Foldable convertible vehicle tops

A convertible vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body having a vehicle windshield frame, and
• a foldable convertible top having:
• a substantially rigid front portion arranged and constructed to include a downwardly directed component of movement towards a windshield frame of the vehicle during a convertible top closing operation, the front portion being further arranged and constructed to engage the vehicle windshield frame in a convertible top closed position,
• a tensioning bow pivotably coupled to the vehicle body,
• a dead center point linkage pivotably coupled to the vehicle body such that a distance between the tensioning bow and a rear portion of the dead center point linkage increases when the front portion is downwardly moving towards the windshield frame,
• at least one oil-filled shock absorber fixedly coupled to the pivotable tensioning bow, the shock absorber comprising an extendable and retractable piston and
• a resiliently elastic traction cable having a first end coupled to the piston and a second end coupled to the rear portion of the dead center point linkage, the traction cable extending via a direction-changing element in a manner that changes the direction of at least a portion of the traction cable, the shock absorber and traction cable being arranged and constructed to (i) impart mechanical resistance against the downwardly directed component of the movement of the front portion towards the vehicle windshield frame during the convertible top closing operation only when subjected to traction loading.