.

The benefit of a changeable vehicle is the same as that of the Swiss Army knife – it can be a jack of many trades. However, that may mean that it is never the master of any one. That can be to its detriment, but who cares, transforming cars are fun! Which one’s your favorite?

Image source: [triplezoom.com]

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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  1. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    #1 in my heart since I was wee…
    <img src="http://img.informer.com/wiki/mediawiki/images/3/3b/Mach_5_profile.jpg&quot; width=500>
    What does it convert to? Radial arm saw, submarine, armored car, long jumper, vertical climber … the list goes on.

    Reply
    1. ZomBee Racer Avatar
      ZomBee Racer

      You and I both. I even had a custom bumper sicker made up for the Bee a few years ago, screenshots taken from the Japanese version I remembered as a kid (Maha Go Go Go, you can see the Mach 5 wheels in the background). And my driving suit colors were no accident either.
      /speed racer nerd
      <img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/260100_2151102941683_1369652107_2544427_2706682_n.jpg&quot; width="500">

      Reply
  2. parkwood60 Avatar
    parkwood60

    Don't forget the Studebaker Wagonette – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Wagonaire

    Reply
  3. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    How about the lamest excuse for "changeable"…?

    Reply
  4. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    1966 Ford Magic Cruiser – a station wagon that turns into a fastback!
    <img src="http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/concept/1966_Ford_Galaxie_500_Magic_Cruiser_02.jpg&quot; width=400>
    <img src="http://www.modelcarscience.com/magiccruiser/Magiccruiserclosed.jpg&quot; width=400>

    Reply
    1. Smells_Homeless Avatar
      Smells_Homeless

      Man, talk about a solution in search of a problem.

      Reply
      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        I never saw the rationale behind Ford's full size coupes, except perhaps for homologation.

        Reply
      2. tonyola Avatar
        tonyola

        Ford actually considered a production version, but decided it would be too expensive. Still cool, though, and a wonderful example of the old we-can-do-anything mentality.

        Reply
      3. topdeadcentre Avatar
        topdeadcentre

        How about a solution in search of a *collector*?

        Reply
  5. west_coaster Avatar
    west_coaster

    Fiero.
    You can change it from a not-very-appealing GM product of the 1980s to a not-very-convincing Ferrari replica with one simple kit.

    Reply
  6. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    How about the lamest excuse for "changeable"…?
    The 1974 Dodge Dart "Convertriple" — supposedly a convertible, station wagon and sedan in one. In truth it was a Dart with a flip-down rear seat for trunk access and a sunroof. Like I said, not bad for what it was, but lame marketing.
    <img src="http://www.foundationpc.com/brochure/73dartad.jpg&quot; width=500>

    Reply
    1. west_coaster Avatar
      west_coaster

      Jeez…no wonder Chrysler later needed Iacocca to come in and save them.

      Reply
    2. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      The bucket seats and sunroof of my station wagon also make it a sporty coupé-convertible, I suppose!

      Reply
  7. Feds_II Avatar
    Feds_II

    JDM Del Sol which turns from a regular civic into a targa-top-shooting robot.
    [youtube 5j5rb5SglcM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j5rb5SglcM youtube]

    Reply
    1. FЯeeMan Avatar
      FЯeeMan

      Great bit of engineering! How much weight does it add?

      Reply
    2. Thrashy Avatar
      Thrashy

      I like this one better:
      <img src="http://www.tlarengineering.com/images/garage/honda/CRXdelSol/autox.jpg"&gt;
      Image stolen from TLAR Engineering, who dared to ask: "Why don't we stick a RT4WD system out of a CRV into a Del Sol and then rally it?

      Reply
  8. FЯeeMan Avatar
    FЯeeMan

    My friend's mom had a Pulsar. First car I ever drove with power brakes. At the first stop sign, I had the sudden terror we were going to blow right through, until we ate the dashboard… Since that's my one lasting memory, I guess it wasn't that memorable a car. But the concept of changing out the back was pretty cool, though relatively unused.

