Open-air motoring did not always demand a full convertible; some of the most memorable sports cars simply let their roofs lift away in sections. From American muscle to Japanese and Italian exotics, designers found clever ways to bring sky overhead without sacrificing structure. This gallery gathers ten machines that made the lift-out roof a defining feature.
1. Chevrolet Corvette (C3): The chrome-bumper Vette that spread the look
Chevrolet’s third-generation Corvette arrived for 1968 with curvaceous bodywork and a signature open-roof trick. Its coupe used two lift-out panels flanking a central spine, and the C3 Corvette did much to spread that layout among American buyers.
Early examples wore slim chrome bumpers before safety rules pushed the car toward body-color urethane ends. Built through 1982 and carrying the Stingray name, it offered a long list of small- and big-block V8 engines. Pulling the panels turned the cabin into an airy, semi-open space suited to weekend cruising.
2. Pontiac Firebird: Trans Am models wore the panels proudly
Pontiac’s Firebird shared its bones with the Camaro but cultivated a flashier personality across four decades. On the high-performance Trans Am, buyers could order lift-out roof panels, and the Firebird leaned fully into that theatrical, hood-decal image.
Second- and third-generation cars especially wore the panels alongside loud graphics and available V8 power. The design let two sections come out and store behind the seats. For many enthusiasts, the roofless silhouette is inseparable from the Trans Am legend of the era.
3. Toyota Supra: The A80 offered a lift-out targa panel
The fourth-generation Toyota Supra, known internally as the A80, debuted in 1993 as a turbocharged flagship. Alongside its stout 2JZ engine, the Supra could be ordered with a removable targa-style roof panel for open-air driving.
The sport-roof option paired neatly with the coupe’s muscular haunches and available rear wing. Praised for its tuning potential, the A80 grew into a modern classic sought after worldwide. Lifting out the panel gave the aggressive machine a lighter, more relaxed character on warm days.
4. Nissan 300ZX: A polished T-roof car of the Z lineage
Nissan’s 300ZX carried the Z lineage into the 1980s and 1990s with sleek, aerodynamic styling. Both the earlier Z31 and later Z32 offered removable roof panels, and the 300ZX ranked among the era’s most refined open-roof coupes.
The twin-turbo Z32 in particular earned praise for its performance and smooth grand-touring manners. With the panels stowed, the cabin gained sunlight while keeping the coupe’s rigid center structure intact. It remains a favorite among collectors drawn to Japan’s late-century performance boom and its digital-dash flair.
5. Chevrolet Camaro: Third-gen cars embraced the roof panels
Introduced in 1967 to counter Ford’s Mustang, the Camaro grew into a fixture of American performance. Third-generation cars, built from 1982, fully embraced removable roof panels, and the Camaro wore the look on many IROC-Z and Z28 models.
The panels came out to expose a bright opening over the front seats on warm afternoons. Combined with wedge styling and available V8 power, the setup captured the decade’s flashy mood. Offered on earlier cars as well, the removable roof became a lasting and recognizable Camaro staple.
6. Mazda RX-7: Rotary sports car with open-roof options
Mazda’s RX-7 stood apart thanks to its compact rotary engine and low, balanced proportions. Across its generations the rotary-powered RX-7 offered open-roof choices, including removable panels that let drivers enjoy the spinning Wankel with the sky exposed.
Early cars offered lift-out roof sections, while a full convertible later joined the lineup in some markets. Light weight and sharp handling made the model a favorite on road and track alike. Opening the roof added an extra sense of occasion to the distinctive rotary experience.
7. Ferrari F355: The GTS variant had a lift-out panel
Ferrari’s F355 arrived in 1994 as a beautifully resolved evolution of the marque’s mid-engine V8 line. Among its body styles, the GTS version of the F355 featured a lift-out roof panel that stowed behind the cabin for open-top motoring.
A 3.5-liter V8 spun toward high revs, giving the car a thrilling voice. The berlinetta and Spider rounded out the range, but the targa-roofed GTS bridged the two. Its removable panel let owners sample sunshine without committing to a full folding roof.
8. Honda CR-X del Sol: A targa-roofed Honda of the 1990s
Honda’s CR-X del Sol replaced the sporty CR-X for the 1990s with a friendlier, open-top focus. The del Sol used a manually removable roof panel, and some markets received an electric mechanism that stowed the top automatically.
Compact and efficient, it emphasized easygoing fun over outright speed for everyday drivers. VTEC engines in certain versions still delivered a genuinely spirited edge when pushed. Lifting away the roof turned the small coupe into a breezy two-seater ideal for sunny weekend commutes.
9. Toyota MR2: The mid-engine MR2 offered a T-bar roof
Toyota’s first-generation MR2, the AW11, launched in 1984 as an affordable mid-engine sports car. Buyers could specify a T-bar roof, and those examples of the MR2 used twin removable panels above the seats.
The wedge-shaped coupe emphasized balance and light weight over brute power at every turn. Its nimble handling and quick steering earned lasting enthusiast praise throughout the model’s long production run. With the panels removed, the tiny mid-engine two-seater delivered an open-air feel unusual at its modest price.
10. Porsche 911 Targa: The 911 that pioneered the named Targa top
Porsche introduced the Targa body style on the 911 in the mid-1960s, coining a name now used industry-wide. The 911 Targa paired a removable roof section with a fixed roll hoop, answering worries over stricter American convertible rules.
The design offered open-air freedom while retaining much of the coupe’s structural strength and safety. Later generations reinterpreted the concept with sliding glass and fully powered mechanisms. Even so, the original lift-out panel established the Targa as a lasting and imitated Porsche signature.
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