Expert: William Forster - 1/13/2007

Question
Hello,

I know nothing about cars but need to find out further info, specifically about the different  types of car-chassis. I've checked the Internet for definitions of what a saloon-car is or a hatchback, coupe etc., but the explanations were very vague and confusing. Could you please explain to me exactly what the different types of cars, such as saloons/hatchbacks etc. describe? I would prefer it if you could use the British terms as the US terms for the various types of car are different to some extent.

Thanks
Geoff

Answer
Hello Geoff! I'm an American, I will have to use American factory descriptions. --- Standard body---- has a body mounted on a frame, or chassis. The coach part can be removed from the vehicle, and the running gear is still there, with the motor , transmission and wheels still attached to a sort of steel ladder, or frame. It's most common these days in American pick-up trucks. A Unibody---- has no frame, is primarily made entirely of sheet metal. The body cannot be removed from the frame, and the running gear and suspension components are bolted directly to the underbody of the car. Almost all cars manufactured today have a unibody. A Hard top----- has doors that have no steel frame around the top of the door glass, (when the window is up) attached to the door itself. A sedan---- DOES have steel frames around the top of the door glass when the window is up. Modern vehicles are almost all Sedans. Now, a 4 door car is also called a Sedan. A Coupe---- any car with 2 doors. A hatch back---- a CAR that has a large rear door, instead of a luggage lid. The rear wind screen is part of the hatch. 1980's Camaro's are all hatch backs, as were many 1970's Nova's.  Many mini-vans have a rear hatch, as an example, but they are not considered a hatch back. Only cars are called hatch backs, but it's really a term that has fallen out of use in modern times.  A fast back---- has a very large rear wind screen, and a tiny trunk lid. You can actually look into the luggage compartment through the rear wind screen, and generally, the rear seats fold down to increase stowage capacity. Many 1960's and 1970's mustangs were fast backs, as well as all 1960's Barracuda's. They are easily spotted by their long, gently sloping rear roof and large wind screen. A  Convertible---- has a removable or retractable roof, it can be canvas, or a hard roof. Generally, hard top  convertibles have a removable roof, soft tops are retractible. There are exceptions. T-Tops---- are cars with 2 removable panels, 1 over the driver, 1 over the passenger. There is a bar between the panels on the roof, and that is why they are called a T top. Many, many Camaro's and Trans Am's are T tops. A saloon---- is similar to a T top, but no dividing bar, and the roof section that comes off is 1 piece, not 2. It's not a convertible, because the rear portion of the roof is still a permanent, fixed portion of the car. Corvette's sometimes have saloon roof, and it's generally performance vehicles that have them.