Convertible vehicles having cover plates for covering folding top passage apertures

A convertible vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body having a passage aperture defined at an upper edge of a longitudinally-extending side wall, wherein a guiding element is disposed on the vehicle body in or below the passage aperture,
• a retractable folding top comprising a foldable frame including foldable, longitudinally-extending components disposed along longitudinal side edges of the foldable frame, the foldable, longitudinally-extending components being arranged and constructed to pass through the passage aperture during foldable top opening and closing operations,
• a folding top storage compartment lid movably coupled to the vehicle body,
• a cover plate movably coupled to the folding top storage compartment lid, the cover plate being arranged and constructed to move towards the passage aperture during the folding top opening operation, and
• a safety catch coupled to the cover plate and being arranged and constructed to contact and then engage the guiding element during the folding top opening operation.