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Classic Car Glossary

This page contains a collections of definitions that will be helpful to those learning about classic cars.

First, there is a table which provides an explanation of many of the most common abbreviations found in advertisements and other locations pertaining to classic and other autos.

Next, there is a number of terms frequently used in reference to classic cars along with a brief explanation of the meaning of each. Many are also accompanied by a photo illustration. Since many classic cars have been customized to varying degrees, several common terms used to described this type of work have also been included.

You may simply browse the list or select a section:

Common Abbreviations.
Meanings of Terms

Use at the end of each section to return to the Resources page.

Common Abbreviations

Term Short for

2D or 2-D 2 door

4D or 4-D 4 door

AC or A/C air conditioned

AT or A/T automatic transmission

CC cruise control (rarely used)

cid (also ci or cd) cubic inch displacement

CK or C/K continental kit (rarely used)

CV convertible

F/AC or F/AC factory-installed air conditioning

FS or F/S fender skirts (rarely used)

FWD front-wheel drive

hp horsepower

HT or HDTP hardtop

LHD left-hand drive

LWB 1. (cars) long wheel base
2. (trucks) long wide bed

NO[R]S new old [restored] stock

OB[R]O or best [reasonable] offer

P or P/ prefix denoting powered feature

PA or P/A power antenna

PB or P/B power brakes

PDB power disk brakes

P[D]L or P/L power [door] locks (rarely used)

PS or P/S power steering

PSR power sun roof (rarely used)

PT or P/T power [convertible] top

P/U pickup truck

PW or P/W power windows

RHD right-hand drive

RS or R/S rumble seat

RT or R/T removable top (rarely used)

RWD rear-wheel drive

S/W station wagon

SWB 1. 2. (trucks) short wide bed

WB wheel base

WWW wide white walls


Term	Short for

2D or 2-D	2 door
4D or 4-D	4 door
AC or A/C	air conditioned
AT or A/T	automatic transmission
CC	cruise control (rarely used)
cid (also ci or cd)	cubic inch displacement
CK or C/K	continental kit (rarely used)
CV	convertible
F/AC or F/AC	factory-installed air conditioning
FS or F/S	fender skirts (rarely used)
FWD	front-wheel drive
hp	horsepower
HT or HDTP	hardtop
LHD	left-hand drive
LWB	1. (cars) long wheel base 2. (trucks) long wide bed
NO[R]S	new old [restored] stock
OB[R]O	or best [reasonable] offer
P or P/	prefix denoting powered feature
PA or P/A	power antenna
PB or P/B	power brakes
PDB	power disk brakes
P[D]L or P/L	power [door] locks (rarely used)
PS or P/S	power steering
PSR	power sun roof (rarely used)
PT or P/T	power [convertible] top
P/U	pickup truck
PW or P/W	power windows
RHD	right-hand drive
RS or R/S	rumble seat
RT or R/T	removable top (rarely used)
RWD	rear-wheel drive
S/W	station wagon
SWB	1. 2. (trucks) short wide bed
WB	wheel base
WWW	wide white walls

Meanings of Terms

Term Meaning Example

antique car * generally refers to a car that is more than 25 years old.

body-on restoration ** essentially the same as the more familiar frame-off restoration but may not be as thorough.

business coupe a type of coupe having only a single seat for two or three persons, often with a small storage area behind the seat. Photo

cabriolet a two-door open car (convertible). Most convertibles today are of this design, four-door convertibles having virtually disappeared by the end of the '30's, but in the '60's, a few four-door models were briefly re-introduced by Lincoln. (Compare to phaeton.) Photo

carson top a custom-made, one-piece, hard or rigid (non-folding), removable convertible top which may be special-made but are often created by removing the original top from a sedan or hardtop. Carson tops are frequently lowered ("chopped") by 2-3 inches. Photo

chopped or choptop the process of lowering the top of a car, usually as part of a customized design. Photo

classic car * normally denotes a car that is more than 25 years old; however, occasionally a newer car may be considered "classic" for some reason.

club coupe a closed coupe with a rear (club) seat Photo

club seat the rear seat in a coupe.

condition numbers any set of digits used to rate the overall quality of a car. The most commonly used set consist of six ratings and are explained here.

