For over a century, the convertible car has been considered the epitome of sporting luxury. No other form of motoring is able to offer such an unparalleled connection to the driving experience - the thundering tones of the engine amplified tenfold, the rush of hot air through your hair, the warmth of the Mediterranean sun on the back of your neck. The convertible is also the car of choice for the glitterati and celebrities of the world, from movie stars to sporting heroes and even royalty - in fact, anybody who wants to see and be seen on the streets of Beverly Hills or the boulevards of Monte Carlo. From the ostentatious and leviathan prewar Hispano Suizas, Delahayes and Auburns, through the beautiful curves and sweeping lines of the iconic Jaguars, BMWs and Ferraris of the '50s and '60s and on to the computer-designed, technology-laden, open-top hyper-cars of the new millennia, the convertible is forever the ultimate representation of automotive excitement. AUTHOR: Saverio Villa is a journalist who specializes in the field of cars and motors in general, with a particular interest in the historical and technological aspects, and in vintage cars. He began his professional career with the magazine Auto. He has occupied the post of Deputy Editor of Evo, and has been in charge of the motoring section of Panorama. He has also been Editor of Auto oggi and Panoramauto. He is currently Editorial Director of the monthly magazine Autorama, of the TV program "Yellow TV" and the Asapress agency, and he also works with Auto, AM, and Corriere della Sera. Mark Coletto is a journalist expert on cars and sport. He started his professional career at Auto oggi and currently works with the magazines Panoramauto and Evo. He also writes for the Panorama.it and Panorama-auto.it Websites, in addition to Autorama and the TV program "Yellow TV." Andrea Rapelli is a journalist. He has always loved motors and specializes in production cars and road tests. He is also interested in vintage cars and motorcycles. Today he writes for Evo and Panoramauto, and edits the motoring page of PC Professionale. ILLUSTRATIONS: Colour
