The Rise of The White Roof

Sections: Best of the Web Jun 12th, 2007 19 Comments

WindingRoad takes a look at the growing trend of white roofs on cars around the world. Here’s an excerpt:

White roofs are set to rise in popularity in the coming years, and the reasons aren’t purely cosmetic. Current white roofers MINI, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and Ford Flex (above) have carved out a unique design for themselves based on this treatment, but the reality is that there are energy-saving benefits, too. Think of desert wardrobes or Greek buildings: white reflects the sun’s rays better than any other color.

Read on below:

[ White Roofs are Cool ] Winding Road

[ Thoughts on a cool white roof ] Metacool

Written By: MF Staff

Jack07734

A white roof may be cool but no roof is cooler.

Cheers, Jack (Motoring Topless)
http://deleted gmini

and a silver roof is coolest. ;)
gz

I have a white roof on my new FJ Cruiser. Looks great, however, I still like a black roof on Minis. The white roof seems too “cute”.
Nathaniel Salzman

Yes! Silver roof is certainly the coolest!!!
jarrett

I agree, white roofs are a necessity down south, every time i drive though dallas, i cringe when i see a black roof as i know the car temperature is quite warm inside.
Imurtrbolvr

I guess it sucks for us “Black-Roof Mini-owners” :( noooo… we wont be saving energy and eventually we’ll become the sole cause of earth’s destruction.
justinm

Imurtrbolvr, it will be those with dark black window tinting that will the cause of the earth’s destruction. I just know that some of them drive around saying to themselves, “I sure am glad I got this tinting, I can’t imagine how hot it would be in here without it.”

Anyway, just enjoy your dark roof in the winter, or move farther north.
joey drama

kinda surprised that no one included in their articles about how the mini originally had a white roof so race spectators could easily pick it out at a race. Question: what is that first car shown in the second article? i always wonder what it is when i see it in scarface.
justinm

or move farther north

Oh, now that was a hemispherist comment. Apologies to those in SA, Australia, etc. :-)
Ken

In 1965 my dad bought a beautiful Ford, LTD with a white, metallic turquoise body and matching turquoise interior. When we visited the Gateway arch in St. Louis Mo., we could see our car in the parking area because it was one of a handful of white roofed autos. I day IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll never forget.
http://SuperReview Mark

Joey: I the car in the second post is an early ’70s Citreon DS, I think.
MQuin

a white roof looks real girly to me….black or silver!
Dave Mac Mini

Mark and joey

Indeed, the car is a Citroen DS, a wonderful machine that was far ahead of its time, as it was introduced in 1955 and produced for 20 years or so. I have owned several of them over the years, and they were fun cars to own. Much like the MINI, they always attracted a lot of attention.
dr

if they painted prius roofs white I would paint my white roof black!
Greg W

The first Classic Mini Coopers had white and black roofs as a contrasting colour, i.e. red car/black roof, white car/black roof, green car/white roof, grey car/white roof. The white colour was “Old English white”. This had nothing to do with spotting a car on the track. John Cooper used his GP Formula One Cooper car colours for his Mini Cooper team – British racing green with two stripes from radiator grille to windscreen. The cars had a white roof. The BMC Works cars as used in Monte Carlo Rallies were traditional red car with white roof (also used for Austin Healey works cars, and other models).
chakaluka

My 74 FJ-40 (real Land Cruiser) had a white roof. it was a fiberglass part molded with white Gelcoat. All FJ-40s got the same piece – no repainting. Functional both in terms of weight and production efficiency. Not so with the white roofs on the new FJ or MINI.
Aussom

Whatever happened to Vinyl roof skins? A possibility for future MINIs?
Vanwall

Growing up in Arizona, I learned to appreciate how cool a white roof could be, believe me. Strangely enough, the vast majority of Mk1 Minis I ran across had been red with the black top originally – must’ve been the factory’s export choice. Considering on a hot day you could cook an egg on a black car there, white is my choice, if nothing else so you could rest your arms on the roof without screaming.
Nigel

If you live in the “sunbelt” getting a MINI with a white roof is a very good idea. If you want to keep a cool cabin, avoid the sunroof and add tints all around…it really helps the A/C in those extra hot days…

← White Roof Radio #164 New World Record Line of MINIs Set →

Sort by MINI model

Recent BimmerFile Stories

MINI Model Cheat Sheet

1st Gen MINI
R50: One & MC Hatch
R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt.
R53: MCS Hatch
2nd Gen MINI
R55: Clubman
R56: Hatch
R57: Convertible
R58: Coupe
R59: Roadster
R60: MINI Crossover
R61: MINI Crossover Coupe
3rd Gen MINI
F55: Clubman
F56: Hatch
F57: Convertible
F60: MINI Crossover
F62: Traveller

Advertise with MotoringFile

If you or your company are interested in advertising on the most influential MINI website in the world, please visit our Advertising section. If you have further questions about becoming a sponsor or would like to see our rate sheet please feel free to contact us directly.