Jump to content

Car body style: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
SamH (talk | contribs)
2,064 edits
added coupe convertible
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(617 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Aspect of motor vehicle design}}
[[Automobile|Cars]] can come in a large variety of different '''body styles'''. Some are still in production, while others are of historical interest only. These styles are largely (though not completely) independent of a [[car classification|car's classification]] in terms of price, size and intended broad market; the same car model might be available in multiple body styles.
{{See also|Car classification|Truck classification|Vehicle size class
}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2019}}
[[File:Three body styles with pillars and boxes.png|thumb|Profiles of a sedan, [[station wagon]] and [[hatchback]] versions of the same model (a [[Ford Focus]])]]


== Styles in current use ==
;'''[[Cabriolet]]''' : Another term for a convertible.
;'''[[Convertible]]''' : A body style with a removable or retractable roof and rear window.
;'''[[Coupe]]''' (US) or '''Coupé''' (UK/EU) : A 2-door, 2 or 4 seat car with a fixed roof. In some cases the rear seats are small and not intended for regular use; this is often called a 2+2.
;'''[[Coupe convertible]]''' : A type of convertible with a rigid roof (as opposed to a [[fabric or [[vinyl]] roof) that retracts into the lower bodywork.
;'''[[Station wagon|Estate car]]''' : A [[British English]] term for what [[North America|North Americans]] call a ''station wagon''.
;'''[[Fastback]]''' : A style of coupe in which the back slopes at a smooth angle from behind the front seats all the way to the tail.
;'''[[Hardtop]]''' : Originally referred to a removable solid roof on a ''convertible''; later, also a fixed-roof car with no fixed window frames, which is designed to resemble such a convertible. The doors have no window surrounds. A ''pillarless hardtop'' (the most common kind) is completely open on the sides with the windows down.
;'''[[Hatchback]]''' : Identified by a rear door including the back window that opens vertically to access a storage area not separated from the rest of the passenger compartment. May be 2 or 4 door and 2 or 4 seat.
;'''[[Liftback]]''' : A style of coupe with a ''hatchback''; this name is generally used when the opening area is very sloped (and is thus lifted up to open).
;'''[[Limousine]]''' : By definition, a [[chauffeur]]-driven car with a (normally glass-windowed) division between the front seats and the rear. However, [[BMW]] have adapted the term for their 7-series to mean simply a large sedan.
;'''[[Notchback]]''' : A cross between the smooth [[fastback]] and angled [[Sedan (car)|sedan]] look.
;'''[[People carrier]]''' : A car usually containing 3 rows of seats, with a capacity of six or more passengers. Often with extra luggage space also. As opposed to a van, a people carriers is styled as a car, though are more van-like than a station wagon.
;'''[[Pickup truck]]''' : Medium sized truck-like car featuring a separate cabin and rear load area, combining functions of a car and a truck.
;'''[[Roadster]]''' : Originally a two-seat open car with minimal weather protection. A folding top might be fitted, along with side curtains, but there was no side glass. Modern roadsters still have two seats but have tops and side windows; the term means simply a ''convertible'' [[sports car]], similarly to ''spyder.''
;'''[[Sedan (car)|Saloon]]''' : The [[British English]] term for a ''Sedan''.
;'''[[Sedan (car)|Sedan]]''' : A car seating four or more with a fixed roof that is full-height upto the rear window. Normally a 4 door; 2 door is rarer but they do occur (more so historically). This is the most common body style. In the U.S., this term has been used to denote a car with fixed window frames, as opposed to the ''hardtop'' style where the sash, if any, winds down with the glass. As hardtops have become rarer, this distinction is no longer so important.
;'''[[Sports utility vehicle]]''' (SUV) : Derivative of off-road or four-wheel drive vehicles but with car-like levels of interior comfort and drivability. Also sometimes called a "soft-roader".
;'''[[Spyder]]''' (or '''Spider''') : Similar to a ''roadster'' but originally with even less weather protection. Nowadays means simply a convertible [[sports car]].
;'''[[Shooting brake]]''' : A two-door estate car/station wagon in (somewhat antiquated) British usage. Often based on a higher-end car.
;'''[[Station wagon]]''' : A car with an full-height body all the way to the rear; the load-carrying space created is accessed via a rear door or doors.
;'''[[Targa top]]''' : A semi-convertible style used on some sports cars, featuring a fully removable hard top roof panel which leaves the A and B pillars in place on the car body. (e.g. [[Fiat X1/9]]). A derivative arrangement, called a T-bar roof, has two removable panels and retains a central narrow roof section along the front to back axis of the car (e.g. [[Toyota MR2]] Mk 1.)
;'''[[Utility vehicle]]''' (ute) : [[Australian English]] term for a [[pickup truck]].
;'''[[Van (road vehicle)|Van]]''' : In the context of a car type, this is usually a car body with no passenger capacity or windows at the rear. Such models are a utility vehicle with a fully enclosed load area, with seating usually for two people.


