Close your eyes and imagine the ability to turn your loud, wind-noise infected convertible Ford Mustang into a quiet, sleek, and safe-from-all-weather conditions machine.  An option available once to only the elite automobiles, a retractable hardtop is now available for the new 2008 Mustang.  The first of five prototypes is on the way to the United States as you read this article.

Being produced in Malta, the retractable hard top features the best of both worlds.  The option to be a coupe or convertible at the flip of a switch, but with no loss of trunk space.  The aim was to produce the top without encroaching on Americans' golf bag space.  With 24 months of development time, the Muscat Technology team has used the best materials to produce an amazing feature for Mustangs.  Your Mustang can go from drop top to coupe in 30 seconds at this point, but a new modification by Muscat is dropping the time down to 23 seconds. 

The retractable top works much like a normal convertible top.  You unlatch the the roof, then push a button and watch your sports coupe turn into a topless roadster.  The top slides behind the front seats and is covered with a leather tonneau cover, while taking up no trunk space.  

500 of the retractable hardtops will be produced each year for six years.  Muscat plans to produce two tops a day, with an estimated assembly time of 200 man hours.  This is not Muscat's first plunge into the retractable hardtop business.  In 1984, a similar product was produced and made for the same six year time period.

This is an exciting development for the Mustang community.  People can now buy a convertible without the fear of losing trunk space, or being subjected to the elements at will.  The top is sure to be a hit across the Mustang world.  Stay tuned to Planet Mustang for more updates on this exciting new product.