Engineering:Greenhouse (car)

The prominent all-glass, inward sloping greenhouse is a distinguishing feature of the Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

The greenhouse of a vehicle is the “glassed” area above the fender line. This comprises the windshield, rear and side windows, and, incidentally, any pillars separating them.

The abundant glass and unobscured sight-lines of the BMW 2002 added to the safety of the vehicle

The shape and position of the greenhouse have a defining influence on the looks and functionality of the car, and are a prime factor in differentiating between body styles such as saloon/sedan, coupé, estate/wagon and hatchback. A greenhouse with noticeably inward side slopes is also referred to as the tumblehome.

In the 2000s and 2010s greenhouses became narrower because of design trends and crash regulations.

Further reading

• Eckermann, Erik (2001). World history of the automobile, SAE, ISBN:978-0-7680-0800-5