I'm just curious. I don't remember if i did asked this before ( if so forgive my goldfish-like memory about the answer ) but i saw that some cars, like the Honda ( Civic ) Del Sol and the Mazda MX-5 RF for example were listed as convertible ( except a few units for the Del Sol ) while some others like the NSX-T and the Corvette ( C4 & up ) were listed as coupe ( and it s even worse with the Porsche 911 Targa, its about 50-50 )

Shouldn't all of them being coupes since they share the same concept ( a removable Targa roof panel ) ?

To me the Porsche Targa should be listed as convertible, as it exists as non-Targa version too, which is then the coupé.

For the other ones, I'd say that t-top is maybe not convertible enough (to be discussed), but for me the others with removable roof like the Del Sol could be listed as convertible.

I was wondering the same question about the Fiat X1/9..most are listed as a coupé and some as a convertibile. I agree with the Del Sol being more convertible, and about the 911 Targa to avoid confusion, not sure on the MX5 RF..

Its the way i see Targa roof ones too, just that unlike the T-top you remove only a single panel that covers the whole area instead of two smaller ones with a top portion in the middle .

Maybe its just me..

I consider ones with a fixed rear window to be a coupe. So the Del Sol, Corvette C4, late Porsche 911 and cars like the X1/9 and Porsche 914.

Targas with a drop rear window or detachable rear window I would consider to be a convertible, so early Porsche 911 and Lancia Zagato/Beta Spider, as well as the Triumph Stag and versions of the Jaguar XJS that have the targa top.

T-Tops are always coupes.

That's just my take on how they should be classified.

Del Sol's rear window can be slided down but yeah, i'd agree with your classification

I didn't know that. Then I guess I would consider that a convertible? Same with the Mazda RF, it seems that the rear window folds up with the roof to open up.

Now we know why there is confusion!

I'm not casting a vote, but way back when I was a newbie picked up the theme that 911 Targa was considered a coupe to be consistent with 1980s Ferraris (eg 348) which as normal coupes, targas (which we called coupes) and full convertibles. And the 911 had a full cabrio alternative from 1983, so that's where the lines had been drawn.

But with 911 Targa, it gets fuzzy as the first 2-3 years in 1960s had removable floppy rear window, which then became fixed glass 1969+. And then there was the 2001-05 Targa which had a new format (in effect a sunroof, plus an opening rear hatch).

Stags have H-top frame, accompanied by a removable hardtop. XJS SC is a weird one - with fixed rear side windows but floppy roof and rear window - if anything its format is most like an early 2CV, which can be (and probably has been) argued in several different directions.