Perfect Convertibles for an Autumn Road Trip
As summer gives way to fall and the leaves begin to turn, there’s no better way to take in the season’s sights than by convertible.
Fall Foliage Forays
I am not from New England, but one of my office mates is, and they swear that up in that neck of the woods they refer to fall leaf viewing as “leaf peeping.” I kid you not. Considering the golden hues of New England autumn are nationally renowned, and a major tourist draw to the region each fall, that sort of makes them experts on the subject and entitled to coin whatever related verbiage they deem appropriate.
Despite never making it up to New England for their fall colors, I have made a few leaf viewing pilgrimages of my own, including in my home state of South Dakota. The Black Hills’ Spearfish Canyon turns a brilliant yellow each fall as the local oak, birch, and aspen trees make their seasonal transition. The curving canyon road this time of year makes for arguably the most scenic drives in the region.
Whether you’re enjoying some “leaf peeping” in New England or driving out West to witness the shimmering aspens in autumn, we suggest taking in nature’s splendor in the best way possible, by convertible. Below we’ve chosen some of our favorite convertibles new and old listed on Carsforsale.com, each perfect in its own way for making your autumn road trip indelibly memorable.
1965 Pontiac GTO
For classic Americana you can’t get much better than the first true muscle car. The first-generation GTO began as a performance off-shoot of the Pontiac Le Mans offering big V8 power, a 389 with 325 horsepower, in a mid-size coupe package. Our pick is a 1965 model drop top GTO in a white tuxedo of ivory with black interior and a proper 389 V8 under the hood. Modern updates include four-wheel disc brakes and an updated exhaust system with remote-operated cutout switch. If you’re a fan of classic muscle cars and fall foliage (and who isn’t, right?), this is the perfect car for your autumn road trip.
1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
Full disclosure, I consider the 1959 Cadillac to be one of the most gorgeous cars ever built; overwrought, even garish, but gorgeous, nonetheless. Rather than go with the obvious choice I looked a few years earlier to the 1957 model Eldorado and was rewarded with this stunning Biarritz (Cadillac’s convertible designation). Red and white with gold accents, this Eldorado cuts a dashing silhouette with its beautiful proportions, massive chrome grille, and period perfect fins. Though a two-door, this is a proper vintage Caddy, so the back seats are exceedingly roomy, making this convertible suitable for a family jaunt into the countryside.
2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn
From the old school luxury of yesteryear to the height of modern opulence, we jump to a 2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn. The Dawn is the most luxurious convertible on the market today, or close to it, offering a sumptuous leather interior, a pillowy ride, and a refined 563-horsepower V12 under the hood. Like the Cadillac above, the Dawn may be a two-door, but its rear seats are commodious enough to maintain a supreme level of luxury for rearward passengers. Of course, the Rolls-Royce Dawn is outrageously expensive, but if you’ve got the scratch, it makes for one heck of a convertible. (Learn more about Rolls-Royce’s history here.)
1929 Packard Custom Eight
Dialing the clock back nearly one hundred years, we consider this 1929 Packard Custom Eight, once among the most prestigious of American luxury autos. Nothing feels quite like New England old money like rolling through those fall colors behind the wheel of a perfectly restored vintage Packard. This example comes in a flawless white and navy-blue paint scheme with a beige interior. Power is provided by Packard’s signature straight-eight motor. Though a two-seater, this Packard convertible offers a rumble seat/mother-in-law seat in back for two additional passengers to take in the fall colors.
1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
Taking a convertible on an autumn road trip is all about pomp. Trying to make such a trip the big occasion it ought rightly to be, I thought of one of the showiest drop tops of all time, the Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner. This convertible’s hardtop automatically folds away under the car’s massive rear deck, that hinges upward clam shell style from the rear of the car. It’s quite the show for a car built in 1957. For more on the Skyliner, click here.
1963 Lincoln Continental
The 1960s Lincoln Continental is another iconic convertible worth considering for our autumn road trip. The dimly self-aware bro-fest that was HBO’s Entourage may not have aged all that well into 2024, but the show’s opening cameo by a black ’65 Continental remains a stunner, especially those rear-hinged coach doors. I found an equally fetching example for our fall leaf viewing, a 1963 Continental convertible in teal with a blue and white interior. This is the perfect kind of land yacht to waft down the road as you take in the sights of a crisp fall afternoon.
2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS
Some of the best roads for fall leaf viewing are also among the best driving roads. For something more spirited we submit the new 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS. The 718’s razor-sharp handling is complimented by a 4.0L flat-six with 493-horsepower and screaming 9,000 rpm redline. Despite the RS (Renn Sport) moniker, this convertible has a softer suspension than the more track-focused GT4 RS, making it even more appealing as an autumn road trip car.
2006 Mazda Miata
As you may know, Miata is always the answer, and when it comes to convertibles best suited for twisty wooded roads, the answer doesn’t get more obvious. Each generation of Mazda Miata has its charms, but for this exercise I’ve chosen an NC/third generation MX-5. It comes with a peppy 2.0L four-cylinder and a high-engaging five-speed manual transmission. Balanced and light weight, the Miata’s corner carving capabilities are sure to make your fall road trip even more thrilling.
2022 Lexus LC 500
Porsches and Rolls-Royces can certainly steal the high-end convertible spotlight. And yet, the Lexus LC 500 is quietly the best grand touring car money can buy. The LC 500 has the nicest interior, in terms of material quality, fit and finish, and overall design, of any car under $200,000. Its naturally-aspirated 5.0L V8 sounds like a Hemi with a fine arts degree (471 horsepower in case you were wondering). And of course, the LC 500 is as drop dead gorgeous outside as it is inside sporting the refined aggression of an Olympic fencer. The LC 500 is a future classic perfectly suited for spiriting you through the rush of gold and crimson boughs on your next autumnal adventure.