continental kit a spare tire mounted on the bumper at the rear of the car, usually requiring a bumper extension. Photo

convertible any car with a top that can be either lowered or removed. Originally, all cars were of this design, but soon the protection of the closed in sedan gained dominance. Convertibles have always had a niche except for a brief period in the '70's and '80's when the disappeared due to safety concerns. Photo

convertible coupe though apparently an oxymoron, this term is often used to refer to a two-door, ragtop type convertible. Photo

coupe or coupé a closed two-door automobile such as a sedan or hardtop. Photo

cruiser skirts optional accessory similar in function to fender skirts but are normally longer, fit on the outside of the body of the car, and are most often used in customization work. Photo

customized refers to any modification of a car other than the restoration to the original condition. This may mean something as simple as adding a new engine or power options to changing the car so radically that its original nature is barely recognizable. Photo

decked the process of removing the body trim or contour lines from the hood or trunk of a car, usually as part of a customized design. Photo

dogleg popular name applied to the angle created at the door opening by the wrap-around windshields found on many mid to late '50's models. Photo

fender skirts optional accessory that fits up in the wheel well and covers most or all of the cut-outs in the fenders at the rear wheels. Compare to cruiser-skirts. Photo

frame-off restoration ** a restoration method in which the car is completely disassembled with all parts cleaned or replaced as necessary, including the engine and all other mechanical components) so the restored car meets the exact factory specifications of the time as closely as possible.

frame-up restoration ** a less rigorous restoration than a frame-off in which the car has not been disassembled with only certain components, such as paint, chrome, interior, and maybe some mechanical items, having been redone.

ground-up restoration ** essentially the same as the more familiar frame-off restoration but may not be as thorough.

hardtop a car designed to resemble a convertible in looks and feel but without a removable top. Hardtops do not have the fixed post between the side windows. Photo

hardtop convertible a type of convertible having a removable hard top. Such designs include tops that unfasten and lift off (as on the early T-birds) and the retractables on the late '50's Fords. Photo

hot rod a car enhanced for speed. Photo

land yacht a large luxury car, especially the huge, chrome laden, finned monsters of the late '50's. Photo

landau denotes a body style which may be almost anything but is most often a sedan or hardtop. A landau may be signified by the landau roof (see below) or the characteristic elongated "S" on the quarter panel behind the side windows. Photo

landau top a roof style characterized by a (usually small) rear section being covered by vinyl fabric or otherwise set apart. Photo

lead sled the process of smoothing and shaping body contours to remove lines between panels and minor imperfections, often resulting in radically changed body shapes. Today, plastic filler is used, but originally lead was employed, hence the name "lead sled." Photo

lowrider generally, a car on which the chassis has been lowered; however, other customizations are often present. Photo

lowered the process of lowering the chassis of a car, usually as part of a customized design. Photo

matching numbers a set of numbers on a car which specify and can be used to verify the originality of the components of a car ranging from color to the engine. For a more detained explanation, click here.

muscle car a term used beginning in the mid-'50's to refer to cars which had very high horsepower and is still in use today. Photo

new old stock new parts made by the original manufacturer at the time of production that were never used.

nosed the process of raising a small peak (nose) in the center of the hood of a car, usually as part of a customized design. Photo

original from the time of purchase or manufacture. A car that is "all original" is one that contains only parts contemporary to its time (came with the car or NOS) with no substitute or after-market parts.

parts car a car that is suitable only for gleaning parts. Such cars are often, wrecked, incomplete and do not run. Such a car would normally have a condition number of #6. Photo

phaeton a four-door open car (convertible). Most true phaetons had vanished by the late '30's, but as late as the '60's, a few models that roughly qualify for the term were briefly re-introduced by Lincoln. (Compare to cabriolet.) Photo

pony car another name for muscle car (from high horsepower) that vanished after the '60's Mustang. (Did the little Pinto kill it?) Photo

post the fixed column between the front and rear side windows of a sedan. The post is not present in a hardtop. Photo

pro street a customized automobile designed for very high-performance and racing. Photo

project car an essentially complete, usually running car, that is capable of being restored. A project car usually has a condition number of #4 or #5. Photo

ragtop any car with a soft (as in canvas) top. Although normally used in reference to convertibles, some early models had fixed soft tops Photo

retractable a car having a mechanically retractable hardtop such as the late '50's Ford Skyliner. Photo

roadster an open car having a single seat for two or three passengers with a rumble seat in the rear. Photo

rumble seat an open, fold-up seat in the rear of an auto. Photo

running board a strip running between the fenders and below the doors of early autos used both as a step up into the car and to wipe the mud from one's feet (many unpaved roads). Photo

sedan a closed automobile having two- or four-doors. Photo

sedan delivery essentially a station wagon closed behind the front seat thereby resembling a small panel truck. Photo

sedanette or sedanet a two-door sedan having a slanted back with the rear window and trunk along one unbroken curve. This name for the early streamlined design is most often used for Buick and Cadillac models, but similar designs of other makes are known by various names such as "Aero" (Chevrolet), "Jetback," "Streamliner" (Pontiac), "Torpedo," and simply "fastback." Photo

shaved the process smoothing lines by removing the body trim or contour lines of a car including filling any holes, usually as part of a customized design. Photo

side mount a spare tire mounted on the side of a car, normally on the fender just above and behind the front wheel. Photo

street rod a customized, usually modernized, most often classic, automobile designed for show and/or pleasure driving. Photo

suicide doors doors that open from the front rather than the rear. Although most often thought of as applying to rear doors of four-door autos, several early models had suicide-style front doors. Some of the last suicide doors to appear on an American auto were on the '60's Lincolns. Photo

