Feb 27, 2003 - At the Geneva Motor Show, Finnish coachbuilders Valmet Automotive will unveil the concept of a convertible car with glass roof, developed and manufactured at the company’s Technical Centre in Uusikaupunki, Finland.

The design is being proposed on a Ford Thunderbird which roof has been replaced by the Valmet Retractable Glass Roof. This is a fully automatic retractable roof featuring two glass panels.

The roof is operated by an electro-hydraulic actuation system and folds smoothly into a compact package behind the seats. The retractable roof is neatly stowed in the space between the trunk and the seats and the tonneau cover is completely separate from the trunk lid. Due to smart packaging of the roof the size and shape of the trunk is not compromised and even the trunk lid is the same as on the original Ford Thunderbird. The coachbuilder stresses that this is just a show-car and that series production of this car is not planned.

Valmet Automotive specialises in the development and production of convertibles, roof systems, body structures and interior solutions, total concepts for niche vehicles, and vehicle production for major manufatcurers including Porsche and Saab.