    Reply
  9. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Blazer Chalet
    <img src="http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/1976_Chevy_Blazer_Chalet_Brochure_1.jpg"width=500&gt;
    (Insert "down by the river" jokes below.)

    Reply
    1. vwminispeedster Avatar
      vwminispeedster

      My eyes read one thing but my brain processed it as another: Blalet Chazer. I want one even more now.

      Reply
  10. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    GM copied the Pulsar idea for the Geo Storm Wagonback.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Geo-Storm-wagon.jpg/800px-Geo-Storm-wagon.jpg&quot; width=400>

    Reply
  11. TX_Stig Avatar
    TX_Stig

    Hmm, 180hp, 2300lbs… Sounds like fun. I doubt too many hairdressers would really want the Mazdaspeed version. Even a standard power miata is a hoot to drive. Drop throttle oversteer was never easier.

    Reply
  12. Jimmy7 Avatar
    Jimmy7

    <img src="http://www.picturearchive.co.za/Images/large_1949-Kaiser-Vagabond-coral-rvr.jpg&quot; width="600">
    The Kaiser Vagabond and/or Traveller

    Reply
    1. Gearhead Avatar
      Gearhead

      Once again, I learn something new from the Hooniverse.

      Reply
    2. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      Truly the Skoda Superb of its time:
      <img src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/03/Skoda_Superb_TwinDoor.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
    3. mcman Avatar
      mcman

      What a great idea, a hatchback with a tail-gate. Why doesn't someone try that now?

      Reply
  13. Jo Schmo Avatar
    Jo Schmo

    Ms. Martin seems to also like the Pulsar Sportbak:
    http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1061667_guilty…

    Reply
  14. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    I'm really fond of the '57-'58-'59 Ford Retractables.
    <img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4942033986_a69729a02d.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    Reply
    1. ZomBee Racer Avatar
      ZomBee Racer

      You and I both…
      (the center of my modest toy collection, ignore them goofy chevies)
      <img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/24135_1371985104224_1369652107_1020791_2797810_n.jpg&quot; width="500" >

      Reply
      1. $kaycog Avatar
        $kaycog

        Very nice collection, even with the Chevys. 😉 I also like your vintage Crosley radio.

        Reply
      2. mdharrell Avatar
        mdharrell

        That makes three of us. Unfortunately my '59 was "changed" into a pile of parts by a previous owner at some point in the '70s. I bought it in pieces in the late '80s, got distracted by the whole undergrad/grad/grad thing, got further distracted by other automotive projects, and still haven't finished changing it back into a car. Something of a long-term project, I suppose.

        Reply
        1. Lotte Avatar
          Lotte

          Y'know, that Ford of yours was in parts longer than I've been living…

          Reply
  15. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    <img src="http://tmagicworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/car-plane.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
      BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

      Or this one, without the need of a runway.
      <img src="http://www.pal-v.com/img/palv_gyroplane.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
  16. SSurfer321 Avatar
    SSurfer321

    [youtube IoM9JJxO-CA&NR=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoM9JJxO-CA&NR=1 youtube]
    /amidoingitright?

    Reply
  17. Paul_y Avatar
    Paul_y

    The Toyota RV2 really needed to be put into production. Shooting brake AND a camper? Toyota, here are my paychecks. All of them.
    <img src="http://retrothing.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/10/08/toyotarv2.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Feds_II Avatar
      Feds_II

      Plus, the camper looks like an angry troll with blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. It can not be unseen!

      Reply
    2. Paul_y Avatar
      Paul_y

      <img src='http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/9383/rv2c.jpg&#039; border='0'/>
      …and this.