There are many types of car body styles. They vary depending on intended use, market position, location, and the era they were made.
=== Non-English terms ===
Some non-[[English language]] terms are familiar from their use on imported vehicles in English-speaking nations even though the terms have not been adopted into English.


== Current styles ==
;'''[[Barchetta]]''' : [[Italian language|Italian]] term for a [[roadster]]. The name means, roughly, "small boat".
<!--Do not use ;Pseudo-headings for subsection headers-->
;'''[[Berlina]]''' : [[Italian language|Italian]] term for a [[sedan (car)|sedan]].
===[[Buggy (automobile)|Buggy]]===
;'''[[Berlinetta]]''' : [[Italian language|Italian]] term for a sports [[coupe]].
Lightweight off-road vehicle with sparse bodywork. Originally two- or four-wheeled carriages in the 19th and early 20th centuries pulled by one horse, the motorized buggies were developed in the 1960s and grew in popularity and diversity.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Tikkanen |first1=Amy |title="buggy" - carriage |url= https://www.britannica.com/technology/buggy |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Hale |first1=James |title=Dune Buggy Phenomenon 2 |date=2006 |publisher=Veloce |isbn=9781904788669}}</ref>
;'''[[Break]]''' : [[French language|French]] term for a [[station wagon]].
;'''Kombi''' : [[Swedish language|Swedish]] term for a [[station wagon]].


[[File:Volkswagen Country Buggy.jpg|thumb|Volkswagen Country Buggy]]
=== Alternative names ===
Car manufacturers sometimes invent names for the body styles of their cars for the purpose of differentiating themselves from other manufacturers. These names are often, but not always, adaptations of other words and terms. The body styles themselves correlate closely to those listed above.


===[[Convertible]] / cabriolet===
;'''Avant''' : A name used by German maker [[Audi]] for their [[station wagon]]/estate car models.
: Has a retractable or removable roof. A convertible allows an open-air driving experience, with the ability to provide a roof when required.<ref>{{cite web|first=Karim |last=Nice |title=How Convertibles Work |date=2 May 2001 |website=auto.howstuffworks.com |url= https://auto.howstuffworks.com/convertible.htm |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> Most convertible roofs are either a folding textile soft-top or a retractable metal roof. Convertibles with a metal roof are sometimes called 'retractable hardtop', 'coupé convertible', or 'coupé cabriolet'.


[[File:Chrysler Sebring convertible (third generation - JS) top down white 2of3.jpg|thumb|[[Chrysler Sebring|Chrysler Sebring JS]] convertible with top down]]
;'''[[Combi coupé]]''' : A name used by [[Saab Automobile|Saab]] for a cross between a ''saloon'' and an ''estate car'', essentially a ''hatchback''. Called "Waggon Back" in the [[US]].


===[[Coupé]]===
;'''[[Kammback]]''' : Originally, a car with a tapered rear that cuts off abruptly, after that shape's inventor [[Wunibald Kamm]], commonly seen especially on [[sports car]]s. However, this usage is rare nowadays. Better known is the usage of it during the [[1970s]] by both [[General Motors]] and [[American Motors Corporation|AMC]] in [[North America]] as another word for "station wagon" or "hatchback" respectively.
: Two-door car, seating up to four<!-- or five? if 3 in backseat --> persons.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coup%C3%A9 |title=Dictionary: Coupé |website=Merriam-Webster.com |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/coupe |title= Dictionary: coupe |website=britannica.com |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref> Some two-door cars have only two seats<!-- no driver -->, thus '''two-seaters'''.<!-- bolded per [[WP:MOSBOLD]], as a redirect target --><ref>{{cite web|title=TWO-SEATER - Definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/two-seater|work=Cambridge Dictionary|publisher=Cambridge University Press & Assessment}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Andrew J. |date=October 11, 2024 |title=Tesla Cybercab announced: Elon Musk's robotaxi is finally here |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/10/24265530/tesla-robotaxi-elon-musk-features-range-price-release-date |access-date=October 14, 2024 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>


;'''Fordor''' and '''Tudor''' : These names were coined by [[Ford Motor Company]] in the [[1950s]] to describe four-door and two-door bodystyles respectively. These terms were used sporadically into the [[1960s]].


[[File:1987 Cadillac Coupe Deville (3).jpg|thumb|1987 Cadillac Coupe Deville]]
;'''Pillared Hardtop''' : This name was used by Ford in the [[1970s]] to describe its bodies which had frameless door glass like a hardtop, but retained a center pillar like a sedan. The '72-'76 [[Torino]] sedans and wagons were of this type, as were the '75-'79 [[Lincoln Town Car]]s. When GM introduced a similar style on their intermediates for '73-'77, they called the two-doors '''Colonnade Hardtop Coupe''' and the four-doors, in a triumph of ad agency gibberish, '''Colonnade Hardtop Sedan.''' The '76 [[Buick Century]] sedan used this configuration.


