Smart Roadster Brabus Xclusive

[Bobby Dazzler]

Is this a "targa" top?

Sort of . There’s no central bar running fore to aft when the hard top is removed.

 

[Gollom]

Sort of . There’s no central bar running fore to aft when the hard top is removed.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Let me see if I can take some.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I’ve never read or heard the Smart Roadster being described as a Targe however when the roof is completely removed it has the same core design features and characteristics of what I would describe as being a Targa.

With the windows down the car is fully open from waistline on one side to the other, without door frames, roof rails (like a cabriolet-coach) or central spine longitudinally connecting the windscreen header rail to the rollover hoop (like a T-top).

That being the second key characteristic, there is a structural rollover hoop which runs transversely across the car and sits directly behind the passenger. It forms a B-pillar and provides both torsional rigidity and rollover protection.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I’ve never read or heard the Smart Roadster being described as a Targe however when the roof is completely removed it has the same core design features and characteristics of what I would describe as being a Targa.

With the windows down the car is fully open from waistline on one side to the other, without door frames, roof rails (like a cabriolet-coach) or central spine longitudinally connecting the windscreen header rail to the rollover hoop (like a T-top).

That being the second key characteristic, there is a structural rollover hoop which runs transversely across the car and sits directly behind the passenger. It forms a B-pillar and provides both torsional rigidity and rollover protection.

View attachment 157777

Here from the side profile:

 

[SpikyMikey]

I’ve never read or heard the Smart Roadster being described as a Targe however when the roof is completely removed it has the same core design features and characteristics of what I would describe as being a Targa.

With the windows down the car is fully open from waistline on one side to the other, without door frames, roof rails (like a cabriolet-coach) or central spine longitudinally connecting the windscreen header rail to the rollover hoop (like a T-top).

That being the second key characteristic, there is a structural rollover hoop which runs transversely across the car and sits directly behind the passenger. It forms a B-pillar and provides both torsional rigidity and rollover protection.

View attachment 157777

A bit like the Fiat X1/9 - although that had a small fixed quarterlight

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

A bit like the Fiat X1/9 - although that had a small fixed quarterlight

I do like the X1/9. Cool name, cool car. I must resist the urge to fire up eBay and AutoTrader. Too late.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Glorious !

So, not wishing to "rain" on your parade, how's the "water ingress" that can be a problem as these things creak their way to 80,000 ?

Presumably tight as a drum because of its mileage and past life, but has it seen any rain yet ?

 

[SpikyMikey]

I do like the X1/9. Cool name, cool car. I must resist the urge to fire up eBay and AutoTrader. Too late.

Told you I was a bad influence

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I do like the X1/9. Cool name, cool car. I must resist the urge to fire up eBay and AutoTrader. Too late.

Cool car, but Italian build and rust proofing.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

A bit like the Fiat X1/9 - although that had a small fixed quarterlight

I do like the X1/9. Cool name, cool car. I must resist the urge to fire up eBay and AutoTrader. Too late.

Oh oh there’s a two-59’e low mileage VS and a Grand Finale on eBay. Use the force Bobby. Or the threat of Mrs D’s wrath.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Oh oh there’s a two-59’e low mileage VS and a Grand Finale on eBay. Use the force Bobby. Or the threat of Mrs D’s wrath.

We know, we know, we found those last week.

"Fortunately," there's a much less contentious low mileage garage queen option out there too.

Always a good month, May, for "tidying up the Garage."

 

[SpikyMikey]

Cool car, but Italian build and rust proofing.

It is said that the later batches, 1988/89 cars were Bertone built and slightly better.....but everything's relative.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Glorious !

So, not wishing to "rain" on your parade, how's the "water ingress" that can be a problem as these things creak their way to 80,000 ?

Presumably tight as a drum because of its mileage and past life, but has it seen any rain yet ?

Yes it’s been out in quite heavy rain with the hard soft top on, I can’t say that I wasn’t just a bit twitchy.

