The body of a vehicle is the visible distinct style of a vehicle. It is sometimes said to be the personality of the vehicle whereas the engine is the soul. There are many types of body styles,almost too many to list here. However we will look at the most popular body styles on the road today.
Types of Vehicle Bodies
Convertible
A convertible is a vehicle that has a roof that can be removed or retracted. The roof is generally made of fabric. The rear window may be made of glass or a clear plastic vinyl.
Crossover
A crossover is a vehicle built on a car chassis but has features and functions like an SUV. It can be thought of as a station wagon on steroids.
Hardtop
A hardtop can have two or four doors. It will have a fixed roof. Hardtops can be recognized by inspecting the doors around the windows. The doors will not have a frame that surrounds the door window.
Hatchback
A hatchback is a small vehicle that has either two or four doors on the sides and a door that opens vertically in the rear.
Hybrid
A hybrid vehicle uses a gasoline engine in combination with electric motors to drive the wheels and charge the batteries. These types of cars are becoming increasingly popular.
Minivan
A minivan is like a taller station wagon. It is smaller than a regular van and can generally carry up to 9 passengers in up to three rows. The seating arrangements can include captain’s chairs or bench seats in the second and third rows. Minivans will have two doors in the front,one on each side. The middle part of modern minivans has two sliding doors,one on each side. In addition to these doors a door that opens vertically will be located on the rear of the minivan.
Pickup Truck
A pickup truck is a vehicle that may have two or four doors on the cab. Behind the cab is a section referred to as a cargo bed. Pickup trucks are used for hauling or carrying goods and materials. The tailgate is the door that folds down on the rear of the cargo bed to access the cargo space.
Retractable Hardtop
A retractable hardtop is similar to a convertible except for the roof is made metal.
Roadster
A roadster is a car that has only two seats. One is for the driver and one is for a passenger.
Sedan
A sedan is a car with either two or four doors. This style of car has a fixed roof. The windows in the doors of a sedan have a frame that goes all the way around them and is part of the door. NOTE- Two door vehicles may be referred to as a coupe.
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)
A sport utility vehicle is like a car on the inside but can be used similar to a pickup truck.
Station Wagon
A station wagon is typically a four door vehicle with an enclosed section in the rear for hauling passengers or cargo. The rear of the vehicle has a separate door that opens vertically to access the cargo. Some newer wagons are referred to as sport wagons.
Van
A van is a tall vehicle usually built on a pickup truck style chassis. Vans can have up to four rows of seats and carry up to 16 passengers. Conversely,vans can be used to carry cargo. There are usually two doors in the front on each side and generally one or two entry doors in the middle on the right side referred to as cargo doors. The side doors may be installed instead of one sliding door. Vans will generally have two doors in the rear in addition to the other doors. Some vans will have glass all the way around and others may not.
Parts of the Body
For reference,the right and left sides of the vehicle are defined as if you are sitting in the driver seat. Not all variations or unique components will be mentioned here to maintain clarity. The parts listed will be from a standard four door sedan or pickup truck. Most are major parts of the vehicle however some will be strictly cosmetic. Let’s start at the front and work our way to the back.
Cars and Trucks
- Front bumper
- Grille
- Right and left fender
- Hood
- Wiper cowl
- Front windshield
- A pillar
- Roof
- Right and left side mirrors
- Front right and left doors
- Front right and left windows
- B pillar
- Rear right and left doors
- Rear right and left windows
- C pillar
- Rear windshield
- Rear bumper
Cars Only
- Right and left quarter panels
- Deck lid or trunk lid
Trucks Only
- Cab
- Cargo bed
Minivans,Trucks and SUV’s
- Tailgate
Vans Only
The side doors on a full size or cargo van are the forward and rear cargo door,respectively. The doors on the back of the van are referred to as the right and left rear doors.
Front Bumper
The front bumper absorbs some of the impact in a crash. Today,most cars have a bumper cover over the bumper itself. The bumper cover is the cosmetic part that we see when looking at a vehicle. Most heavy duty trucks built today have steel bumpers.
Grille
The grille is the opening in front of the radiator. Each manufacturer has their own signature when it comes to the grille. While body styles change,the grille stays very similar to the original design.
Right and Left Fender
The fenders are the large pieces of metal on the front sides of the vehicle that surround the wheels.
Hood
The hood covers the engine. It is located between the fenders.
Wiper Cowl
The wiper cowl is the part between the hood and front windshield. The windshield wipers are located in this area. Wiper cowls are usually made of plastic.
Front Windshield
The front windshield is the large piece of glass on the front of the vehicle.
A Pillar
The A pillar is the piece of metal that rises vertically on each side of the front windshield. It provides support for the roof. NOTE- All vertical supports that support a fixed roof are pillars. They are defined by sequential letters starting with A at the windshield. Limos may have up to five or more pillars.
Roof
This is the large piece of metal that covers the cab or interior of the vehicle. This part is retractable on convertibles.
Right and Left Side Mirrors
The right and left side mirrors are used to locate traffic and objects next to and behind the vehicle. The are located on the front doors of the vehicle. Sometimes these mirrors may be heated or have turn signals in them.
B Pillar
The B pillar is the upright piece of metal directly behind the driver and passenger front door. This part is a major structural part of the body. the B pillar supports the roof,is where the seat belt is attached on most cars,and is a mounting point for the door striker.
C Pillar
The C pillar is most similar to the A pillar. It is located behind the rear doors and outlines the back glass.
Rear Windshield
The back glass is the rear most glass on the vehicle. Most vehicles have a defroster on this piece of glass to melt snow and ice. This windshield may be made of glass or clear vinyl plastic on convertibles.
Rear Bumper
The rear bumper is identical to the front bumper in form and function.
Cars Only
Right and Left Quarter Panels
The right and left quarter panels are the large pieces of metal on the side and rear of cars. They surround the rear tires.
Deck Lid or Trunk Lid
The trunk lid covers the contents of the trunk or the cargo storage area.
Trucks Only
Cab
The cab is the part of the truck where the driver and passengers sit. It is separate from the cargo bed.
Cargo bed
The cargo bed is the rear portion of a truck that is designed to carry goods or materials. There are many styles of cargo beds available today.
Minivans,Trucks and SUV’s
Tailgate
The tailgate is a single rear door that raises or lowers vertically. On minivans and SUV’s this door will raise up and most likely have a glass window that can be opened and closed separately. On trucks,the tailgate will fold down to allow access to the cargo area.
Conclusion
Unique features and components have been left out to keep the description of current body styles easy to understand.
The doors and side windows have been intentionally left out because their function and purpose is obvious. The main thing to know when referring to the doors or windows is the proper location. The driver door and window is referred to as the left front. The passenger front door and window position is referred to as the right front. The other doors are referred to in their respective locations.