VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Nomenclature

I'm probably just getting old and grumpy but it bothers me when folks say things, when talking about cars, that aren't necessary or are wrong. This month's G&D with the beautiful Rampside is an example. The owner mentioned the "front windshield". While that's technically not incorrect it's like saying "front headlight" or "rear tail light". The headlights are only on the front and the tail lights are only on the rear. There's only one windshield and it's on the front so saying front windshield is redundant. I hear people call the back glass the "rear windshield" which it is not. It is the "back glass". If I'd gone to the parts department when I was a body man in the '60's and ordered a "rear windshield" I'd have been laughed out of the building. I too often hear people refer to the front grill. Again not technically wrong but, unless you have more than one grill, in more than one location, it's completely unnecessary. Just say "grill". Another is people calling anything with two doors a "coupe". Really??? I once had a '57 Ford 2 door sedan with the full height "B" pillars. It was must definitely NOT a coupe. "Convertible Coupe"??? Really?? What are these people drinking. The so called "experts" on TV say it all the time. The engineers at SAE would probably argue that with them if they bothered to ask. I once had a print out of the SAE definition of "coupe" but can't find it so I'll have to paraphrase but to be a coupe the vehicle has to have a solid top and less than 33 cf behind the front seat if it has a back seat or 33 cf behind the seat if no back seats. Remember a cube 3x3x3 is 27 cf so that's not much room when you look at all the available space behind the seat. I could go on and on. Like I say, probably just getting grumpy in my old age.

Tiny,

According to an AACA "expert" a few months ago, the proper term for the rear glass is "Rear Windshield."

The grille may be a device to protect almost anything but I know what you mean. Like say a fan.

How often to you hear people make reference to the store where you get groceries as the "grocery store." By definition a grocery is a store. So, it's like saying store store. Yes redundant as all get out!

Yeah, I agree with you, I've heard the term "convertible coupe" often over the years.

Thanks for giving us something to read and ponder other than COVID-19 or protests. (I have used the softest term I can think of with that "protest" word. I don't want anyone to take offense and burn my house down.)

Best,

Charlie

I'd have to strongly disagree with the AACA person. I replaced a number of back glasses but never a rear windshield.

In parts and insurance adjusters always called it a back glass.
An one I know that has professionally worked on cars says back glass.

For the back glass to be a rear "windshield" you'd have to have one hell of a fast reverse gear.

I've always heard "backlight" for the rear. Windshield or windscreen for the front.

How about the "front rear end" on a 4 wheel drive vehicle? I also like "timing chain and gears". Sorry guys, a timing chain runs on sprockets, timing gears mesh with each other, no chain is required.
Window "winder", instead of regulator, is often used. Over at Stovebolt, "foot stomp starter" seems to be the accepted term for a starter button located in the floor.
Before we were married, My wife took her car to the shop. She told me she got new shock exorbers and tie end rods. I can't help myself, I still refer to them that way 48 years later.

Mike

And let's not forget "VIN Number". That would mean the Vehicle Identification Number Number.
Jeff

But...but....how many of us still refer to the sections across the entire front and rear of today's cars as "bumpers"? I think the proper term is "fascia" but they are not designed to absorb any kind of impact like the bumpers of old did - they're there for looks only as the real bumpers are behind those fascias.

They're called "bumper covers" in the body shop world.

while working at AM General building humvees the drive shafts were called propeller shafts. didn't know we were building boats. also how come the door is ajar ?
later,bill

Chevrolet also called the shaft in the torque tube that connects the transmission to the rear end gears a propeller shaft. It is necessary to propel the vehicle.

Another oldie that has been hashed about before - the difference between a convertible and a cabriolet!

no more "Used Cars" ........its preowned cars......are they not used? hehehe

no emergency brakes........just parking brakes. (which most most couldnt be used in an emergency if you had to, or at least 95% of the population cant)

Help me out. What is the difference between a convertible and a cabriolet? I've never heard it "hashed out," but I've only been in the hobby for a little over fifty years.

Y'all are going to have to hash that one out yourselves. It's above my pay grade.

Cabriolet is the name for a carriage with a soft top and windows. Convertible is a term coined by automotive people to indicate an all weather vehicle that converts from open to closed. Like other terms they were used by the sales department not only to describe their particular model but also in some cases differentiate from other makes. Other names were also used for essentially the same body style.

So the top doesn't come down on a Cabriolet? If the top drops it's a Convertible?

My 47 has been titled as a Cabriolet in PA since the 50's.

I have a (CSC) Convertible Sport Cabriolet, 1928 and the top does come down. But, there is glass in the doors and it has a rumble seat.

The '27 Sport Cabriolet had roll up glass windows and soft top that didn't fold down. The '28 like Ray has does have the top that goes down. So do the tops of the newer Cabriolets produced by Chevrolet. Since the terms are used by sales and marketing people they don't always conform to a given standard.

Thank's Chip.