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Category: About coachbuilding

An overview of body style descriptions: nomenclature. 
(credits: Mark Theobald & Michiel van den Brink)

 

ALL WEATHER or ALL WEATHER TRANSFORMABLE (British) – a term used in the twenties and rarely in the thirties for a Cabriolet. In England it can denote a four door CONVERTIBLE SEDAN.

ALL-WEATHER PHAETON or AWP – a convertible body style which offered adequate protection for driver and passengers even in the most inclement weather.

BARCHETTA (Italian) – “Little boat”, a small, lightweight, two-seater roadster with flowing lines. Any small, envelope-bodied car with no top or window fittings.

Category: About coachbuilding

In the early motoring days, when series production did not yet exist, the process of acquiring a new vehicle was more complex, as rolling chassis provided the basis for different coachbuilding scenarios. One approached a motoring brand, who used to deliver to the customer only the rolling chassis, comprising: chassis, drivetrain (engine, gearbox, differential, axles, wheels), suspension, steering system and radiator. Subsequently the customer approached a coachbuilder, requesting a personal body design to be fitted on the rolling chassis. Sometimes a coachbuilder himself ordered or got assigned a series of chassis, on which basis he designed and manufactured the new coachwork to his own creative ideas and inspiration. Sometimes the customer delivered a complete factory car to the coachbuilder with the request to change the entire coachwork or modify certain elements.

Category: About coachbuilding
Ferrari Pininfarina P4/5 Sketch James Glickhaus


There is no strict definition of “Special Coachbuilding”. However, following generally accepted considerations and discerning manufacturing trajectories, a good set of rules and conditions can be extracted to define which cars can be considered “Special Coachbuilt” and which not.

A car can be considered a “special coachbuilt” if: .... >>

Category: About coachbuilding
Rolling chassis
Rolls-Royce rolling chassis


In the early motoring days, when series production did not yet exist, the process of acquiring a new vehicle was more complex, as rolling chassis provided the basis for different coachbuilding scenarios.

Category: About coachbuilding
Ferrari 250 GTO Scaglietti fitting frame

After WW II automotive mass production soon became mainstream, ending the era of separate manufacturing of chassis and tailored coachworks. Many coachbuilders went bankrupt, were bought by manufacturers or changed their core business to other activities.

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See the Coachbuilders Encyclopedia for the continuously expanding overview of designers, coachbuilders and their numerous creations from past to present.

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