Vicky or Vickie a nickname for "Victoria," mostly used by Ford over the years, but applied to a few cars by other companies such as Packard and Chrysler in early years. The shortened form is most often used for models cirça the 1930's. Photo

vintage car * technically refers to any car that is greater than 25 years in age, but is normally used for much older vehicles.

woody or woodie refers to a vehicle which has part of the side body sheet metal covered or replaced with decorative wood. Photo

wrap-around windshield a type of windshield design found on many mid to late '50's cars on which the vertical post on each side were "swept back" to a vertical or a reversed position in an attempt to improve visibility. Photo

* The precise meanings of the terms "antique," "classic," and "vintage" when applied to cars will vary somewhat with the usage and source.
** Just as with condition numbers, the meanings of these terms are interpreted widely between individuals; therefore, care should be taken to obtain the precise details of the restoration work that has been done.


Term	Meaning	Example

antique car *	generally refers to a car that is more than 25 years old.
body-on restoration **	essentially the same as the more familiar frame-off restoration but may not be as thorough.
business coupe	a type of coupe having only a single seat for two or three persons, often with a small storage area behind the seat.	Photo
cabriolet	a two-door open car (convertible). Most convertibles today are of this design, four-door convertibles having virtually disappeared by the end of the '30's, but in the '60's, a few four-door models were briefly re-introduced by Lincoln. (Compare to phaeton.)	Photo
carson top	a custom-made, one-piece, hard or rigid (non-folding), removable convertible top which may be special-made but are often created by removing the original top from a sedan or hardtop. Carson tops are frequently lowered ("chopped") by 2-3 inches.	Photo
chopped or choptop	the process of lowering the top of a car, usually as part of a customized design.	Photo
classic car *	normally denotes a car that is more than 25 years old; however, occasionally a newer car may be considered "classic" for some reason.
club coupe	a closed coupe with a rear (club) seat	Photo
club seat	the rear seat in a coupe.
condition numbers	any set of digits used to rate the overall quality of a car. The most commonly used set consist of six ratings and are explained here.
continental kit	a spare tire mounted on the bumper at the rear of the car, usually requiring a bumper extension.	Photo
convertible	any car with a top that can be either lowered or removed. Originally, all cars were of this design, but soon the protection of the closed in sedan gained dominance. Convertibles have always had a niche except for a brief period in the '70's and '80's when the disappeared due to safety concerns.	Photo
convertible coupe	though apparently an oxymoron, this term is often used to refer to a two-door, ragtop type convertible.	Photo
coupe or coupé	a closed two-door automobile such as a sedan or hardtop.	Photo
cruiser skirts	optional accessory similar in function to fender skirts but are normally longer, fit on the outside of the body of the car, and are most often used in customization work.	Photo
customized	refers to any modification of a car other than the restoration to the original condition. This may mean something as simple as adding a new engine or power options to changing the car so radically that its original nature is barely recognizable.	Photo
decked	the process of removing the body trim or contour lines from the hood or trunk of a car, usually as part of a customized design.	Photo
dogleg	popular name applied to the angle created at the door opening by the wrap-around windshields found on many mid to late '50's models.	Photo
fender skirts	optional accessory that fits up in the wheel well and covers most or all of the cut-outs in the fenders at the rear wheels. Compare to cruiser-skirts.	Photo
frame-off restoration **	a restoration method in which the car is completely disassembled with all parts cleaned or replaced as necessary, including the engine and all other mechanical components) so the restored car meets the exact factory specifications of the time as closely as possible.
frame-up restoration **	a less rigorous restoration than a frame-off in which the car has not been disassembled with only certain components, such as paint, chrome, interior, and maybe some mechanical items, having been redone.
ground-up restoration **	essentially the same as the more familiar frame-off restoration but may not be as thorough.
hardtop	a car designed to resemble a convertible in looks and feel but without a removable top. Hardtops do not have the fixed post between the side windows.	Photo
hardtop convertible	a type of convertible having a removable hard top. Such designs include tops that unfasten and lift off (as on the early T-birds) and the retractables on the late '50's Fords.	Photo
hot rod	a car enhanced for speed.	Photo
land yacht	a large luxury car, especially the huge, chrome laden, finned monsters of the late '50's.	Photo
landau	denotes a body style which may be almost anything but is most often a sedan or hardtop. A landau may be signified by the landau roof (see below) or the characteristic elongated "S" on the quarter panel behind the side windows.	Photo
