<VV> Sedans, Coupes and Hardtops

[airvair at earthlink.net]

Roy,

I think we're in agreement there. I think the real reason I get irritated at the misuse of word "sedan" is when it's used as a stand-alone term. Even GM marketing never separated it from the word "sport" when they were refering to a 4door hardtop. Add to that that the hardtops were always restricted to premium car lines, whereas sedans were as often as not the cheaper (and certainly not considered sporty) car lines.Thus to refer to a LM Corvair 4door as simply a "sedan" is not only a misnomer, by omission, but is relegating the car to a lesser status. A bit like calling it "white trash", and THAT is something I definately find offensive. The LM Monza 4door deserves more respect than that, as it is every bit as good as any other Monza.

-Mark


----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: airvair at earthlink.net
Cc: Virtual Vairs
Sent: 12/7/2009 10:59:39 AM 
Subject: Re: Sedans, Coupes and Hardtops


Mark, if by ("My point is that REAL car people try to use the first kind") the first kind you are referring to what GM / Chevrolet calls it, we are in agreement. After all, they made it and they named it.
GIZMO, I knew what that was when I was about 5 years old.
Roy - NAVY Brat
----- Original Message -----
From: airvair at earthlink.net
To: rbuckridge at comcast.net, "Virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Monday, December 7, 2009 10:45:56 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: RE: <VV> Sedans, Coupes and Hardtops

What we have here are examples of three different kinds of terminology. The
auto industry standard terminology, the marketing terminology, and the
public-perceived terminology. I have stated, more than once, what the
industry standard terminology is, and Hank cites a lot of examples of the
marketing terminology, while Smitty seems to cling to the public-perceived
terminology.

My point is that REAL car people try to use the first kind, begrudgingly
recognize the second kind, but abhor the third kind. The term "sedan" has
been so corrupted, first by marketing people, then the general public, as
to be meaningless on a practical level. Add to this the fact that almost
every car on the market is a sedan, and we just might as well abandon the
use of the word altogether. I just wonder what kind of authority we can
claim if we aren't using correct terminology. Kind of reminds me of the
joke T-shirt that names various tools such as "thingamabob" or "gizmo",
etc. LOL

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> From: <rbuckridge at comcast.net>
> Subject: <VV> Sedans, Coupes and Hardtops
>
> I wasn't going to start this thread again, but since Hank brought it
up...... 
>
> Hank is RIGHT. All you need to do is look at the Chevrolet brochures from
that period. 
>
> Right now I'm looking at the "There's 5 in 64" Chevrolet brochure. A
SPORT SEDAN has NO POST, but a SEDAN has a post. They show both 2 & 4 door
sedans, all with posts. 
>
> The 1965 Corvair brochure shows Sport Coupes, Sport Sedans. On page 2,
"And, above all, bold hardtop styling for coupe and sedan models. The
sophisticated design has an international flavor and takes it's cue from a
trim pillarless roof line." 
>
> That's what GM / Chevrolet calls them, so case closed as far as I am
concerned. Just like Sting Ray or Stingray. Or is it a rose by ......you
get the point. 
>
> Roy - Bayshore 
>