History(of(the(Vehicle(Body(

The(most(ancient(evidence(of(a(wheeled(vehicle(is(a(pictogram(on(a(tablet(from(the(
Inanna(temple(in(Erech,(Mesopotamia.(Third(millennium(B.C((
(
Types(of(ancient(wheels(
Cart(axle(with(two(wheels(dating(back(to(the(midCtwentieth(century.(Except(for(the(
iron(tire,(the(structure(with(a(disc(made(of(three(planks(is(the(same(as(that(of(
prehistoric(wheels.((
(
(
(
(
(
The(structure(of(an(Egyptian(chariot(of(the(15th(century(B.C(
The(best(state(of(the(art(of(its(times,(one(that(remained(unchanged(for(centuries.((
(
Celtic(carriage(from(the(1st(century(B.C.((
First(example(of(a(wagon(with(steering(on(the(front(axle(
Can(be(considered(as(an(articulated(vehicle(made(by(two(chariots.((
It(incorporates(interesting(features,(such(as(the(wooden(roller(bearings(in(the(hubs.((
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
From(Horses(to(Cars(
Motor(vehicles(started(replacing(horse(
driven(vehicles.(In(the(United(States(in(
1915(there(were(more(cars(than(horses.(
This(constant(growth(was(linked(to(the(
development(of(infrastructures(for(
motorized(road(transport((motorways,(
fuel(stations,(etc.)(and(triggered(a(
widespread(process(of(change((with(
social(and(economic(implications).(

When(was(the(first(car(invented?(
To(establishing(when(the(automobile(was(first(invented(one(must(firstly(define(what(
a(car(actually(is.(A(car(may(be(defined(as(a(self%propelled*vehicle,(operated(by(a(self%
contained*engine*with(on%board*energy*source,(provided(with(four*wheels,(
suitable(for(transporting(the(driver(and(passengers.((
(
Atlantic*Codex(The(original(design(of(the(selfCpropelled(cart((
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
Leonardo(da(Vinci(that(reveals(a(renewed(interest(
towards(a(selfCpropelling(means(of(locomotion.((
(
The(machine(is(powered(by(two(symmetric(coiled(springs.(It(also(features(steering(
and(brake(capabilities.(In(order(to(deliver(smooth(and(stable(motion,(the(machine(
features(balance(wheel,(as(used(in(clocks.((
(
The(first(motor(vehicle(
Horses(were(harnessed(to(the(front(of(the(carriage,(therefore(it(looked(natural(to(
many(inventors(to(install(the(engine(in(the(front(part(of(the(vehicle.((
(
The(first(motor(vehicle,(the(1769((small(size)(Cugnots(Fardier((Truck)(had(a(front*
driving*wheel(with(the(steam*engine*and*the*boiler*rigidly*mounted*on*the*front*
steering*wheel.((
(
The(vehicle,(had(two*wheels*at*the*rear*and*one*in*the*front(where(the(horses(
would(normally(have(been.((
(
(

(
The(reciprocation(motion(of(
the(piston(was(converted(to(a(
rotary(motion(of(the(wheel(
through(a(ratchet(arrangement.((
(
The(vehicle(weighed(about(2.5(
ton(tare,(with(a(maximum(
speed(of(7.8(kph,(never(
achieved(in(practice.((
(
(
First(SelfCPropelled(PassengerCCarrying(Vehicle(
(
With(particular(reference(to(land(transport,(the(first(locomotives(were(made(by(
Richard(Trevithick(and(George(Stephenson(at(the(beginning(of(the(19th(century.(
Trevithick(himself(built(a(steam(carriage(in(1803,(the(world's(first(selfCpropelled(
passengerCcarrying(vehicle.((