      Reply
  18. James Avatar
    James

    I had one of those Pulsars. It was a cool idea whose implementation left a couple of things to be desired.
    1. Both tops were HEAVY! Forget changing out tops on a whim. It took at least three people to pull off a top change – two to hold the top while a third did the wrenching.
    I suspect that many of the Sportbak tops that Nissan sold are still sitting in the original owner's garage because once you set it down, it was quite a heave to get it picked back up. To my knowledge, Nissan did not offer a top holder like many companies offer with their removable hard tops.
    2. The trunk had a false floor made of thick plastic under which the t-tops could be stored. Nice idea. But with the Coupe (default model) hatch in place, the storage space ABOVE the false floor was not tall enough for a paper bag of groceries to sit without getting smashed. It made the "trunk" basically useless.
    Nissan would have been much better off making the Sportbak the default model and making the coupe hatch a dealer installed accessory for people who wanted a sportier look.
    The coupe back was basically pointless IMO.
    A couple of other interesting features of the car:
    1. The third brake light and rear defroster on the hatch(es) was powered through a little contact pad, noting to unplug when you removed the hatch. At least they did one thing right.
    2. There was an axillary third brake light stuck to the headliner on the "targa" bar – for running around in convertible mode without either hatch. A feature I never saw mentioned in any Nissan literature… "Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you, it's a couple, a shooting brake AND a convertible!"
    3. The factory tool kit for removing the hatch had a combination wrench that looked like a factory defect. One one end it had a box wrench the size of the hinge bolts, the other end had what could have been another box wrench, but without the hole in the center machined out. Just like a little round nub.
    I loved my Pulsar. But once the sportbak went on, I never saw any reason to convert it back to coupe mode.

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      I always thought those were two separate models like the Geo Storm. I never realized it was the same car with swappable hatches.
      You think that top is bad to remove, try removing the roof on a K-5 Blazer or a Bronco. About 20 bolts and a 200lb top.

      Reply
      1. Froggmann_ Avatar
        Froggmann_

        Well the full size Bronco is roughly 150ish lb. and 17 bolts. It's just a pain to remove solo because it's hard to control where the top is going.

        Reply
    2. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
      BlackIce_GTS

      I've never seen a wagonback in the wild. When I learned of them from Gran Turismo, I assumed it was a JDM thing.

      Reply
  19. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Don't want your 3rd gen F-body to be a hatchback, make it a notchback.
    <img src="http://www.gtasourcepage.com/ModelFeaturesPics/89RedNotchback.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    In 1988 GM made 718 Firebird GTA notchbacks. http://www.gtanotchback.com/ I think the part was available aftermarket too.

    Reply
    1. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      I have never actually seen one of these "notchback" Firebirds – just pictures. Were they really produced?

      Reply
  20. smokyburnout Avatar
    smokyburnout

    [youtube fZGFDph65s0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZGFDph65s0 youtube]
    My dad brought home a Spanish-language issue of Car and Driver (June 2003) home from a vacation. In it I was amazed to discover the coupe/targa/convertible/"pickup" that is the Citroën C3 Pluriel, and amazed again when I deciphered that it was not some auto show fantasy but an actual car you can buy. I'm not sure if it's actually any good as a car, but I still want one.

    Reply
    1. Jean Philippe Monteiro Avatar
      Jean Philippe Monteiro

      I have one. Pathetic engine, 'special' wheels that prevent your average tire shop to work on them, noisy, heavy… But still such cool looks, and better in-real: all design details are pleasing to the eye, and everyone from my younger kid to my mother love it. And mine is in Bright Orange, of course! I am not a fan of the one featured above (of which top speed is a joke BTW). The 'arches' are a pain to move around, at about 12kg each… And of course if it rains… My seats are ruined, completely. Dunno what fabric they are made of, but a single drop of rain turns instantly into a dark spot. Silly for a car that is supposed to be outdoors-y. Now then, the thing is really the pick-up truck, and the speedster, and the coach as you like it.[youtube KdbiU4_U2ok http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdbiU4_U2ok youtube]

      Reply
      1. smokyburnout Avatar
        smokyburnout

        The guy moving the roof arch indoors after taking them off the car really hammers the point home. Driving around in full-convertible mode must be a pretty serious commitment, have to make sure there's no chance of rain and that you're parking in a nice area, because you can't put the top up again until you get home!

