5 Car Terms You Need To Know

Abdul Waha

Cars seem to have a language of their own, making them just about as confusing as a foreign language to those who have not been taught the proper slang. The average driver does not need to be a car expert to know the following terms, but they sure can enhance just about anyone’s coolness factor. They even come with a few fun moves to learn while approaching a corner or experimenting with downshifting. Just make sure no one else is around.

Drophead

Some car slang just sounds better when spoken in a particular language. A “drophead” is the British word for a convertible. The term is commonly used by Rolls-Royce and is used to describe a sports car with four seats and two doors, a sloping rear, and a folding, soft cover top. An example of a popular drophead is the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, which is a handmade British car that debuted in Detroit, Michigan at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in 2007.

Beltline

General Motors was founded in 1908 by William Durant, who at the time was the General Manager of Buick (formed in 1899) In 1911, Durant formed a partnership with Belgian-born race-car driver, Louis Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Motor Company was born. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons @Sicnag

No, a beltline does not refer to a person’s waistline and it is not used to hold up one’s pants. Beltline relates to the line along the side of a car just below all the glass windows. All cars have a beltline, regardless of their body style. Each beltline is unique to the type of vehicle. Some cars are designed with an emphasis on the beltline while others display the body panel right up the lower half of the windows, making it harder to locate.