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A guide to acquiring, restoring and maintaining UK or European Classic Cars of the Fifties and Sixties- as well as a recollection of the iconic cars of the era and the visionaries that produced them.
MATING SURFACE: Describes a surface that interacts perfectly with another.
MID-ENGINE CHASSIS CONFIGURATION: Describes a vehicle, usually a two-seater, whose engine is located in the centre of the chassis directly behind the passenger compartment, although always ahead of the centre line of the rear wheels, to ensure better weight distribution and handling.
MOULD: Describes a hollow cavity into which molten metal or plastic is poured to form a casting or product in the desired shape.
MONOCOQUE: Describes a vehicle's body design which became common during the Fifties. A single shell has the engine and suspension attached to it in various places to spread the load evenly over the whole shell.
MOTOR MOUNT: Describes the rubber-covered bracket used to hold the engine and transmission to the vehicle's frame to minimise vibrations.
OUTER SILL: Describes the ledge often referred to as the sill that sits below the front and rear doors.
PILLAR: Describes the upright member that holds up a car roof.
PIPING: Describes a flexible strip inserted between two removable panels to cover up the joint and prevent the intrusion of fluids.
PLASTIC MOULDING: Describes converting organic-based materials through the injection of molten plastic into a die cavity shaped in the final form of the intended part.
PLATFORM: Describes the primary load-bearing structural assembly of a motor vehicle, determined by its overall size of the motor vehicle that supports the driveline and links the suspension components of the motor vehicle.
PLUG: Describes a removable stopper that fills a hole.
QUARTER PANEL: Describes the rear section of the body shell incorporating the rear fender and the C-pillar.
RUBBER PLUG: Describes a moulded rubber stopper used to semi-permanently close openings in body panels that require to be opened infrequently.
REAR PANEL: The panel of the body shell set underneath the trunk lid. It is sometimes referred to as the rear valance if the area below the trunk lid consists of only a single panel that extends down to the bottom of the body; in many designs, however, the rear valance is a separate horizontal panel that extends from the rear bumper area downward.
REAR VALANCE: Describes the separate panel set below the back panel extending approximately from behind the rear bumper downward to protect the rear end from splashes of mud.
RAKED: Describes a measure of ground clearance, which can be reduced or increased at either front or rear of the vehicle, giving the vehicle a tilted appearance.
REAR END: Describes the rear part of a vehicle's body shell, extending approximately from the rear seat pan to the rear apron of the car, including the boot floor.
REAR BULKHEAD: Describes the vertical panel that runs across the car's width, extending behind the rear seat backrest, separating the interior from the boot.
REAR BUMPER SKIRT: Describes a rear bumper that has been fitted with an integral skirt.
REAR CORNER PANEL: Describes the bottom corner of the rear bumpers.
REAR DECK PANEL: Describes the sheet metal panel that extends from the bottom of the rear window to the rear panel, extending sideways to the top of both rear bumpers.
REAR-HINGED DOOR: Describes an older type of door construction that had the hinges at the rear of the door so that the opening was toward the front (known as suicide doors in the US).
REAR PANEL: The panel of the body shell set underneath the boot lid that extends from the rear bumper area downward.
REAR PARCEL SHELF: Describes the interior shelf that extends over the boot level to the top of the rear seats,
RETURN SWEEP: Describes a body panel section with a concave appearance whose s most common function is to strengthen loose panel areas.
RIDE HEIGHT: Describes the measurement between the ground and a fixed reference point on a car's body that can be used to ascertain the height of the vehicle's body from the ground.
ROCKER PANEL: Describes the vehicle body section between the front and rear bumpers and beneath the doors.
ROLLBAR: Describes a heavy frame made from tubular steel that is welded from one side of the frame, that sits up and around behind the driver in a hoop, and back down to the other side of the frame, used to protect the driver and passengers if the vehicle rolls over.
ROLL CAGE: Describes a heavy protective structure that will protect the driver and passengers in the event of a rollover or crash. Fitting a roll cage also increases chassis strength and stiffness, making for improved handling characteristics.
ROOF BRACE: Describes a transverse rail that supports the roof panel,
ROOF PANEL: Describes the horizontal positioned outer layer of sheet metal spot-welded along its edges to the top of the root door and screen pillars to form a roof panel.
ROOF PILLARS: Describes the steel pillars surrounding the front and rear windshields and front and back doors in a saloon car. The pillars that run between the windscreen and the front door are referred to as A-pillars, while the pillars that run between the front and rear doors are referred to as B-pillars. Pillars positioned between the rear doors and the rear windshield are called C-pillars, providing greater rigidity to the car.
ROOF RAIL: Describes a longitudinal side member fixed above the car doors to hold the roof panel.
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