Jump to content

S.A.E defined body styles


hidden_hunter

Recommended Posts

There’s been a few posts in the Victoria body style that I thought I’d take a copy from my Dykes book which claims these are the SAE definitions of bodies from 1922

 

Love looking at the old literature, thought you guys might like it

 

image.jpeg.5788561a20176adbdb4538e7dc33e646.jpeg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, wayne sheldon said:

And what? No tourer (touring car)?

I just noticed in the footnote it says this

 

The principal reason for recommending the use of the term "phaeton" instead of the term "touring" is that the latter has lost its significance as applying to any particular type of body as all types are used for touring. The term "phaeton" is used extensively in Europe, and to a considerable extent in America, in connection with passenger-cars; it is the name of a horse-drawn prototype; it is inelegant and in a technical sense is not
distinctive of any particular type of motor vehicle body.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very interesting! I did not read far enough. And an interesting proposal and reasons by the automotive standards organization (SAE). Clearly it didn't catch on as so many manufacturers continued to refer to their such cars as touring cars. It is very interesting (at least to me?) that years ago, there was a big discussion around model A circles about Henry Ford referring to his open tourer type model A as a phaeton. This could be part of the reason for that then curious naming. Most people are not aware that Henry Ford was one of the founding members and proponents for the SAE and their standards (that around 1905!). Could it be that over twenty years later he decided to follow their lead?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, wayne sheldon said:

Again, thank you for the initial post, and an enlightening discussion.

I love collecting old literature, particularly the generalist stuff as it gives you a good comparison point between brands 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/17/2022 at 3:56 AM, hidden_hunter said:

I just noticed in the footnote it says this

 

The principal reason for recommending the use of the term "phaeton" instead of the term "touring" is that the latter has lost its significance as applying to any particular type of body as all types are used for touring. The term "phaeton" is used extensively in Europe, and to a considerable extent in America, in connection with passenger-cars; it is the name of a horse-drawn prototype; it is inelegant and in a technical sense is not
distinctive of any particular type of motor vehicle body.

That is copied verbatim from the 1926 SAE handbook.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/17/2022 at 3:56 AM, hidden_hunter said:

I just noticed in the footnote it says this

 

The principal reason for recommending the use of the term "phaeton" instead of the term "touring" is that the latter has lost its significance as applying to any particular type of body as all types are used for touring. The term "phaeton" is used extensively in Europe, and to a considerable extent in America, in connection with passenger-cars; it is the name of a horse-drawn prototype; it is inelegant and in a technical sense is not
distinctive of any particular type of motor vehicle body.

I’m confused. Is the SAE advocating the use of an inelegant, non distinctive  name for a 5 place open body ? Or have I forgotten the proper use of a semi colon ?  
 

My Dad was a Carriage collector and I cut my eye teeth on the Carriage Journal of the CCA while Hemmings was still a little book and Antique Automobile was printed sideways. Phaeton, Stanhope, Victoria and Box are basically seat designs. It’s a stretch to extend the name Phaeton to a Touring car. They are really Extension Top Surreys if anything. 
 

But the bottom line on Carriage nomenclature is just like Automobiles. About every 20 years the populous or the ad men changed or embellished the meanings. So it’s sort of a fools game to pigeon hole any particular style into a name other than what the manufacturer called it. My 2 cents…

  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Jim Mead said:

I’m confused. Is the SAE advocating the use of an inelegant, non distinctive  name for a 5 place open body ? Or have I forgotten the proper use of a semi colon ?  

I’m guessing someone had a bee in their bonnet 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I am not historian, but  Sales&Marketing departments seem to be the driving force to define body names from the 1920s on. I believe, in early teens the technical nomenclature was more respected. 
Interesting to see the creativity of manufacturers to boost sales.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...