Notchback

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

Notchback is a sedan car with a small trunk. It is a three-box design, where the trunk (or boot) volume is less pronounced than the engine and passenger compartments.

Many models of sedans, coupés or hatchbacks could be potentially classified as notchbacks, however the use of the term is typically limited to American car manufacturers distinguishing 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

1939 Cadillac Series 60 Special

One of the first cars marketed as a notchback is the 1938 Cadillac Sixty Special.[1][2][3]

In 1952, a notchback version of the Nash Ambassador was introduced.[4]

In 1971, Chevrolet marketed the three-box sedan models of the Chevrolet Vega as a notchback, in order to differentiate them from the fastback Vega models.[5][6] For the 1973 model year, the car's name was changed to "Vega Notchback".[7]

Other English-speaking countries

The term notchback is seldom used outside of North America. Many car models have notchback characteristics, however their body style is described using other terms. For example, a three-box sedan[8] is more generally known as a saloon in British English.[9] "Notchback" has appeared in a few British English publications, however it is not a term that is used in common parlance in Britain.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "1940, The Cadillac Sixty Sets Another Styling Trend". General Motors: Generations of GM Wiki Timeline. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "1938-'40 Cadillac Sixty Special". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Take Me to Your Style Leader: The 1938–1942 Cadillac Sixty Special". www.ateupwithmotor.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  4. ↑ Gunnell, John (1992). Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975. Krause Publications. p. 468. Retrieved 7 December 2017. 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
  5. ↑ "Chevrolutionary! - 1973 Chevrolet Vega GT Millionth Edition, 1976 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "How the Chevy Vega Nearly Destroyed GM". www.popularmechanics.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  7. ↑ Chevrolet Vega (brochures)|format= requires |url= (help). Chevrolet. 1971–77.
  8. ↑ "sedan". Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (in British English). Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  9. ↑ "saloon". Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (in British English). Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  10. ↑ Stevenson, Angus; Waite, Maurice, eds. (2011). "notchback". Concise Oxford English Dictionary (in British English) (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.
  11. ↑ Barnard, R.H. (1996). Road Vehicle Aerodynamic Design. Longman. ISBN 978-0-582-24522-8.


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