===[[Fastback]]===
;'''Sports Activity Vehicle''' (SAV) : This name is used by [[BMW]] for their ''sports utility vehicle'' models. It was first used on the [[BMW X5|X5]] and later on the [[BMW X3|X3]].
: Car with a roofline that slopes continuously down at the back. The design features a single unbroken convex curve from the roof to the rear.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fastback |title= Dictionary: fastback |website=dictionary.com |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fastback |title= Dictionary: "Fastback" |website=Merriam-Webster.com |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref>


[[File:Porsche 356 2014-09-07 13-45-43.jpg|thumb|Porsche 356]]
;'''[[Sportshatch]]''' : This term, which has been used by [[General Motors]] for several European models, has been applied to a number of body styles: A sporty liftback or hatchback (e.g. [[Opel Manta]]), and a sporty variant of a 2-door estate car (e.g. [[Vauxhall Magnum]] Sportshatch).


===[[Flower car]]===
;'''Sports Wagon''' : A term used by a number of manufacturers in the North American market for their [[station wagon]] models. Auto manufacturers in recent years perceive a stigma attached to the term 'station wagon', and attempt to make these models sound more exciting.
: Used in the U.S. in the funeral industry to carry flowers for burial services. Typically a coupé-style, forward-passenger compartment with an open well in the rear.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flower Cars: A Glance At A Forgotten Funeral Vehicle |url= https://www.lctmag.com/article/40715/flower-cars-a-glance-at-a-forgotten-funeral-vehicle |work=Luxury Coach & Transportation Magazine |date=1 January 1990 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=25 April 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190425010340/https://www.lctmag.com/article/40715/flower-cars-a-glance-at-a-forgotten-funeral-vehicle |url-status=dead }}</ref>


[[File:Cadillac Flower car.jpg|thumb|Cadillac Flower car]]
;'''Touring''' : Used by [[BMW]] in Europe for its [[station wagon]]/estate car models. In North America, 'Sports Wagon' is used instead.


===[[Hatchback]] / Liftback===
;'''Variant''' : Used by [[Volkswagen]] for its [[station wagon]]/estate car models.
: Car with a hatch-type rear door that is hinged at the roof and opens upwards. The term "hatchback" can also refer to that type of rear door, which is also used on several sports cars, SUVs, and large luxury cars.<ref name="Hilliers">{{cite book|first1=Victor |last1=Hillier |first2=Peter |last2=Coombes |title=Hillier's Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology: Volume 1 |edition=5th|publisher=Nelson Thornes |year=2004|isbn= 9780748780822 |page=11|quote=The estate body, also known as station wagons in some countries, has the roofline extended to the rear of the body to enlarge its internal capacity. Folding the rear seats down gives a large floor area for the carriage of luggage or goods. Stronger suspension springs are fitted at the rear to support the extra load. Hatchback: Although some hatchbacks are in fact saloon bodies with the boot or trunk effectively removed (usually the smaller cars) many hatchbacks retain the full length of the saloon, but the roofline extends down to the end of the vehicle...as with the estate, the rear seats fold down to give a flat floor for the transportation of luggage or other objects. When the tailgate is closed, the luggage compartment is usually covered with a parcel shelf. |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=DoYaRsNFlEYC&q=%22station+wagon%22+vs.+%22hatchback%22&pg=PA11 |access-date=15 January 2013 }}</ref>


[[File:Renault Clio Expression (IV) – Frontansicht, 17. März 2013, Ratingen.jpg|thumb|[[Renault Clio]] hatchback]]
== Historical body styles ==


===[[Hearse]] / funeral coach===
Most early body styles were derived from those available in horse-drawn [[carriage]]s and used the [[coachbuilding]] terms for them, although often their application in the automobile differed from the carriage use. Other types were soon invented, and either used modifications of earlier terminology or wholly new terms to describe them. Some of these terms are occasionally used in modern model designations, but almost always inaccurately with respect to their historical meaning (e.g. [[Lincoln Town Car]], [[Volkswagen Phaeton]]).
: The modification of a passenger car to provide a long cargo area for carrying a coffin or casket. Hearses often have large glass panels for viewing the coffin.


