Notchback

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The three-box, notchback design of the Fiat 124 Coupe Three box notchback Fiat 124.jpg
The three-box, notchback design of the Fiat 124 Coupé
A three-box liftback in notchback form--with its vestigial third box, the European Ford Escort Hatchback three box.jpg
A three-box liftback in notchback form—with its vestigial third box, the European Ford Escort

A notchback is a car design with the rear section distinct from the passenger compartment and where the back of the passenger compartment is at an angle to the top of what is typically the rear baggage compartment. [1] Notchback cars have "a trunk whose lid forms a distinct deck." [2] In profile view, the body has a step down from the roof with a downward inclined passenger compartment's rear window to meet an almost horizontal trunk lid extending to the rear of the car. [3]

Contents

The category may be characterized as having a three-box design where the trunk volume is less pronounced than the engine and passenger compartments. [4]

Many models of sedans, coupés, or hatchbacks could be classified as notchbacks. However, the category has limited salience outside American car manufacturers, who distinguish the three-box models from other body styles in the same model range. For example, the Chevrolet Vega range included both a notchback coupe and a fastback coupe.

North America

One of the first cars marketed as a notchback is the 1938 Cadillac Sixty Special. [5] [6] [7]

In a major design change among U.S. automakers for the 1952 model year, a notchback version of the Nash Ambassador was introduced. [8] [9] This was in contrast to the previous fastback aerodynamic body shape that made the 1949 through 1950 Nash Ambassadors the "most streamlined form on the road." [10] The new cars had a distinctive reverse slanting C-pillar and featured boxier styling that became a design trend. [11] [12]

In 1971, Chevrolet marketed the three-box sedan models of the Chevrolet Vega as a notchback to differentiate them from the fastback Vega models. [13] [14] For the 1973 model year, the car's name was changed to "Vega Notchback". [15]

English-speaking countries

While many car models have notchback characteristics, the category is largely unused outside North America, with their body style being described using other terms. For example, a three-box sedan [17] is more generally known as a "saloon" in British English. [18] "Notchback" has appeared in a few British English publications; however, it is not a term that is used in common parlance in Britain. [19] [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

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A station wagon or estate car, is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door, instead of a trunk/boot lid. The body style transforms a standard three-box design into a two-box design—to include an A, B, and C-pillar, as well as a D-pillar. Station wagons can flexibly reconfigure their interior volume via fold-down rear seats to prioritize either passenger or cargo volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatchback</span> Car body configuration with a rear door

A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to the main interior of the car as a cargo area rather than just to a separated trunk. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second-row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sedan (automobile)</span> Passenger car in a three-box configuration

A sedan or saloon is a passenger car in a three-box configuration with separate compartments for an engine, passengers, and cargo. The first recorded use of sedan in reference to an automobile body occurred in 1912. The name derives from the 17th-century litter known as a sedan chair, a one-person enclosed box with windows and carried by porters. Variations of the sedan style include the close-coupled sedan, club sedan, convertible sedan, fastback sedan, hardtop sedan, notchback sedan, and sedanet/sedanette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Type 3</span> Compact car built from 1961 to 1973

The Volkswagen Type 3 is a compact car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen from 1961 to 1973. Introduced at the 1961 Frankfurt International Motor Show, the IAA, the Type 3 was marketed as the Volkswagen 1500 and later as the Volkswagen 1600, in two-door Notchback, Fastback, and Variant body styles, the latter marketed as the 'Squareback' in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMC Ambassador</span> Large-sized cars produced by American Motors Corporation

The Ambassador is an automobile manufactured and marketed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1957 through 1974 over eight generations, available in two- and four-door sedan, two-door hardtop, four-door station wagon as well as two-door convertible body styles. It was classified as a full-size car from 1957 through 1961, mid-size from 1962 until 1966, and again full-size from 1967 through 1974 model years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fastback</span> Type of styling to rear car bodywork

A fastback is an automotive styling feature, defined by the rear of the car having a single slope from the roof to the tail. The kammback is a type of fastback style.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldsmobile Series 70</span> Car model

