Since World War II several manufacturers produced affordable roadsters with two seats.
IIt was especially British manufacturers that competed in this difficult segment and American motorists could not get enough of them. After World War II ended, MG introduced the T-Series; the range had flared wheel arches and loose headlamps , as well as cut-out doors with removable sliding windows. In 1955 the company introduced the far more modern MGA , available as a coupé or convertible. One model that attracted a lot of attention because it was far head of its time was the Twin Cam, but appartently this model was difficult to work on and it was quickly discontinued
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The MGB replaced the MGA in 1962; it was initially only available as a roadster, but the beautiful GT coupé was added in 1965. During the 18-year lifespan of the MGB no mechanical chages were made , except for the introduction of the less successful MGC, powrered by the same 3,0-litre engine as the Austin-Healey 3000, in 1967. The V8, only available as a GT and powered by the familiar Rover 3,5-litre V8 engine, was introduced in 1973. American safety standards meant that the later models, from about 1977 onwards, were fitted with rubber bumpers.
The smaller Midget, introduced in 1961, was also available for a long time. Its engine capacity was increased from 948 cm³ to 1,1-litre and 1,3-litre; the last models were powered by the 1,5-litre engine of the Triumph Spitfire 1500. Whereas the MGB was imported to South Africa in relatively large numbers, the Midget is a rare sight. After the MGB and Midget were discontinued, it took a long time for MG to introduce a two-seater roadster again. The MG F was introduced in 1995 and the updated version, the TF in 2002. These here powered by a mid-mopunted 1,8-litre engine. The TF was manufactured until 2005, when MG Rover was placed under administratiom. Production resumed two years later when the company was sold to Nanjing Automobile but by then the TF was outdated and the later models were not a success.
MG's main rival was Triumph, whose Roadster was introduced after World War II. After that, several TR models followed; from the TR 2 in 1953 to the less successful TR 7 in 1975. The latter model was initially only available as a coupé with a fixed roof, but a convertible followed in 1979. The Spitfire, built on the same platform as the Herald and designed by Giovanni Michelotti, was introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962, at exactly the same time as the MGB. Initially, the Spitfire was powered by a 1,2 litre engine but the engine capacity increase to 1,3 litre coincided with the introduction of the Mark 3, whose front bumper was mounted higher up. The last model was the Spitfire 1500. Because there as no money to develop a successor, the Spitfire remained on the market until 1980. The criticism from the British magazine Car was merciless, as was the case with the MG Midget, and remarks like "Somebody shoot it please" and "Death, where is thy sting?" were made towards these cars. It must be added that the magazine had nothing good to say about any British Leyland product.
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The GT 6 was introduced as a rival to the MGB GT in 1966; it was a fastback version of the Spitfire, but powered by the same two-litre six-cylinder engine as the contemporary 2000 sedan which was not as easy to fit under its bonnet as one might think. The GT 6 remained on the market until 1973.
In 1952, the Healey Hundred was introduced at the London Motor Show. During the show, Donald Healey, who developed the car, reached an agreement with British Motor Corporation (BMC) to take over manufacture and distribution of what would become the Austin-Healey. The smaller Austin-Healey Sprite was added in 1958 and quicly gained the "Frogeye" nickname because of its headlamps.One major disadvantage was the fact that it did not have a boot lid and luggage had to be loaded through the cabin. Nevertheless it became popular. The Sprite Mark Ii rectified this matter when it was introduced in 1961 but its styling had lost its character and BMC decided to concentrate on the similar MG Midget. from 1971. The original Austin-Healey, known as the "Big Healey" was discontinued in 1969.
