Cruising in a Convertible 

Don't you love riding in a convertible? You feel like a movie star, cruising around in your sunglasses with the wind blowing through your hair.

In the early 1900s, every car was a convertible. Horseless carriages had no roofs or windshields. There were no paved roads so driving was dusty and dirty. Early motorists wore "automobile clothing."

To keep dirt and insects out of their eyes, drivers wore goggles. Some wore hats with built-in goggles or windshields; others wore face masks. Men wore caps while women wore wide-brimmed "motoring bonnets"¯with scarves that tied under the chin.

Leather gloves kept drivers' hands warm and clean. They also served as work gloves. "Foot muffs" kept feet warm in winter.

To keep dirt and mud off their clothing, motorists wore "dusters," loose-fitting, neck-to-ankle coats. In case of rain, rubberized "storm aprons were spread across the passenger seating area. These large ponchos, with two to five head openings, kept the passengers warm and dry - at least from the neck down!









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