[[File:Reagan hearse.jpg|thumb|[[Hearse|Cadillac Hearse]] ]]
;'''[[Brougham]]''' : Generally equivalent to a ''sedan'', but more likely to have closed rear quarters and sometimes more luxuriously trimmed.
;'''[[Coupe convertible]]''' : A ''coupe'' with a ''convertible'' top, naturally. Fully enclosed with the top up and side windows up. Called a ''drophead coupé'' in the United Kingdom.
;'''[[Drophead coupé]]''' : As a ''coupé'', but with a full convertible top. British terminology, and dropping out of use for most modern cars, though luxury British makes occasionally still use it. Compare American use of ''coupe convertible''; contrast with ''fixed-head coupé''.
;'''[[Fixed-head coupé]]''' : British term for a standard coupé with a fixed solid roof, as opposed to a ''drophead coupé''.
;'''[[Landau (car)|Landau]]''' : In automobiles, generally (inaccurately) synonymous with ''landaulet''; also used for a car with a ''simulated'' folding top and false [[landau bar]]s. This latter usage is still current.
;'''[[Landaulet]]''' : A car in which there is a roof over the front seats and the rear doors (possibly with a center row of seats) but with a folding convertible roof over the rear quarters.
;'''[[Phaeton]]''' : An open car, normally describing a double or triple-row phaeton. There is often a folding fabric top but no side weather protection.
;'''[[Tonneau]]''' : A car in which the rear compartment passengers enter through a rear, rather than side, door. Often completely open (no top).
;'''[[Town brougham]]''' : Equivalent to a ''town car'', but, as with the ''brougham'', more likely to have closed rear quarters.
;'''[[Town car]]''' : A car in which the front seats were open and the rear compartment closed, normally with a removable top to cover the front [[chauffeur]]'s compartment. The modern [[Lincoln Town Car]] derives its name, but nothing else, from this style.
;'''[[Town landaulet]], [[Town landau]]''' : Combining the ''town car'' and ''landaulet'', this car is open over the driver's compartment, closed over the rear doors, and with an opening convertible top over the rear quarters.


==See Also==
===[[Limousine]]===
: A luxury-type vehicle that is typically driven by a chauffeur with a partition between the driver's compartment and the passenger's compartment. Limousines may also be stretched to provide more room in the rear passenger compartment. In some European usage, the word describes a regular four-door sedan body style.
[[Car classification]], [[vinyl roof]]


[[File:98-02 Lincoln Town Car limousine.jpg|thumb|Lincoln Stretch Limousine]]
==External links==

*[http://stecki.racesimcentral.com/tips/basics.htm Basic car body terminology]
===[[Microvan]]===
*[http://www.cartoday.com/content/car_magazine/booklets/techo_terms/index1.asp Car terminology glossary]
:The smallest size of minivan/MPV.

[[File:Hijet-cargo.jpg|thumb|[[Daihatsu Hijet]] microvan]]

===[[Minivan]] / multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) / people carrier / people mover===
: Vehicle designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s) with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows. Typically has a combined passenger and cargo area, a high roof, a flat floor, a sliding door for rear passengers, and high H-point seating. In Europe, some small minivans have been marketed as 'leisure activity vehicles'.

[[File:Toyota Sienna XL30 China 2012-06-16.jpg|thumb|[[Toyota Sienna]] minivan ]]

===[[Panel van]] / car-derived van / sedan delivery===
: A cargo vehicle based upon passenger car chassis and typically has one row of seats with no side windows at the rear. Panel vans are smaller than panel trucks and cargo vans, both of which are built on a truck chassis.

[[File:Austin 35 Van (12502675953).jpg |thumb| Austin 35 van]]

===[[Panel truck]]===
: A [[pickup truck]] that has a fully enclosed [[Camper shell|truck topper]] in its back, giving it a [[van]]-like appearance.

[[File:Rot daeng Chiang Mai 5.jpg|thumb|[[Volkswagen Taro]] [[panel truck]] ]]

===[[Pickup truck]] / pickup===
: A light-duty, open-bed truck. In South Africa, a pickup truck is called a "bakkie".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bakkie |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130509222834/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bakkie |url-status= dead |archive-date= 9 May 2013 |title=Bakkie: definition |website=Oxforddictionaries.com |access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Ford F-150 crew cab -- 05-28-2011.jpg|thumb|[[Ford F-150]] Lariat SuperCrew]]

===[[Roadster (automobile)|Roadster]]===
: An open two-seat car with emphasis on sporting appearance or character. Initially, an American term for a two-seat car with no weather protection, usage has spread internationally and has evolved to include two-seat convertibles.

[[File:BMW Z3 1.9L 1998.jpg|thumb|[[BMW Z3]] roadster]]

===[[Sedan (car)|Sedan]] / saloon===
: A fixed-roof car in a [[Car body configurations#Three-box design|three-box design]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Torchinsky |first1=Jason |title=This Is Why We Call Cars Sedans, Limousines, And Saloons |url= https://jalopnik.com/this-is-why-we-call-cars-sedans-limousines-and-saloon-1825025822 |work=Jalopnik |date=5 April 2018 |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> These form separate compartments for engine, passenger, and cargo. Sedans can have two or four doors. A sedan is called a "berlina" in Spanish and Italian, or a "berline" in French.

[[File:2018 Toyota Camry (ASV70R) Ascent sedan (2018-08-27) 01.jpg|thumb|[[Toyota Camry]] sedan]]

===[[Shooting-brake]]===
: Initially, a [[Brake (carriage)|horse-drawn vehicle]] used to carry [[shooting party|shooting parties]] with their equipment and [[game (food)|game]]; subsequently synonymous with [[station wagon]] / estate car; and in contemporary usage a three- or five-door wagon combining features of a [[station wagon]] and a coupé.

