[RickM]

Quote:
"Cabriolet - any convertable
Roadster - small 2 seater convertable, purpose built (the 911 Cabrio was first built as a coupe, but the Boxster wasn't, so the Boxster is a roadster but the 911 Cab isn't)"

I agree with the Cab part but not 100% with the Roadster definition. The Mercedes SLs were built as both or either....lol. What I mean is the 300 SL was a Roadster yet the 300 Gullwing was not....they were in many ways the same car. The 60's - present day SLs (113,107,159 chassis etc) are designed with a removable (or retractable) hard top and are designated as Roadster/Coupes. IMO, roadster has a loose definition and is open to different interpretations.

One of the Porsche rags had an article on the origins of the word Cabriolet. Actually they over-explained it. It's basically french for a cart (carriage) with a folding hood (top).

Speedster has always meant chopped windshield frame to me.

Spyder (Spider) seems to be a flashy name for a Convertible sports car...used at the manufacturers discretion.