The Oldsmobile Series 70 is a full-size midrange automobile produced by Oldsmobile between the 1939 and 1950 model years. Oldsmobiles of this time period were in an unusual "middle" position in GM's hierarchy of automobile brands. Chevrolet and Pontiac were the budget priced models, while Buick and Cadillac were the luxury brands. GM would share their "A" body platforms between Chevrolet, Pontiac, and "B" body on Oldsmobile and Buick, while leaving Cadillac on the senior "C" platform. Oldsmobiles were then branded as "luxury level" Chevrolet's and Pontiac's, while Oldsmobiles using the "B" platform were "budget priced" Buicks and Cadillacs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick Roadmaster</span> Automobile

The Buick Roadmaster is an automobile that was built by Buick from 1936 until 1942, from 1946 until 1958, and then again from 1991 until 1996. Roadmasters produced between 1936 and 1958 were built on Buick's longest non-limousine wheelbase and shared their basic structure with the entry-level Cadillac Series 65, the Buick Limited, and after 1940, the Oldsmobile 98. Between 1946 and 1957 the Roadmaster served as Buick's flagship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac Sixty Special</span> Motor vehicle

The Cadillac Sixty Special is a name used by Cadillac to denote a special model since the 1938 Harley Earl–Bill Mitchell–designed extended wheelbase derivative of the Series 60, often referred to as the Fleetwood Sixty Special. The Sixty Special designation was reserved for some of Cadillac's most luxurious vehicles. It was offered as a four-door sedan and briefly as a four-door hardtop. This exclusivity was reflected in the introduction of the exclusive Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham d'Elegance in 1973 and the Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham Talisman in 1974, and it was offered as one trim package below the Series 70 limousine. The Sixty Special name was temporarily retired in 1976 but returned again in 1987 and continued through 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac Series 61</span> Motor vehicle

The Cadillac Series 61 was Cadillac's mainstream product model range. It was priced and equipped more modestly below the limousine, GM D platform Cadillac Series 85, Cadillac Series 90, Cadillac Series 72, Cadillac Series 67, and Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75. It was upgraded to the Series 62 in 1940 only to return to production in model year 1941, replacing the cancelled LaSalle Series 50. While production was suspended from model years 1943–1945 due to World War II, it remained as the junior level product line until 1951. The size, equipment list and quality level were the most popular with buyers who wanted a prestigious luxury car that was usually driven by the owner, while the longer cars were chauffeur driven. It combined the most popular features of the previous Series 60 and Series 65 and was priced at the same level as Buick products of the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Car body configurations</span>

The configuration of a car body is typically determined by the layout of the engine, passenger and luggage compartments, which can be shared or separately articulated. A key design feature is the car's roof-supporting pillars, designated from front to rear of the car as A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar and D-pillar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMC Rambler Tarpon</span> Concept car designed by American Motors Corporation

The Rambler Tarpon was a concept car, a compact-sized sporty youth-oriented 2+2 hardtop coupé developed in 1963 by American Motors Corporation (AMC). The bright red with black roof design study made its public debut 1964 Chicago Auto Show and served to foretell the fastback design elements of the larger Rambler Marlin that was introduced in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brougham (car body)</span>

A brougham was originally a car body style where the driver sat outside and passengers seated within an enclosed cabin, — deriving the configuration from the earlier brougham horse-drawn carriage. Similar in style to the later town car, the brougham style was used on chauffeur-driven petrol and electric cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Fleetline</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet Special Deluxe Series AH Fleetline was an automobile produced by US automaker Chevrolet from 1941 to 1952. From 1946 to 1948 it was a sub-series of the Chevrolet Fleetmaster rather than a series of the Special Deluxe and, from 1949 to 1951, it was a sub-series of both the Chevrolet Special and the Chevrolet Deluxe. In its final year it was offered only as a sub-series of the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Deluxe</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet Deluxe is a trim line of Chevrolet automobiles that was marketed from 1941 to 1952, and was the volume sales leader for the market during the 1940s. The line included at first a 4-door sedan, but grew to include a fastback 2-door "aerosedan" and other body styles. The 1941 Chevrolet was the first generation that didn't share a common appearance with Chevrolet trucks, while the Chevrolet AK Series truck did share common internal components.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac de Ville series</span> Car model

