As automobiles developed, two primary body shapes became prevalent. Typically, vehicles featured a larger section for the driver and passengers, followed by a smaller compartment at the front. This front section, housing the engine and other mechanical components and crucially covered by the Bonnet Car Part, was kept low to ensure driver visibility. This initial design evolved into what we now recognize as either a 2-box or 3-box configuration.
Classic car showcasing sedan or saloon body style, emphasizing the bonnet car part as a defining feature of automotive design and terminology variations between British saloon and American sedan.
The 2-box design integrated luggage space within the passenger area, resembling modern hatchbacks or station wagons. However, the 3-box design introduced a distinct third compartment, accessible separately at the rear of the passenger section. This third “box,” again smaller to maintain rear visibility, became a defining characteristic. This fundamental layout is known as a ‘sedan’ in American English and a ‘saloon’ in British English.
The British term ‘saloon’ originated from luxurious train carriages, known as saloons, reflecting the early automotive industry’s aspirations for comfort and elegance. The word ‘saloon’ itself predates trains, referring to a spacious hall or gathering place, often associated with pleasant surroundings and company. Tracing its etymology leads to continental European roots like the French ‘salon’ and Italian ‘sala,’ both signifying a hall or room for social gatherings. In the context of car design, the saloon body style, with its distinct compartments including the bonnet car part protecting the engine, offered a refined and enclosed space, akin to a mobile gathering room.
Conversely, the American term ‘sedan’ derives from a different concept – the act of sitting. Before automobiles, a sedan was a mode of transport for the affluent, a portable chair or enclosed box seat carried by servants. Sometimes referred to as a ‘litter,’ the sedan chair placed passengers in a comfortable central compartment positioned between functional front and rear sections carried by bearers. This arrangement mirrored the 3-box car design, with the passenger area nestled between the engine compartment under the bonnet car part at the front and the luggage compartment at the rear. Interestingly, tracing ‘sedan’ back linguistically also leads to Italy, to the word ‘sedia,’ meaning ‘chair’ or ‘seat.’
It’s worth noting that some 2-box designs can also be classified as saloons. This occurs when the rear window remains fixed upon opening the rear compartment, indicating an access panel rather than a full door, as seen in the original Mini. This nuance highlights the subtle complexities in automotive terminology and design evolution, even when considering fundamental components like the bonnet car part and overall body style classifications.