        Reply
    2. smokyburnout Avatar
      smokyburnout

      *poof*

      Reply
  21. smokyburnout Avatar
    smokyburnout

    <img src="http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/concept/89plymouth_voyager-3_4.jpg"/&gt;
    Not a production car: Plymouth Voyager III.
    IMG from carstyling.ru

    Reply
  22. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    1977 Oldsmobile Toronado XSR, with power retractable T-tops co-developed with ASC. It was all set for production, but cost and sealing issues led to its cancellation at the 11th hour after one or two prototypes were built; it was canned so late that it made it into the sales brochures:
    <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/3826779019_95a786cd33.jpg&quot; />
    However, the Toronado XS, which featured the same wild wraparound backlight but a conventional power sunroof, did reach showrooms.

    Reply
  23. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    <img src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2008/10_cars/gadgetmobile.jpg&quot; width=500 /img>

    Reply
  24. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    I'm surprised that the Viper TV show hasn't been mentioned. Maybe it's because the show was so bad we're still blotting it out of our memories.[youtube x33xWETMtSM&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x33xWETMtSM&feature=related youtube]

    Reply
  25. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/04_megatrack.jpg"&gt;
    Mega Track: supercar + 4×4.
    Also, microcar manufacturer + insanity
    img= AutoBlog

    Reply
    1. Buickboy92 Avatar
      Buickboy92

      I LOVE THAT THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply
  26. topdeadcentre Avatar
    topdeadcentre

    Two headlights? Way too much cost! One headlight only!

    Reply
  27. Froggmann_ Avatar
    Froggmann_

    Anyone who knows me knows my choice. The full-size Ford Bronco.
    It's a wagon
    it's a targa top convertible
    It's a pickup
    It's a camper
    It's also a tow vehicle with a turning radius that rivals most small cars.
    <img src="http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q53/Froggmann/93%20Bronco/IMG_2887.jpg&quot; width=600 /img>
    <img src="http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q53/Froggmann/93%20Bronco/IMG_3253.jpg&quot; width=600 /img>

    Reply
    1. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      Not to mention a dandy slow-speed chase vehicle.
      <img src="http://www.cbsnews.com/i/tim//2010/06/17/raw_ojcase617_480x360.jpg&quot; width=400>

      Reply
  28. James Avatar
    James

    <img src="http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq228/JamesISpalding/toppola.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Photobucket">
    Toppola. It's a Saab and an RV.

    Reply
  29. Feds_II Avatar
    Feds_II

    Which I believe are the two main ingredients in Awesomeness.

    Reply
  30. scoutdude Avatar
    scoutdude

    International Scout or Scout II. In the middle of the baby Scout production you could have ordered it as a roadster w/o any top, or your choice of 7 different interchangeable tops. Fixed steel Cab, Station Wagon or Panel tops, Soft folding cab, station wagon, or the "sedan" Sporttop, or the fiberglass sedan Sporttop. The Scout II could be had in a number of different top and length options but not all in the same year like the baby Scout. 100" Wheel base with your choice of 2 different roadsters (steell doors or no doors); steel cab, station wagon, and panel tops; folding soft station wagon (with steel doors) or Safari (soft doors); and 118" wheel base models with fiberglass cab or station wagon tops. Passenger accommodations for 2,3,4,5,6 or 7 occupants. The baby Scouts could be had with 4,6, or 8 cyls Scout II with 4, 6, or 8cyl gassers or diesel 6cyls in NA or turbo form.

    Reply
  31. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    I would have agreed with you; pop up headlights and stripey taillights, can't get any more rad then that.
    I was five though.

    Reply
  32. jjd241 Avatar
    jjd241

    You mentioned a Swiss Army Knife, What about the French Army Knive?
    <img src="http://lindasog.com/cowards/French-Army-Knife.jpg&quot; width="500">

    Reply
    1. jjd241 Avatar
      jjd241

      or knife if you'd rather…!

      Reply
    2. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      What would a Swiss Navy knife look like?

      Reply
      1. jjd241 Avatar
        jjd241

        DUH!
        <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3MX_Zaa_SB4/TKT5hJVDeTI/AAAAAAAADMU/Ym-08QuD_pM/s1600/swissnavyknife.jpg&quot; width="500">

        Reply
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