landau top	a roof style characterized by a (usually small) rear section being covered by vinyl fabric or otherwise set apart.	Photo
lead sled	the process of smoothing and shaping body contours to remove lines between panels and minor imperfections, often resulting in radically changed body shapes. Today, plastic filler is used, but originally lead was employed, hence the name "lead sled."	Photo
lowrider	generally, a car on which the chassis has been lowered; however, other customizations are often present.	Photo
lowered	the process of lowering the chassis of a car, usually as part of a customized design.	Photo
matching numbers	a set of numbers on a car which specify and can be used to verify the originality of the components of a car ranging from color to the engine. For a more detained explanation, click here.
muscle car	a term used beginning in the mid-'50's to refer to cars which had very high horsepower and is still in use today.	Photo
new old stock	new parts made by the original manufacturer at the time of production that were never used.
nosed	the process of raising a small peak (nose) in the center of the hood of a car, usually as part of a customized design.	Photo
original	from the time of purchase or manufacture. A car that is "all original" is one that contains only parts contemporary to its time (came with the car or NOS) with no substitute or after-market parts.
parts car	a car that is suitable only for gleaning parts. Such cars are often, wrecked, incomplete and do not run. Such a car would normally have a condition number of #6.	Photo
phaeton	a four-door open car (convertible). Most true phaetons had vanished by the late '30's, but as late as the '60's, a few models that roughly qualify for the term were briefly re-introduced by Lincoln. (Compare to cabriolet.)	Photo
pony car	another name for muscle car (from high horsepower) that vanished after the '60's Mustang. (Did the little Pinto kill it?)	Photo
post	the fixed column between the front and rear side windows of a sedan. The post is not present in a hardtop.	Photo
pro street	a customized automobile designed for very high-performance and racing.	Photo
project car	an essentially complete, usually running car, that is capable of being restored. A project car usually has a condition number of #4 or #5.	Photo
ragtop	any car with a soft (as in canvas) top. Although normally used in reference to convertibles, some early models had fixed soft tops	Photo
retractable	a car having a mechanically retractable hardtop such as the late '50's Ford Skyliner.	Photo
roadster	an open car having a single seat for two or three passengers with a rumble seat in the rear.	Photo
rumble seat	an open, fold-up seat in the rear of an auto.	Photo
running board	a strip running between the fenders and below the doors of early autos used both as a step up into the car and to wipe the mud from one's feet (many unpaved roads).	Photo
sedan	a closed automobile having two- or four-doors.	Photo
sedan delivery	essentially a station wagon closed behind the front seat thereby resembling a small panel truck.	Photo
sedanette or sedanet	a two-door sedan having a slanted back with the rear window and trunk along one unbroken curve. This name for the early streamlined design is most often used for Buick and Cadillac models, but similar designs of other makes are known by various names such as "Aero" (Chevrolet), "Jetback," "Streamliner" (Pontiac), "Torpedo," and simply "fastback."	Photo
shaved	the process smoothing lines by removing the body trim or contour lines of a car including filling any holes, usually as part of a customized design.	Photo
side mount	a spare tire mounted on the side of a car, normally on the fender just above and behind the front wheel.	Photo
street rod	a customized, usually modernized, most often classic, automobile designed for show and/or pleasure driving.	Photo
suicide doors	doors that open from the front rather than the rear. Although most often thought of as applying to rear doors of four-door autos, several early models had suicide-style front doors. Some of the last suicide doors to appear on an American auto were on the '60's Lincolns.	Photo
Vicky or Vickie	a nickname for "Victoria," mostly used by Ford over the years, but applied to a few cars by other companies such as Packard and Chrysler in early years. The shortened form is most often used for models cirça the 1930's.	Photo
vintage car *	technically refers to any car that is greater than 25 years in age, but is normally used for much older vehicles.
woody or woodie	refers to a vehicle which has part of the side body sheet metal covered or replaced with decorative wood.	Photo
wrap-around windshield	a type of windshield design found on many mid to late '50's cars on which the vertical post on each side were "swept back" to a vertical or a reversed position in an attempt to improve visibility.	Photo
* The precise meanings of the terms "antique," "classic," and "vintage" when applied to cars will vary somewhat with the usage and source. ** Just as with condition numbers, the meanings of these terms are interpreted widely between individuals; therefore, care should be taken to obtain the precise details of the restoration work that has been done.

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