 

[nyssa7]

Welcome to the club. I’ve had mine since 2006

Doesn’t see much action but I can’t bring myself to sell it. Last look I think it was on 39000 miles. View attachment 157738

Here’s my one - which coincidentally is for sale. Pretty well nut and bolt rebuild 200 miles ago

 

[ChrisHGTV]

It is said that the later batches, 1988/89 cars were Bertone built and slightly better.....but everything's relative.

I’ve always had a soft spot for x1/9s, there are some superb ones I often see at some of the Italian shows. But for X1/9 insanity Google Manuel Dondi - his hillclimb monster is spectacular, it must corner at about 9g!

 

[nyssa7]

I bought my X1/9 new in 1979, by 1982 it was running a tuned engine, around 130bhp, and a full Dallara Gp5 body kit. By 1984 the 1500 engine had been swapped for a Beta 2000 twin cam, fully rebuilt and nearer 150bhp. Has changed colour many times while I tried to get that right - still own it although hasn’t been used in probably 30 years and awaiting rebuild. Picture doesn’t really show off the width of the arches, but rear wheels are 11.5”x15” running 285/40x15 P7s

 

[ALFAitalia]

My wifes friend has had a white one as her daily since she bought it brand new in about 1980........after the first MOT its had welding to get it through pretty much every year since!!! Well over 200,000 miles on the original engine and gearbox though.....although both have been apart a few times!!!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I bought my X1/9 new in 1979, by 1982 it was running a tuned engine, around 130bhp, and a full Dallara Gp5 body kit. By 1984 the 1500 engine had been swapped for a Beta 2000 twin cam, fully rebuilt and nearer 150bhp. Has changed colour many times while I tried to get that right - still own it although hasn’t been used in probably 30 years and awaiting rebuild. Picture doesn’t really show off the width of the arches, but rear wheels are 11.5”x15” running 285/40x15 P7s
View attachment 157861

Christ alive, 11.5 inches is wiiiide

 

[javaid]

I don’t usually post photos of cars I buy but this one might be a rare exception. It’s both almost a Mercedes and an unusual example, and so it might be of interest to some MBClubbers, so here it is.

Yesterday I picked up a Smart Roadster Brabus. I know, I know it’s a little dull compared to a Mercedes-AMG ForFour Black Series AMG Sport Plus Night Edition Premium Plus 125 Navi facelift powered by Brabus.

It’s a very very low-mileage car which is in truly exceptional and original condition. It has missed a few services but it has been serviced almost every year by Mercedes/Smart with paid invoices.

It has some incredibly rare options including the hard top and luggage rack with integrated high-level brake light - it even has a tiny sticker on the luggage rack in perfect condition which wasn’t removed in the PDI

Inside and outside it’s completely standard - except for factory options and original accessories - and as-new throughout. It’s Speed Silver with black leather interior (including the dashboard) and it’s all in fantastic condition.

Shod with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, the wheels are original Brabus Style VI design with the most ridiculously deep dish filling the wide arches. I love these wheels and if I can find the right set then I’ll get mother set..

I’ve wanted one since they were launched but couldn’t t really have one at the time as I would never use it whilst our children were young, but I’ve watched them ever since wishfully thinking.

I’ve waited very patiently for a very low mileage example to come up - and missed out by minutes on a 15,000 mile example last September - so I bought this one immediately and unseen.

It had 7,742 miles on the mileometer when I picked it up and so driving it its as close as it gets to driving a new one in 18 years ago. Its days as a garage queen are over - it will be driven …lots!

Wow, a very clean example. I have one but its the roadster coupe, with a lot more milage but that's because it's such fun to drive and it was my daily driver for quite a while. Apart from the rims, which I left for some time with brake dust the rest of the car is beautiful. I wanted to keep mine but due to downsizing I will be losing our multi car garage so the roadster has to go. At 67 it's a little more difficult to get in and out of so I bought an W124 E220 convertible last year as a project. You can have so much fun in these cars, and they are cheap to run. Enjoy it and drive it, no fun with it sitting around.