Chapter XIV - The bodywork of the motor vehicle

The bodywork is the upper part of the car designed for the transport of persons or goods. The shape of the bodywork is aerodynamic, light, resistant to stresses and ensures good visibility to the driver.

The bodywork of the cars, in general, is without chassis and, except for the doors, the hood and the fenders, all the other metal elements form a metal structure made by welding.

The elements that complete a bodywork are:

• the metal frame: represents the main part of the bodywork that joins all the others and that must be as resistant and light as possible;
• front fenders: are placed above the front wheels;
• rear fenders: are placed above the rear wheels;
• the inner fenders: are the elements that together with the fenders close the wheel arches;
• engine hood: the one that covers and protects the technical system;
• trunk hood: the one that protects the storage compartment for goods or luggage;
• the longitudinal beams: are longitudinal beams that are attached to the frame of the motor vehicle so that the load‑bearing structure is more rigid;
• the doors: are the doors that allow access to the motor vehicle.

For motor vehicles intended for the transport of goods, we distinguish the following:

• the bodywork is closed and the cabin is separate (for utility vehicles with a payload of up to 10 000 N);
• the bodywork is closed or covered with a canopy and with a separate cabin (for machines that have a payload of 10 000 N – 20 000 N);
• the bodywork is open or closed with a tarpaulin (for trucks);
• the bodywork that has a separate cabin and a tilting bed for load (for dump trucks);
• the bodywork is closed and thermally insulated, used for the transport of perishable goods (motor vehicles that perform special transport services).