Red marquis: /* Notes */

2009-10-08T11:28:54Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:28, 8 October 2009
Line 25:		Line 25:
	* [[Coachwork]]		* [[Coachwork]]

	~~==Notes==~~
	~~{{reflist}}~~

	==External links==		==External links==

Red marquis at 11:28, 8 October 2009

2009-10-08T11:28:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:28, 8 October 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
	A '''coachbuilder''' is a manufacturer of bodies for [[carriage]]s or [[automobile]]s. Initially, the skills used to build the wooden and metal bodies of vehicles was so specialized that most manufacturers procured contracts with existing coachbuilders to produce bodies for their chassis. For example, [[Fisher Body]] built all of [[~~Cadillac (automobile)\|~~Cadillac]]'s closed bodies in the [[1910s]].		A '''coachbuilder''' is a manufacturer of bodies for [[carriage]]s or [[automobile]]s. Initially, the skills used to build the wooden and metal bodies of vehicles was so specialized that most manufacturers procured contracts with existing coachbuilders to produce bodies for their chassis. For example, [[Fisher Body]] built all of [[Cadillac]]'s closed bodies in the 1910s.

	As coach (and automobile) manufacturers brought body building skills in-house, the practice of custom coachbuilding gained favor among the rich. Some ultra-luxury vehicles sold as chassis only. Examples include the [[Bugatti Type 57]], [[Cadillac V-16]], [[Ferrari 250]], and all Rolls-Royces produced before World War II. Many coachbuilders became associated with famed designers, such as [[Pininfarina]] and [[Giugiaro]].		The advent of [[unibody]] construction made custom coachbuilding impossible. Many coachbuilders were purchased by automobile manufacturers and merged with their vehicle operations. Others became contract vehicle assemblers, building niche or localized cars for larger companies. As coach (and automobile) manufacturers brought body building skills in-house, the practice of custom coachbuilding gained favor among the rich. Some ultra-luxury vehicles sold as chassis only. Examples include the [[Bugatti Type 57]], [[Cadillac V-16]], [[Ferrari 250]], and all Rolls-Royces produced before World War II. Many coachbuilders became associated with famed designers, such as [[Pininfarina]] and [[Giugiaro]].

	The ~~advent~~ of [[~~unibody~~]] ~~construction made custom coachbuilding impossible~~. ~~Many coachbuilders~~ were ~~purchased~~ by ~~automobile manufacturers~~ and ~~merged with their vehicle operations~~. ~~Others became contract vehicle assemblers~~, ~~building niche or localized cars~~ for ~~larger companies~~.		The trade dates back several centuries. [[Rippon (coachbuilder)\|Rippon]] was active in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, [[Barker (coachbuilder)\|Barker]] founded in 1710 by an officer in Queen Anne's Guards, [[Brewster & Co.\|Brewster]] a relative newcomer (though oldest in the U.S.), formed in 1810.<ref>Georgano, G. N. ''Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930''. (London: Grange-Universal, 1990), p.206</ref> Others included [[Hooper (coachbuilder)\|Hooper]], [[H. J. Mulliner & Co.]], [[Park Ward]], [[Gurney Nutting]], and [[James Young (coachbuilder)\|James Young]]. In France, they were led by [[Binder (coachbuilder)\|Binder]], [[Figoni et Falaschi]], [[Chapron]], [[Kellner (coachbuilder)\|Kellner]], [[Labourdette]], [[Letourneur et Marchand]], and later [[Hibbard & Darrin]] (formed by Americans). Germany's top firms were [[Erdmann & Rossi]], [[Gläser]], [[Karmann]], [[Hebmüller]], [[Neuss (coachbuilder)\|Neuss]], and [[Papler]]. Italy had firms such as [[Pininfarina]], [[Bertone]], [[Pietro Frua\|Frua]], [[Carrozzeria Castagna\|Castagna]], [[Ghia]], [[Carrozzeria Allemano\|Allemano]], [[Carrozzeria Scaglietti\|Scaglietti]], [[Carrozzeria Marazzi\|Marazzi]], [[Carrozzeria Boneschi\|Boneschi]], [[Fissore]], [[Alessio (coachbuilder)\|Alessio]] (of Turin, responsible for the [[FIAT#History\|first eight]] FIATs built) <ref>Georgano, p.24 cap.</ref> [[Zagato]], [[Vignale]], and [[Carrozzeria Touring\|Touring]]. The U.S. featured [[Brewster & Co.]], [[Brunn]], [[Fleetwood Metal Body\|Fleetwood]], LeBaron, [[Murphy Coach Company\|Murphy]], [[Derham (coachbuilder)\|Derham]], [[Locke (coachbuilder)\|Locke]], [[Rollston]] and [[Willoughby (coachbuilder)\|Willoughby]].<ref>Georgano.</ref> The best known coachbuilder from Holland was Pennock, but there were also [[Veth & Zn.]] and [[Van Rijswijk]].

	~~Coachbuilders often~~ used ~~native translations~~: ~~"carrozziere" in~~ [[~~Italian language\|Italian~~]] ~~and "Karosserie" in~~ [[~~German language~~\|~~German~~]].		In the early motoring days, when series production did not yet exist, the process of acquiring a new vehicle was more complex. A customer approached a chassis motoring brand, who used to deliver to the customer only the rolling chassis, comprising: chassis, drivetrain (engine, gearbox, differential, axles, wheels), suspension, steering system and the radiator. Noticeable fact is that the radiator was the only visual element identifying the rolling chassis brand. Subsequently the customer approached a coachbuilder, requesting a personal body design to be fitted on the purchased rolling chassis.
			Initially, the skills used to build the wooden and metal bodies of vehicles was so specialized, (such as the English wheel), that most manufacturers procured contracts with existing coachbuilders to produce bodies for their chassis. For example, [[Fisher Body]] built all of [[Cadillac (automobile)\|Cadillac]]'s closed bodies in the 1910s.

