Automobile Classification - Other Car Classification Terms

Other Car Classification Terms

Bakkie

A generic South African term for light pickup truck.

Buggy

A Buggy is an automobile with wheels that project beyond the vehicle body.

Cabrio coach or Semi-convertible

A form of car roof, where a retractable textile cover amounts to a large sunroof.

Corniche

Sometimes used to describe a luxury sedan or town car. Actually a trade mark of Rolls-Royce.

El Camino

The 1959 Chevrolet El Camino was a half-car (front) and half-truck (back) with low walls surrounding the bed. El Camino is used by some Americans and Canadians as a generic term for any passenger car with an integral cargo bed.

Estate car

British name for a station wagon.

Fastback

A design where the roof slopes at a smooth angle to the tail of the car, but the rear window does not open as a separate "door".

Drop Head Coupe

Generally a European term referring to a 2 door, 4 place automobile with a retractable canvas / cloth top with both a padded headliner and rollup windows (as opposed to side curtains).

Flower Car

in US, similar to ute in Australia, i.e. generic for Chevy El Camino, Ford Ranchero, GMC Sprint/Diablo, etc.;Hearse: A converted car to transport the deceased.

Kammback

Originally, a car with a tapered rear that cuts off abruptly.

Landaulet

A limousine with the passenger section covered by a convertible top.

Liftback

A broad marketing term for a hatchback, which incorporates a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a top-hinged liftgate.

Limousine

By definition, a chauffeur-driven car with a (normally glass-windowed) division between the front seats and the rear. In German, the term simply means a sedan.

Microvan

Term for a boxy wagon-type of car that is smaller than a conventional minivan.

Notchback

A configuration where the third box of a three-box styling configuration is less pronounced — especially where the rear deck (third box) is short or where the rear window is upright.

Phaeton

A Phaeton is a style of open car or carriage without proper weather protection for passengers.

Ragtop

Originally an open car like a roadster, but with a soft top (cloth top) that can be raised or lowered. Unlike a convertible, it had no roll-up side windows. Now often used as slang for a convertible.

Sedan delivery

North American term for a vehicle similar to a wagon but without side windows, similar to a panel truck but with two doors (one on each side), and one or two rear doors

Spyder (or Spider)

Similar to a roadster but originally with less weather protection.Nowadays it simply means a convertible.

Shooting-brake

Initially a vehicle used to carry shooting parties with their equipment and game; later used to describe custom-built wagons by high-end coachbuilders, subsequently synonymous with ;Sports Wagon: A term used by a number of manufacturers in the North American market for their station wagon models.

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.

Town car (US)

Essentially the inverse of the landaulet, a historical body style in which the front seats were open and the rear compartment closed, normally with a removable top to cover the front chauffeur's compartment. In Europe the style is also known as Sedanca de Ville, often shortened to Sedanca or de Ville. Note that the modern Lincoln Town Car derives its name, but nothing else, from this style.

Ute

Australian/New Zealand English term for the vehicles with a cargo bed at the rear.

Wagon delivery

North American term (mainly U.S. and Canada). Similar to a sedan delivery, with four doors.