Dealer reports drop-top surge

It’s official! British motorists love going topless. Cabrio sales are rising, and figures from supermarket Carcraft prove it.

The chain saw a 33 per cent increase in convertible sales between 2006 and 2007. Cabrios now account for five per cent of all its used car turnover. Carcraft managing director Barry Nightingale told Auto Express: “More manufacturers are now tapping into the trend by introducing their own convertibles – there were 16 new launches last year alone.”

The most popular models at Carcraft are established choices such as the Mazda MX-5, MGF and Peugeot 206 CC. These will soon be joined by newcomers like the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 Cabriolet. British Car Auctions even hosted a Top­less Parade at its Brighouse site in West Yorkshire last week. The special sale of 250 ex-fleet models included everything from supercars such as the Aston Martin DB9 Volante to more mainstream Vaux­hall, MINI and Saab convertibles.