[[File:Volve 1800ES 1971.JPG|thumb|[[Volvo 1800]]ES]]

===[[Station wagon]] / estate car===
: Has a [[Car body configurations#Two-box design|two-box design]], a large cargo area, and a rear tailgate that is hinged to open for access to the cargo area. The body style is similar to a [[hatchback|hatchback car]]; however, station wagons are longer and are more likely to have the roofline extended to the rear of the car<ref name="Hilliers"/> (resulting in a vertical rear surface to the car) to maximize the cargo space. In French, a station wagon is called a "[[Brake (carriage)|break]]".

[[File:Buick Roadmaster wagon.jpg|thumb|[[Buick Roadmaster]] station wagon]]

===[[Targa top]]===
: A semi-convertible style used on some sports cars, featuring a fully removable soft or hard roof panel that leaves the A and B [[Pillar (car)|pillars]] in place on the car body.

[[File:12-01-03-autostadtl-by-RalfR-75.jpg|thumb|[[Porsche 911]] Targa ]]

===[[Ute (vehicle)|Ute]] / [[coupe utility]]===
: Based on a passenger sedan chassis and has a cargo tray in the rear integrated with the passenger body (as opposed to a [[pickup truck]], which has a separate cargo tray). In Australia, the term "ute" was originally used solely for coupé utility cars; however, in recent years, it has also been used for pickup trucks.

[[File:2014 Holden Ute (VF MY14) SV6 utility (2018-10-01) 01.jpg|thumb|[[Holden Ute]] VF MY14 SV6 Utility]]

== Historic styles ==
;[[Baquet (car body style)|Baquet]]
: Has two rows of raised seats, similar to horse-drawn carriages; usually did not have front doors, a roof, or a windshield. The baquet ("bathtub") style was produced in the early 1900s in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://local.aaca.org/junior/autoknow/ak_bstyles.htm |title=Body Styles |website=aaca.org |access-date=24 April 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190322013655/http://local.aaca.org/junior/autoknow/ak_bstyles.htm |archive-date=22 March 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
:Also a marketing term used on cars built in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s.

;[[Barchetta]]
: Italian two-seat sports car with either an open-top or convertible roof. The term was originally used for lightweight open-top racing cars from the late 1940s through the 1950s. Since the 1950s, the name barchetta ("little boat" in Italian) has been revived on several occasions, mostly for cars with convertible roofs that are not specifically intended for racing.

;[[Berlinetta]]
: Italian sports coupé, typically with two seats but also including 2+2 cars. The original meaning for berlinetta in Italian is "little saloon."

;[[Cabrio coach]]
: A retractable textile roof, similar to a convertible/cabriolet. The difference is that where a convertible often has the B-pillar, C-pillar, and other bodywork removed, the cabrio-coach retains all bodywork to the top of the door frames and just replaces the roof skin with a retractable fabric panel.

;[[Coupé de ville]] '''/ Sedanca de ville / town car'''
: An external or open-topped driver's position and an enclosed compartment for passengers. Produced from 1908 until 1939. Although the different terms may have once had specific meanings for certain car manufacturers or countries, the terms are often used interchangeably.
: Some coupé de villes have the passengers separated from the driver in a fully enclosed compartment, while others have a canopy for the passengers and no partition between the driver and the passengers (therefore passengers enter the compartment via the driver's area).

[[File:1963 Rambler American 440-H black-red MD rl.jpg|thumb|1963 [[Rambler American]] two-door hardtop]]

;[[Hardtop]]
: Usually describes pillarless hardtops that are cars without a [[B-pillar]] often styled to give the appearance of a convertible. Popular in the United States from the mid 1950s through the mid 1970s.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=A History of Hardtops |url= https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/a-history-of-hardtops |magazine=Hemmings Classic Car |date=April 2006 |access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref>
: It also refers to a separate top that is removable and made of metal or other hard material for sports cars or small SUVs.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Haajanen |first1=Lennart W. |title=Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles, 2d ed. |date=2017 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786499182 |pages=87–89 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=6GQoDwAAQBAJ&dq=removable+hardtop&pg=PA88 |access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Rolls Royce Phantom V State Landaulette 1966.jpg|thumb|right|1966 [[Rolls-Royce Phantom V]] State Landaulet]]

;[[Landaulet (car)|Landaulet]]
: A car where the rear passengers are covered by a convertible top. Often the driver is separated from the rear passengers with a partition, as per a limousine.

