Driving mechanism for a motor-driven convertible roof

Driving mechanism for a motor-driven convertible top for a motor vehicle including a motor vehicle body, comprising a linkage system including a front roof frame, a rear roof frame, and a main roof arch connected to the motor vehicle body, a retaining rod supporting said main roof arch against a tension bracket, wherein the improvement comprises a drive motor (15) with a shaft (21), means for forming a drive connection between said shaft (21) and each of said main roof arch (5) and said tension bracket (9), said means comprising a first connecting rod (13) and a first lever (19) connected to said main roof arch and a second connecting rod (14) and a second lever (20) connected to said tension bracket, said first lever (19) mounted for pivotal movement about a first axis (17), and said second lever pivotally mounted on a second axis (18), said first and second axes disposed in parallel and laterally spaced relation, and means (25) on one of said first and second levers (19, 20) arranged to be entrained by the other one of said first and second levers (19, 20) as said drive motor pivots the other one of said first and second levers over a pivot angle whereby the engagement of said means by the other one of said first and second levers takes place only over a certain range of the pivot angle and disengage outside that range.