# Does a Camaro w/ Auto Trans = a Sports Car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609 "2014-05-16T21:30:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/122 "2014-05-21T14:01:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > There was no “GT” class at Le Mans in the sixties. The GT40 competed in the FIA World Sportscar Championship in Group 6 (sports prototypes) and was subclassed into Division III at Le Mans. The modern FIA GT1-3 categories didn’t exist until the mid-nineties or so. Interesting, I did not know that. I guess[they were all GT cars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965_World_Sportscar_Championship_season) back then. > [@](#): > > The 1965 World Sportscar Championship season was the 13th season of FIA World Sportscar Championship racing. It featured the 1965 **International Championship of GT Manufacturers** and the 1965 **International Trophy for GT Prototypes**. But it’s all under the umbrella of sportscars, so… ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/123 "2014-05-21T18:30:26Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Okay, that’s just about all the silliness I can take on the subject. 😛 It helps if you think of the shoe/gourd bit from **Life of Brian**. The term “sports car” really, truly meant something specific, for about five minutes. Then the marketing guys show up and do that Inuit snow thing where every word is just another word for sales. Roadster and convertible used to have distinct meanings, once upon a time. ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3be4f8/32.png) [@Hakuna07](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna07)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/124 "2014-05-21T20:56:10Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > It helps if you think of the shoe/gourd bit from **Life of Brian**. The term “sports car” really, truly meant something specific, for about five minutes. Then the marketing guys show up and do that Inuit snow thing where every word is just another word for sales. Roadster and convertible used to have distinct meanings, once upon a time. The way I heard it is: A convertible has a top to put down when the weather is good A roadster has a top to put up when the weather is bad My miata (hence the username) is a roadster!😃 ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/125 "2014-05-22T05:10:08Z")
> [@Hakuna07](#): > > The way I heard it is: > A convertible has a top to put down when the weather is good > A roadster has a top to put up when the weather is bad > > My miata (hence the username) is a roadster!😃 Yes to the first bit, no to the second. Convertibles had a ragtop you put up or down, like your Miata. Roadster tops are soft tops that completely detached. The first in a long while is that silly limited edition Boxster, but everything is just a convertible. I have no idea why some motorcycle manufacturers use roadster. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/126 "2014-05-22T12:37:31Z")
How about this definition: if it has two seats and makes random strangers say “nice car!” it’s a sports car. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/127 "2014-05-22T12:59:41Z")
> [@Hakuna07](#): > > The way I heard it is: > A convertible has a top to put down when the weather is good > A roadster has a top to put up when the weather is bad > > My miata (hence the username) is a roadster!😃 What is a T top car or one with a removable roof panel, classified as? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/128 "2014-05-22T13:06:58Z")
A [targa](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targa_top). ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/129 "2014-05-23T03:25:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > A [targa](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targa_top). Didn’t read that real close did you? > [@](#): > > Not to be confused with T-top. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/130 "2014-05-29T01:52:41Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > Sure you want a 1963? I like the MGB but my range is chrome bumpers with all-synchro transmission. I’d really rather a Midget (actual sports car and all that) but I’m too tall. i would happily compomise with a Fiat Spider 125 as well… I heart the Midget. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/131 "2014-05-29T01:57:05Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > Stop your bickering, guys! 😉 > I wish I had a sweet little 1963 MGB? In forest green, or eggshell…any color but red. That is my favorite “sports car.” One day I will have one. When I can no longer scooter. > [@beowulff](#): > > Ahem. > The only proper color for an MGB is [British Racing Green.](http://images01.olx-st.com/ui/9/92/04/f_308708804-1261185469.jpeg) Yes, that’s a great color for it. Red is so overrated when it comes to sports cars. If I found just the right one in red, I would promptly want to paint it a different color. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/132 "2014-05-29T05:16:51Z")
I’m against green on British cars for the same reason I loathe red on Ferraris - it’s just too cliche. I’ll be a rebel and get a MGB GT in Porsche’s Ossie Blue. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609/133 "2014-05-30T02:47:19Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Except when you compare the F40 to the [250 GTO](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_250_GTO), right?. Because everybody knows the 250 GTO was the pinnacle and anything Ferrari did after that was for posers. 😉 Any link that leads to another link where I log into Wikipedia and correct someone’s spelling is good. I’m surprised I’m back so quickly–that was “my” era and “my” cars and I should be lost in it. Did I ever tell you about my brother’s friend who tuned his dad’s 250LM by the color of the flames coming out of the exhausts? And could tell which cylinder was acting up by the location of the flame? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-camaro-w-auto-trans-a-sports-car/688609.md?page=6)