			As coach (and automobile) manufacturers brought body building skills in-house, the practice of custom coachbuilding gained favor among the rich. Some ultra-luxury vehicles sold as chassis only. For instance, when [[Duesenberg]] introduced their Model J, it was offered as chassis only, for $8,500. Other examples include the [[Bugatti Type 57]], [[Cadillac V-16]], [[Ferrari 250]], [[Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8]] and all Rolls-Royces produced before World War II. [[Delahaye]] had no in-house coachworks, so all its chassis were bodied by independents, who created some of their most attractive designs on the Type 135. Most of the [[Delahaye]]s were bodied by [[Chapron]], [[Labourdette]], [[Franay]], [[Saoutchik]], Figoni & Falaschi, [[Pennock]] and many more.

			The advent of [[unibody]] construction, where the car body is unified with, and structurally integral to the chassis, made custom coachbuilding (in the traditional sense of putting a bespoke body on a factory supplied separate chassis) practically impossible. Many coachbuilders went bankrupt, were bought by manufacturers or changed their core business to other activities:
			* transforming into dedicated design / styling houses, subcontracting to automotive brands (e.g. [[Zagato]], [[Frua]], [[Bertone]], [[Pininfarina]]).
			* and/or transforming into general coachwork series manufacturer, subcontracting to automotive brands (e.g. [[Karmann]], [[Bertone]], [[Vignale]], [[Pininfarina]]).
			* manufacturing of special coachworks for trucks, delivery vans, touringcars, ambulances, ‘voitures des pompiers’ (fire brigade), public transport vehicles, etc (e.g. [[Pennock]], [[Veth &Zn]], [[Akkermans]], [[Heuliez]]).
			* becoming technical partner for development of e.g. roof constructions (e.g. [[Karmann]], [[Heuliez]]) or producer of various (aftermarket) automotive parts.

			Coachbuilding survives among low-production companies such as [[Rolls-Royce (car)\|Rolls-Royce]], [[Ferrari]], [[Bentley]] and [[Corvette]] because of its low cost for a short run.<ref>"Steel Bodies: In an Eggshell", in Ward, Ian, executive editor. ''World of Automobiles'' (London: Orbis Publishing, 1974), p.2178.</ref> Producing body dies is extremely expensive (a single door can run US$40000), which is only practical when large numbers are involved.

			Coachbuilders often used native translations: ''carrozzeria'' in Italian and ''Karosserie'' in German.

			In reference to a [[recreational vehicle]] or motorhome, ''coach-built'' means a vehicle which has been purpose-built, using only a [[chassis]] as a base vehicle, as opposed to a ''conversion'' which is built inside an existing vehicle body.

			==See also==
			* [[Coachwork]]

			==Notes==
			{{reflist}}

			==External links==
	{{commonscat\|Coachbuilder badges}}		{{commonscat\|Coachbuilder badges}}
			* [http://www.coachbuild.com Webmagazine about Coachbuilders from past to present.]
			* [http://www.coachbuilt.com Encyclopedia of American Coachbuilders.]
			* [http://www.luxury-insider.com/Regulars/Reviews_and_Commentary/Coachbuilding/index.aspx Goldarths: The Fine Art of Coachbuilding.]

	[[Category:Coachbuilders\| ]]		[[Category:Coachbuilders\| ]]
	[[Category:Car manufacturers\| ]]		[[Category:Car manufacturers\| ]]

Red marquis at 12:38, 9 December 2006

2006-12-09T12:38:53Z

New page

A '''coachbuilder''' is a manufacturer of bodies for [[carriage]]s or [[automobile]]s. Initially, the skills used to build the wooden and metal bodies of vehicles was so specialized that most manufacturers procured contracts with existing coachbuilders to produce bodies for their chassis. For example, [[Fisher Body]] built all of [[Cadillac (automobile)|Cadillac]]'s closed bodies in the [[1910s]].

As coach (and automobile) manufacturers brought body building skills in-house, the practice of custom coachbuilding gained favor among the rich. Some ultra-luxury vehicles sold as chassis only. Examples include the [[Bugatti Type 57]], [[Cadillac V-16]], [[Ferrari 250]], and all Rolls-Royces produced before World War II. Many coachbuilders became associated with famed designers, such as [[Pininfarina]] and [[Giugiaro]].

The advent of [[unibody]] construction made custom coachbuilding impossible. Many coachbuilders were purchased by automobile manufacturers and merged with their vehicle operations. Others became contract vehicle assemblers, building niche or localized cars for larger companies.

Coachbuilders often used native translations: "carrozziere" in [[Italian language|Italian]] and "Karosserie" in [[German language|German]].

{{commonscat|Coachbuilder badges}}

[[Category:Coachbuilders| ]]
[[Category:Car manufacturers| ]]

Coachbuilder - Revision history

Red marquis: /* Notes */

Red marquis at 11:28, 8 October 2009

Red marquis at 12:38, 9 December 2006