Despite an unpredictable climate the clamour among image-conscious Britons to go 'topless' is pushing convertible values up across all years. The trend is revealed in CAP Black Book, the trade guide to current used car values.

The ten cabriolets in CAP's latest market analysis demonstrate, open top motoring is a prudent investment thanks to a rise in values for these cars, which often outperform the rest of the market. For example, the Mercedes Cabriolet is worth £1,300 – or 8.4 per cent – more than the same car at an identical age and mileage in March 2003.

Black Book Senior Editor, Tony Styles, said: “Britain is now the cabriolet capitol of Europe – with proportionately more sales than in sunnier climes – and this represents great news for convertible owners because high demand is the enemy of poor depreciation.”