;[[Personal luxury car]]
: American luxury coupés and convertibles produced from 1952 to 2007. The cars prioritized comfort, styling, and a high level of interior features.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glon |first1=Ronan |title=The rise & fall of the personal luxury car |url= https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/classic-cars/the-rise-fall-of-the-personal-luxury-car/ss-AA1jcTiA |work=MSN |date=20 February 2023 |access-date=16 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gilmore |first1=Ryan |title=Ranking The Greatest Classic American Personal Luxury Cars On The Used Market |url= https://www.hotcars.com/ranking-the-greatest-classic-american-personal-luxury-cars-on-the-used-market/ |work=HotCars |date=30 January 2021 |access-date=16 December 2023}}</ref>

;[[Phaeton body|Phaeton]]
: An open-roof automobile without any fixed weather protection, which was popular from the 1900s until the 1930s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of 'phaeton' |url= https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/phaeton |work=Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition |date=2010 |access-date=16 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Thom |title=Sure, phaetons are fabulous; just don't try riding in the back seat |url= https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/pheatons-were-a-staple-of-pre-war-car-design/ |work=Hagerty |date=16 May 2018 |access-date=16 December 2023}}</ref>

;[[Roadster utility]]
: An open-topped roadster body and a rear cargo bed.

[[File:Oldsmobile 1903 Curved Dash Auto on London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2009.jpg|thumb|1903 [[Oldsmobile Curved Dash]] Runabout]]

;[[Runabout (car)|Runabout]]
: A light, inexpensive, open car{{Sfn|Haajanen|2003|p=116}}<!--{{Sfn|Georgano|1973|p=216}}--> with basic bodywork and no windshield, top, or doors.{{Sfn|Haajanen|2003|p=116}} Most runabouts had just a single row of seats, providing seating for two passengers.{{Sfn|Haajanen|2003|p=116}}<!--{{Sfn|Georgano|1973|p=216}}-->{{Sfn|Clough|1913|p=258}}

[[File:Humber 11 Torpedo style 1944cc registered April 1914.JPG|thumb|1914 [[Humber Limited|Humber 11]] torpedo]]

;[[Torpedo (car)|Torpedo]]
: Body style was a type of automobile body used from 1908 until the mid-1930s, which had a streamlined profile and a folding or detachable [[Convertible#textile|soft top]]. The design consists of a [[Hood (vehicle)|hood or bonnet]] line raised to be level with the car's waistline, resulting in a straight [[Beltline (automotive)|beltline]] from front to back.<ref>{{cite book|last=Roberts |first=Peter |title=Veteran and Vintage Cars |publisher=Octopus Books |year=1974 |isbn=0706403312 |location=London, UK |page=111 |chapter=Carriage to Car |quote=''Torpedo'' – Continental term for an open four-seat car with soft hood and sporting tendencies and in which the line of the bonnet was continued back to the rear of the car.}}</ref>

[[File:Mot 21 - Maxwell.jpg|thumb|1913 [[Maxwell automobile|Maxwell]] Model 24-4 touring car]]

;[[Touring car|Touring]]
: A style of open car built in the United States that seats four or more people. The style was popular from the early 1900s to the 1930s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of 'touring car' |url= https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/touring-car |work=Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition |date=2010 |access-date=16 December 2023}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Commons category|Automobile body styles}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Automotive design]]
*[[Car classification]]
*[[Car model]]
*[[Vehicle size class]]
*[[Car body configurations]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book |last=Clough|first=Albert L. |title=A dictionary of automobile terms |year=1913 |publisher=The Horseless Age |lccn=13003001 |url= https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofauto00clourich |access-date=3 January 2023 |via=Internet Archive}}
*{{cite book |last1=Haajanen |first1=Lennart W. |others=Illustrations by Bertil Nydén and Jörgen Persson |title=Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles |date=2003 |location=Jefferson, NC |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-1276-1}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Car Body Style}}
[[Category:Car body styles| ]]
[[Category:Car classifications| ]]

Latest revision as of 21:35, 23 March 2025

See also: Car classification, Truck classification, and Vehicle size class

Profiles of a sedan, station wagon and hatchback versions of the same model (a Ford Focus)


There are many types of car body styles. They vary depending on intended use, market position, location, and the era they were made.

Current styles

[edit]

Buggy

[edit]

Lightweight off-road vehicle with sparse bodywork. Originally two- or four-wheeled carriages in the 19th and early 20th centuries pulled by one horse, the motorized buggies were developed in the 1960s and grew in popularity and diversity.[1][2]

Volkswagen Country Buggy

Convertible / cabriolet

[edit]
Has a retractable or removable roof. A convertible allows an open-air driving experience, with the ability to provide a roof when required.[3] Most convertible roofs are either a folding textile soft-top or a retractable metal roof. Convertibles with a metal roof are sometimes called 'retractable hardtop', 'coupé convertible', or 'coupé cabriolet'.
Chrysler Sebring JS convertible with top down

Coupé

[edit]
Two-door car, seating up to four persons.[4][5] Some two-door cars have only two seats, thus two-seaters.[6][7]


1987 Cadillac Coupe Deville

Fastback

[edit]
Car with a roofline that slopes continuously down at the back. The design features a single unbroken convex curve from the roof to the rear.[8][9]
Porsche 356

