{"id":17303,"date":"2020-10-06T05:10:03","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T12:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=17303"},"modified":"2025-09-04T22:03:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T05:03:28","slug":"dodge-dakota-convertible-the-first-modern-convertible-pickup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/dodge-dakota-convertible-the-first-modern-convertible-pickup\/","title":{"rendered":"Dodge Dakota Convertible: The First Modern Convertible Pickup"},"content":{"rendered":"\nReading Time: <\/span> 5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n

The concept of a convertible pickup truck seems to contradict itself. On one hand, people associate pickups with power, grit, and muscle. On the other hand, convertibles are known for their speed and luxury features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dodge Dakota<\/a> Sport Convertible was an attempt to incorporate the best features of these two body types into one vehicle, but could a combination of both actually work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brief History of Convertible Pickups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A pickup truck with a removable roof may raise some eyebrows among the uninitiated, but it’s definitely been around long enough for a few truck enthusiasts to tell you that it played a role in automotive history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Ford released its Model T from 1908 to 1927, it allowed middle-class Americans access to car travel. The Model T was such a success that it’s been named the most influential car of the 20th century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Dodge Dakota Convertible was one of the first, American-made, modern convertible pickup trucks that came after Ford’s Model A and the pioneer model in the mid-size truck segment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The automaker then released the Model A roadster pickup truck as part of its Model A series from 1927 to 1931. The Model A featured retractable passenger cabin roofing and was relatively popular—in fact, it enjoyed almost the same popularity and success as the Model T.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took more than half a century for automakers to design another convertible pickup after Ford’s Model A roadster pickup. One example is the Chevrolet Super Sport Convertible Roadster (SSR), which General Motors released back in 2003. This model was influenced by Chevy’s Advance Design pickups from the late 40s to early 50s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the first, American-made, modern convertible pickup trucks that came after Ford’s Model A is the Dodge Dakota Convertible. Dodge produced this model from 1989 to 1991 in partnership with the American Sunroof Corporation (ASC). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this model did not prevail in the market for long, it certainly made a lasting impression that would influence convertible pickup truck models that came after it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Birth of the Dodge Dakota Sport Convertible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
First introduced in 1986, the Dodge Dakota was the pioneer model in the mid-size truck segment, as it was a larger and beefier alternative to the Ford Ranger and the Chevy S-10 and GMC S-15 models. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first generation featured inline-four and V-6 engines, and either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. At one point, Dodge even installed a powerful V-8 engine in its 1989 special, the Shelby Dakota. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dodge Dakota also offered more truck bed space than its competitors from Ford and Chevy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Who remembers the 1989 Dodge Dakota convertible? pic.twitter.com\/gC8K2nVwge<\/a><\/p>— JeffMG (@JeffMG68) April 11, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>