B Roadsters & Convertible D's

[Dave Erickson]

I've been looking at ads for open cars lately, maybe because of all the rain and stormy weather we've had. But one thing confuses me: what is the difference between a D'Iteran built B roadster and a Convertible D? Are they one and the same?

-Dave

[Doug McDonnell]

Richard Zarbo
Post subject: Re: D'Ieteren Roadster Chassis ID PlatesUnread postPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 3:30 pm
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Regarding date of your D'Ieteren roadster production, see the attached summary I produced from the stats at the Stoddard site. Single grill production began in 1959 at Drauz in Germany who continued production until March 1961 when subsequent single cars were built in Belgium by D'Ieteren into the Fall of 1961, followed by the twin grill roadsters built from late 1961 into 1962.

My roadster 89411 was produced late September, 61st to the last single grill, and and was registered as a 1961 car here in the US in 1962. The process must have been quite slow from Belgium as it was eventually transported to Competition Motors in Los Angeles and sold to its first owner in April 1962.

Your VIN documents production of single grills into October. Anyone have the last single grill car VIN 89483 so we know that last day of production?

-Richard


Attachments:
356 Roadster Production.png
356 Roadster Production.png [ 327.89 KiB | Viewed 205 times ]

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'61 D'Ieteren Roadster
'95 993 Cabriolet

[Martin Benade]

The convertible D was a 1959 model year "A" roadster, while the D'lteran B is of course a "B" with the higher headlights and bumpers.

[Doug McDonnell]

And Conv D was a 1959 year only A car whereas Roadsters were T5B and T6B cars

[Dave Erickson]

OK, that is concise and explains it. I wondered why the B D'Iteran roadsters were not called Convertible D's.

[Richard Zarbo]

See this table here for production stats of all cars but the open cars specifically.
http://www.stoddard.com/Werkstatte/cat/ ... yengineid/

The Convertible D (for Drauz) was the roll-up window successor to the Speedster with same waterfall front fenders and similar body features. It was produced 1958- 1959 then succeeded by the T5 body Roadsters (raised front fender) with roll-up window, higher windshield frame. Most of these were produced by Drauz in Germany (1959-until March 1961) but a minority of the 1961 T5 Roadsters were produced by D'Ieteren in Belgium from March-September 1961. D'Ieteren also produced the T6 body twin grill Roadsters in late September 1961- into 1962.

Here is the chart for the Convertible D production dates and Roadster production numbers broken down further.

[Richard Ferenz]

Richard,
I have never looked closely at the numbers chart for the B Roadsters until now. I have Roadster 86835 with engine number 84725 in the car and on the Kardex, which doesn't correspond with the numbers listed. I assume it was the next engine in line when the car was built. Interesting

[Richard Zarbo]

Richard,
Your assessment is the likely scenario. Your Roadster Vin number 86835 is just five past the last produced Convertible D 86830 made by Drauz in 1959. From the motor search, your motor should be a 1600S in that series range. Must have been lying around in the line after the last D was born.

[Jon Bunin]

I have Roadster 86835 with engine number 84725 in the car and on the Kardex, which doesn't correspond with the numbers listed.

Richard, here's more information about your situation.

According to the factory Service Bulletin introducing the 356B model, serial numbers for B Super engines were 84674 to 84771 partially, and as of 84772 in series.
Your Super engine 84725 falls within the earlier, partial range where some engines were installed into B models.

You can click on the attached photo below to enlarge the bulletin.

[briontt k tyler]

Any idea how many 1600S (75hp) Motors were installed into the 249 1962 Twin Grill Roadsters? as opposed to the S90?
My chasis #89705

[briontt k tyler]

the range is 1200?

[Edwin Ek]

The common wisdom is that there were 248 T-6 Roadsters made, even though the serial number range, 89601 to 89849, covers 249.

One source says that there were only 37 Super 90's. Of the cars, CoA's, and Kardexes I have seen (20 +), a surprisingly large number were Normals. Call it one-third Supers and two-thirds Normals.

I guess the tilt towards the lesser engine isn't so surprising given that the same holds for Speedsters.

Briontt, welcome to the Registry! Please tell us a little about yourself and your '62 Roadster. There are several owners here, of which I am one.

[Greg Haskin]

The D appears to be a result of consumer interest in having roll up side windows and a more practical top. The roadster followed the whole company shift to the T5 body with higher headlights and all the other updates. A fascinating sub chapter to the D'Iteren story is the group of roadsters that were built in and shipped from Belgium, thus never having been in Germany. It seems that D'Iteren numbers all begin with 89... And the biggie: that second grill ads $50-100K to the price of what is otherwise essentially the same car.

Greg Haskin
Roadster 89458

[Vic Skirmants]

"And the biggie: that second grill ads $50-100K to the price of what is otherwise essentially the same car. "
I wouldn't call a T-6 chassis the same as a T-5.

[Richard Emerson]

And then there is that 1959 Speedster with a S90 engine...