Flower car

[edit]
Used in the U.S. in the funeral industry to carry flowers for burial services. Typically a coupé-style, forward-passenger compartment with an open well in the rear.[10]
Cadillac Flower car

Hatchback / Liftback

[edit]
Car with a hatch-type rear door that is hinged at the roof and opens upwards. The term "hatchback" can also refer to that type of rear door, which is also used on several sports cars, SUVs, and large luxury cars.[11]
Renault Clio hatchback

Hearse / funeral coach

[edit]
The modification of a passenger car to provide a long cargo area for carrying a coffin or casket. Hearses often have large glass panels for viewing the coffin.
Cadillac Hearse

Limousine

[edit]
A luxury-type vehicle that is typically driven by a chauffeur with a partition between the driver's compartment and the passenger's compartment. Limousines may also be stretched to provide more room in the rear passenger compartment. In some European usage, the word describes a regular four-door sedan body style.
Lincoln Stretch Limousine

Microvan

[edit]
The smallest size of minivan/MPV.
Daihatsu Hijet microvan

Minivan / multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) / people carrier / people mover

[edit]
Vehicle designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s) with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows. Typically has a combined passenger and cargo area, a high roof, a flat floor, a sliding door for rear passengers, and high H-point seating. In Europe, some small minivans have been marketed as 'leisure activity vehicles'.
Toyota Sienna minivan

Panel van / car-derived van / sedan delivery

[edit]
A cargo vehicle based upon passenger car chassis and typically has one row of seats with no side windows at the rear. Panel vans are smaller than panel trucks and cargo vans, both of which are built on a truck chassis.
Austin 35 van

Panel truck

[edit]
A pickup truck that has a fully enclosed truck topper in its back, giving it a van-like appearance.
Volkswagen Taro panel truck

Pickup truck / pickup

[edit]
A light-duty, open-bed truck. In South Africa, a pickup truck is called a "bakkie".[12]
Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew

Roadster

[edit]
An open two-seat car with emphasis on sporting appearance or character. Initially, an American term for a two-seat car with no weather protection, usage has spread internationally and has evolved to include two-seat convertibles.
BMW Z3 roadster

Sedan / saloon

[edit]
A fixed-roof car in a three-box design.[13] These form separate compartments for engine, passenger, and cargo. Sedans can have two or four doors. A sedan is called a "berlina" in Spanish and Italian, or a "berline" in French.
Toyota Camry sedan

Shooting-brake

[edit]
Initially, a horse-drawn vehicle used to carry shooting parties with their equipment and game; subsequently synonymous with station wagon / estate car; and in contemporary usage a three- or five-door wagon combining features of a station wagon and a coupé.
Volvo 1800ES

Station wagon / estate car

[edit]
Has a two-box design, a large cargo area, and a rear tailgate that is hinged to open for access to the cargo area. The body style is similar to a hatchback car; however, station wagons are longer and are more likely to have the roofline extended to the rear of the car[11] (resulting in a vertical rear surface to the car) to maximize the cargo space. In French, a station wagon is called a "break".
Buick Roadmaster station wagon

Targa top

[edit]
A semi-convertible style used on some sports cars, featuring a fully removable soft or hard roof panel that leaves the A and B pillars in place on the car body.
Porsche 911 Targa

Ute / coupe utility

[edit]
Based on a passenger sedan chassis and has a cargo tray in the rear integrated with the passenger body (as opposed to a pickup truck, which has a separate cargo tray). In Australia, the term "ute" was originally used solely for coupé utility cars; however, in recent years, it has also been used for pickup trucks.
Holden Ute VF MY14 SV6 Utility