Lotus was more than a successful Formula 1 constructor. The one two-seater roadster which captured the public's imagination was the Elan. The double World Champion Jim Clark drove for Lotus throughout his career until his fatal accident in 1968. He drove an Elan, not because he raced for Lotus but because he really loved the car. The range was later added when the larger Elan Plus 2, with a coupé bodywork and four (actually 2+2) seats was introduced but by 1974 the entire range was discontinued after Lotus decided to concentrate on larger cars like the Elite, the Eclat and the Esprit. A new front-wheel-drive Elan was introduced in 1989 but it was not very successful and it was discontinued in 1995. Kia continued manufacturing this model as the Kia Elan until 1999. The Elise was introduced in 1996 as a successor to the front-wheel-drive Elan but altthough it succeeded, styling was more important than practical considerations . Unlike the Elan models, the Elite had a mid-mounted engine.
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One two-seater roadster which is totally unknown in South Africa but deserves an honourable mention is the Reliant Scimitar SS1. It was the last design by Giovanni Michelotti and was only put into production in 1984, four years after Michelotti died. This was one car which highlighted the collaboration between small, independent companies and larger manufacturers. Most models were powered by the CVH engines from the Ford Escort Mark 3, but the one model which aroused a lot of interest was the 1800Ti, powered by a turbocharged Nissan engine., The instrument panel and switchgear came from Austin Rover.
Although British manufacturers are rightly credited for the popularity of affordable two-seater roadsters, manufacturers from other countries also achieved sustained success. Fiat introduced the X 1/9 in 1972, powered by the same 1,3 litre engine fitted to the 128. The difference was that the X 1/9 did not have a foldable roof; instead its hard Targa roof could be stowed in the front luggage compartment when removed. Its engine was mounted over the rear axle , and behind the engine was a small luggage compartment which could take a bag for a weekend away or a few shopping bags. The X1/9 was marketed as a Fiat until 1982, when it gained the Bertone badge of the well-known design studio. The X1/9 was imported in small numbers until Fiat pulled out of South Africa in 1980. After that, Alfa Romeo imported it uindfer the Bertone badge, powered by the 1,5 litre engine of the Ritmo, a car that was never introduced to South Africa.
Toyota came up with the MR 2 in 1984; It looked almost exactly like the X1/9 and also had a mid-mounted engine. The MR 2 stood for Midships Runabout Two-seater. It was the first Toyota powered by the famous double overhead-camshaft 16 valve engine later fitted to the Corolla and Conquest . In faft, Toyota imported two MR 2,s to train mechanics who would work on this engine before its introduction to South Africa in 1985. The second-generation MR 2 looked like a Ferrari but shared the Targa roof of its predecessor. It was powered by a two-litre engine. The third-generation MR 2 was a convertible in the true sense of the meaning, with a folding roof. It was powered by a 1,8 litre engine and although it was imported to South Africa in greater numbers than its predecessors it was discontinued in 2007 without being replaced.
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The one two-seater roadster that was a massive international success was the Mazda MX 5, introduced in 1989. It was, to all intents and purposes, a modern-day Lotus Elan with a longitudinally-mounted double overhead camshaft engine and rear wheel drive. More than a million units of the various models have been sold so far; as a result it is the most suffessful two-seater roadster in history. The initial models were powered by a 1,6 litre engine but the engine capacity was later increased to 1,8 litres and later to two litres. Even though styling changes were made through the years, the design philosophy remained the same.
The current MX 5 has been in production since 2014 and an additional model, the RF (Retractable Fastback) was added. This model is fitted with a retractable roof that is opened like a large sunroof. After its introduction, Mazda decided to concentrate on the RF for South Africa. However, the MX 5 was quietly discontinued in South Africa even though it is still internationally available. The most important reason is the affordability crisis faced by most South African motorists and for which there seems to be no solution.
This was the last car in this segment to be introduced to South Africa; the new MG Cyberster is also a two-seater roadster but its electric powertrain means it is even further out of the financial reach for the South African motorists and it is not suitable as an everyday vehicle.
The demise of the affordable two-seater roadster is hard to accept for South African enthusiasts because it deprives them of the opportunity to drive an exciting car at a reasonable price. Whoever decides to revive this segment will achieve great success.
Daantjie Badenhorst
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