Hot Rod Bodywork Terms Explained
Chopping, channeling, and more metalworking mods you should know in bodywork terms.
Hot rodders are bilingual. We speak ordinary English fairly well, and we are also fluent in a second language that only other hot rodders understand. That is why when you are talking about pancaked hoods and split wishbones, baby moons and granny gear or other bodywork terms with the guy at the parts counter, it usually goes better than when you try the same conversation with your kid’s piano teacher.
A-,B-,andC-Pillars
The posts between the windshield, side glass, and rear window. The A-pillars are at each side of the windshield. B-pillars are located at the rear of the front door windows (some body styles, such as hardtops, do not have B-pillars). C-pillars are located at the rear of the top.
Beltline
The beltline is a line representing the bottom edge of a vehicle’s glass panels. The horizontal body line at the top of the lower body, just below the side windows. The beltline is typically accentuated with chrome trim, pinstriping, or a change in paint color.
Bobbed
Shortened. The term typically refers to early removable fenders and to the front of exposed frame-rails.
Boxing
To solve a problem of frame twist hot rod builders added a fourth side to the U-channel frame, usually referred to as “boxing”. This made the frame stronger to stay rigid with larger motors and torque.
Bullets
Conical, bullet-shaped trim pieces, including grille ornamentation, hub cap center pieces, and taillights—especially 1959 Cadillac taillights and 1965 Cadillac grill.
Channeled
A hot rod that has had the body lowered over the frame-rails, typically by raising the position of the floor. Channeling is a modification that can be applied to cars with body-on-frame construction. To channel an old car, its body is temporarily lifted off of its ladder or perimeter frame. After cutting the floor loose and refastening it higher inside the body, the body can then be lowered back over the frame. Thus the modification causes the entire body to rest closer to the ground without alterations to the suspension. The overall effect is to give the antique car’s body a more massive appearance.
Chopped
The term refers to a vehicle’s top that has reduced in height by cutting horizontal sections out of the posts and windows. To chop a roof, the pillars and windows are cut down, lowering the overall roofline.
Decked
Removing chrome trim and emblems, from the trunk for a smooth sheet-metal surface.
Filled
Eliminating any holes in the body panels (or bumpers) including fastener holes, fuel door openings, cowl vents, and roofs on early cars. It also refers to eliminating body seams between panels.
Frenched
From the word meaning cut (think French fries), reshaping the body panels to recess components (such as headlights and taillights into the body). It also refers to recessed pockets for antennas, license plates, and other pieces.
Louvered
Custom vents punched into hoods, decklids, and other body panels for ventilation or for looks.
Molded
Refers to body seams that have been filled in or smoothed out.
Narrowed Rear End
Is the process of installing a shorter length rear axel to provide wider wheels without extending the wheels beyond the vehicles body lines.
Nosed
Removing chrome trim and emblems, from the hood for a smooth sheet-metal surface. The same type of modification as decked, only applied to the hood.
Pancaked
Reshaping the hood by removing material to flatten the crown of the hood.
Peaked
Refers to raised ridges added to the tops of exterior panels, typically the hood, decklid, fenders, or grille shell.
Pie Cut
A horizontal wedge-style cut made to reshape a portion of the body, typically in the hood to lower the profile.
Radiused
Refers to removing material from the wheel openings to enlarge them for appearance or to larger tires and wheels. Also used to describe rounding the square corners on doors, hoods, and decklids.
Rolled
Adding a smoothed sheet-metal panel at the lower body that extends beneath the car, usually replacing the front or rear bumper.
Sectioned
Similar to chopping, removing horizontal sections from the body sides to lower the overall height of the body.
Shaved
Eliminating door handles, locks, emblems, badges, and trim from the sheet-metal and filling the holes for a clean, smooth appearance. Also refers to eliminating visible fasteners from the outside of bumper.
Skirts
Removable exterior panels added to the wheel openings to cover the tires and wheels, usually in the rear.
Stretched
Lengthening exterior body panels such as doors, fenders, and hoods to modify the proportions of the old car.
Suicide Doors
Side doors that are hinged at the rear and open at the front. This style was original on some 1932 through 1934 Ford coupes and other classic cars and is a popular modification.
Tubbed
Refers to fenders and wheel openings extended to fit wide wheels and tires, typically in the rear of the vintage car.
Wedged
A body modification in which non parallel cuts are made to the body to lower it over the frame in the front of the classic car. Also a cut to the top to lower it at a more pronounced rake.
This bodywork terms guide will help those first-time old car enthusiasts navigate the Hot Rodders’ world.