Historic styles

[edit]
Baquet
Has two rows of raised seats, similar to horse-drawn carriages; usually did not have front doors, a roof, or a windshield. The baquet ("bathtub") style was produced in the early 1900s in Europe.[14]
Also a marketing term used on cars built in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s.
Barchetta
Italian two-seat sports car with either an open-top or convertible roof. The term was originally used for lightweight open-top racing cars from the late 1940s through the 1950s. Since the 1950s, the name barchetta ("little boat" in Italian) has been revived on several occasions, mostly for cars with convertible roofs that are not specifically intended for racing.
Berlinetta
Italian sports coupé, typically with two seats but also including 2+2 cars. The original meaning for berlinetta in Italian is "little saloon."
Cabrio coach
A retractable textile roof, similar to a convertible/cabriolet. The difference is that where a convertible often has the B-pillar, C-pillar, and other bodywork removed, the cabrio-coach retains all bodywork to the top of the door frames and just replaces the roof skin with a retractable fabric panel.
Coupé de ville / Sedanca de ville / town car
An external or open-topped driver's position and an enclosed compartment for passengers. Produced from 1908 until 1939. Although the different terms may have once had specific meanings for certain car manufacturers or countries, the terms are often used interchangeably.
Some coupé de villes have the passengers separated from the driver in a fully enclosed compartment, while others have a canopy for the passengers and no partition between the driver and the passengers (therefore passengers enter the compartment via the driver's area).
1963 Rambler American two-door hardtop
Hardtop
Usually describes pillarless hardtops that are cars without a B-pillar often styled to give the appearance of a convertible. Popular in the United States from the mid 1950s through the mid 1970s.[15]
It also refers to a separate top that is removable and made of metal or other hard material for sports cars or small SUVs.[16]
1966 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulet
Landaulet
A car where the rear passengers are covered by a convertible top. Often the driver is separated from the rear passengers with a partition, as per a limousine.
Personal luxury car
American luxury coupés and convertibles produced from 1952 to 2007. The cars prioritized comfort, styling, and a high level of interior features.[17][18]
Phaeton
An open-roof automobile without any fixed weather protection, which was popular from the 1900s until the 1930s.[19][20]
Roadster utility
An open-topped roadster body and a rear cargo bed.
1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout
Runabout
A light, inexpensive, open car[21] with basic bodywork and no windshield, top, or doors.[21] Most runabouts had just a single row of seats, providing seating for two passengers.[21][22]
1914 Humber 11 torpedo
Torpedo
Body style was a type of automobile body used from 1908 until the mid-1930s, which had a streamlined profile and a folding or detachable soft top. The design consists of a hood or bonnet line raised to be level with the car's waistline, resulting in a straight beltline from front to back.[23]
1913 Maxwell Model 24-4 touring car
Touring
A style of open car built in the United States that seats four or more people. The style was popular from the early 1900s to the 1930s.[24]

See also

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Automobile body styles.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tikkanen, Amy. ""buggy" - carriage". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  2. ^ Hale, James (2006). Dune Buggy Phenomenon 2. Veloce. ISBN 9781904788669.
  3. ^ Nice, Karim (2 May 2001). "How Convertibles Work". auto.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Dictionary: Coupé". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Dictionary: coupe". britannica.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  6. ^ "TWO-SEATER - Definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary". Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
  7. ^ Hawkins, Andrew J. (11 October 2024). "Tesla Cybercab announced: Elon Musk's robotaxi is finally here". The Verge. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Dictionary: fastback". dictionary.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Dictionary: "Fastback"". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Flower Cars: A Glance At A Forgotten Funeral Vehicle". Luxury Coach & Transportation Magazine. 1 January 1990. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  11. ^ a b Hillier, Victor; Coombes, Peter (2004). Hillier's Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology: Volume 1 (5th ed.). Nelson Thornes. p. 11. ISBN 9780748780822. Retrieved 15 January 2013. The estate body, also known as station wagons in some countries, has the roofline extended to the rear of the body to enlarge its internal capacity. Folding the rear seats down gives a large floor area for the carriage of luggage or goods. Stronger suspension springs are fitted at the rear to support the extra load. Hatchback: Although some hatchbacks are in fact saloon bodies with the boot or trunk effectively removed (usually the smaller cars) many hatchbacks retain the full length of the saloon, but the roofline extends down to the end of the vehicle...as with the estate, the rear seats fold down to give a flat floor for the transportation of luggage or other objects. When the tailgate is closed, the luggage compartment is usually covered with a parcel shelf.
  12. ^ "Bakkie: definition". Oxforddictionaries.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  13. ^ Torchinsky, Jason (5 April 2018). "This Is Why We Call Cars Sedans, Limousines, And Saloons". Jalopnik. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Body Styles". aaca.org. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  15. ^ "A History of Hardtops". Hemmings Classic Car. April 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  16. ^ Haajanen, Lennart W. (2017). Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles, 2d ed. McFarland. pp. 87–89. ISBN 9780786499182. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  17. ^ Glon, Ronan (20 February 2023). "The rise & fall of the personal luxury car". MSN. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  18. ^ Gilmore, Ryan (30 January 2021). "Ranking The Greatest Classic American Personal Luxury Cars On The Used Market". HotCars. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Definition of 'phaeton'". Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  20. ^ Taylor, Thom (16 May 2018). "Sure, phaetons are fabulous; just don't try riding in the back seat". Hagerty. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  21. ^ a b c Haajanen 2003, p. 116.
  22. ^ Clough 1913, p. 258.
  23. ^ Roberts, Peter (1974). "Carriage to Car". Veteran and Vintage Cars. London, UK: Octopus Books. p. 111. ISBN 0706403312. Torpedo – Continental term for an open four-seat car with soft hood and sporting tendencies and in which the line of the bonnet was continued back to the rear of the car.
  24. ^ "Definition of 'touring car'". Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2023.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Clough, Albert L. (1913). A dictionary of automobile terms. The Horseless Age. LCCN 13003001. Retrieved 3 January 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  • Haajanen, Lennart W. (2003). Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles. Illustrations by Bertil Nydén and Jörgen Persson. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1276-1.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Car_body_style&oldid=1282028714"