The Cadillac DeVille is the nameplate used by Cadillac over eight generations, originally used to designate a trim level of the 1949 Cadillac Series 62 and later to designate a standalone model in the brand range. The last model marketed specifically as a DeVille was the 2005 full-size sedan, at the time, Cadillac's largest model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontiac Torpedo</span> Motor vehicle

The Pontiac Torpedo was a full-sized car produced by Pontiac from the 1940 through the 1948 model year. When released, it was the biggest Pontiac, used an 8-cylinder engine, and it had more standard features than other Pontiacs. Although the Torpedo name was exclusive to the highest line of Pontiacs in 1940, in 1941 the name was applied to all Pontiacs in three separate lines. The Custom Torpedoes were now top-of-the-line name, while the DeLuxe Torpedo became the base line, and the Streamline Torpedo became the middle line of Pontiacs. All Torpedo models could be had with either a 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder engine beginning in 1941. From 1942 to 1948 the Torpedo name designated only the base line of Pontiacs. The Torpedo was replaced by the Pontiac Chieftain in 1949. It was with this generation that all GM vehicles experienced increased width dimensions to accommodate three passengers on the front bench seat and an additional three passengers on rear bench seat installed vehicles. This was accomplished with the deletion of running board thereby adding additional room inside the passenger compartment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontiac Streamliner</span> Motor vehicle

The Pontiac Streamliner is a full-size car produced under the Pontiac brand by General Motors from 1932 until 1952. A mass-produced and popular vehicle, it was a significant luxury car during the recovery from the Great Depression, and during and immediately after the Second World War.

References

  1. "Notchback definition and meaning". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. "Definition of Notchback". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  3. Tudose, Sergiu (30 September 2023). "Fastback Revolution: Here's Why You'll Soon Be Saying Goodbye to All Four-Door Sedans". autoevolution. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. Hearst Autos Research. "What is a Sedan? Car Buying Tips" . Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. "1940, The Cadillac Sixty Sets Another Styling Trend". General Motors: Generations of GM Wiki Timeline. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  6. McCourt, Mark J. (23 September 2018). "1938-'40 Cadillac Sixty Special". hemmings.com. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  7. "Take Me to Your Style Leader: The 1938–1942 Cadillac Sixty Special". ateupwithmotor.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  8. Floyd, Clymer (September 1952). "The Owners Report on the 1952 Nash Ambassador". Popular Mechanics. 98 (3): 90–94. Retrieved 11 January 2024 via Google Books.
  9. Gunnell, John (1992). Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975. Krause Publications. p. 468. ISBN   9780873412049 . Retrieved 11 January 2024 via Google Books. There was new styling for the Ambassador and Statesman. A new notch back body created by Italy's Pininfarina was the fashion hit of the marque's 50th year
  10. Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (6 November 2007). "1949-1951 Nash Airflyte". auto.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  11. Foster, Patrick R. (1998). "1 - The Designers". The Nash Styling Sketchbook. The Olde Milford Press. p. 1. ISBN   9780966201901 . Retrieved 11 January 2024 via Google Books.
  12. McClurg, Bob (2016). The History of AMC Motorsports: Trans-Am, Drag, NASCAR, Land Speed and Off-Road Racing. CarTech. p. 20. ISBN   9781613251775 . Retrieved 11 January 2024 via Google Books.
  13. "Chevrolutionary! - 1973 Chevrolet Vega GT Millionth Edition, 1976 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega". hemmings.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  14. "How the Chevy Vega Nearly Destroyed GM". popularmechanics.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  15. Chevrolet Vega brochures- years 1971–77. Chevrolet.
  16. McCourt, Mark J. (December 2014). "1961 Rambler Ambassador V-8 Custom "America's First Compact Luxury Car"". Hemmings Motor News. Retrieved 1 April 2021. 1961 Ambassador's reverse-slant C-pillar
  17. "sedan". Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  18. "saloon". Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  19. Stevenson, Angus; Waite, Maurice, eds. (2011). "notchback". Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Luxury ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 978. ISBN   9780199601110. a car with a back that extends approximately horizontally from the bottom of the rear window so as to make a distinct angle with it.
  20. Barnard, R.H. (1996). Road Vehicle Aerodynamic Design. Longman. ISBN   9780582245228.