(
(
The(carriage(had(2.4m(diameter(driving(wheels.((
The(engine(had(a(single(horizontal(cylinder(which,(along(with(the(boiler(and(
firebox,(was(placed(behind(the(rear(axle.((
The(motion(of(the(piston(was(transmitted(to(a(separate(crankshaft(via(a(forked(
piston(rod((it(was(considered(a(singular(innovation(at(the(time).((
The(crankshaft(drove(the(axle(of(the(driving(wheel((which(was(fitted(with(a(
flywheel)(via(a(spur(gear.((
(
(
(
(

The(Red(Flag(Act(
(
In(England(in(1865,(the(road(transport(development(received(a(blow(by(the(Red(Flag(
Act((sponsored(by(the(railways(and(by(horse(carriers?)(which(imposed(that(selfC
propelled(road(vehicles(be(preceded(by(a(man(waving(a(red(flag.(This(law(was(
repelled(only(in(1896.((
(
Creation(of(the(Internal(Combustion(Engine(
(
In(Continental(Europe(in(the(mid(19th(century,(studies(focusing(on(more(practical(
solution(with(respect(to(the(steam(engine(led(to(the(creation(of(the(internal(
combustion(engine.((
(
Pioneers(and(father(of(the(invention(in(order(of(time:(
the(Swiss(Napoleonic(army(officer(Isaac(de(Rivaz,(who(made(the(first(selfCpropelled(
carriage(with(oneCcylinder(gas(explosion(engine,(
Sadi(Carnot(and(Alphonse(Beau(de(Rochas,(who(in(France(laid(the(theoretical(and(
scientific(foundations,(((
Eugenio(Barsanti(and(Felice(Matteucci(in(Italy,(((
Etienne(Lenoir(in(Belgium,(((
Nikolaus(Otto,(Rudolph(Diesel(and(Gottlieb(Daimler(in(Germany,(who(practically(
made(the(first(reciprocating(internal(combustion(engines(and(whose(development(
will(lead(to(the(engines(we(know(today.(((
(

Non%unitized*Chassis*Frames*
The(body(structure(includes(chassis((frame)(and(body(shell.((
(
The*chassis((French(for(frame)(supplies*all*mounts(for(mechanical(components,(
such(as(engine,(transmission,(suspensions(and(steering(system,(characterized(by(
relevant(and(concentrated(reaction(forces.((
(
The*body*shell*is*the*container*hosting*passenger*and*useful*loads;(it(can(be(
mounted(on(the(chassis(or(be(unitized(with(it,(as(in(modern(cars.((
(
The(technology(for(the(body(at(the(end(of(the(19th(Century(was(not(considered(to(be(
crucial(and(was(imported(from(horse(carriages;(many(coach(builders(became(car(
body(builders.((
(

First*chassis*were*made*of*wood*or*steel.(Steel(frames(were(made(either(by(bent(
and(cut(sheets,(or(by(tubes.(Many(of(the(first(car(chassis(were(based(on(the(existing(
technology(developed(for(bicycles.(The(1899(Renault(Type(A(Phaeton(offers(an(
example(of(this(solution.((
(

(
(
This(kind(of(frame(was(made(with(pieces(of(seamless*steel*tubes(that(were(cut*and*
bent(to(their(final(shape;(the(different(pieces(were(joined(to(iron(shells(with(layers(of(
brazing(material(and(cooked(in(an(oven.(These(iron(joints(are(at(the(corners(of(the(
chassis(and(where(cross(beams(are(joined(to(the(two(longitudinal(beams.((
(
Sizare*&*Naudin((1907)((
(
Set(up(in(Paris(in(1904,(the(sparkling(performance(of(its(light(cars(was(much(
appreciated(and(they(often(appeared(on(the(racetrack.((
(
This(model(has(a(chassis(made(with(solid(wooden(beams,(with(iron(reinforcements.((
Curved(and(bent(steel(panels(covered(the(body.((
Had(partly(independent(front(suspensions(
Gearbox(integral(with(the(differential.((
The(clutch(and(the(brakes(are(operated(by(the(same(pedal.((
(
(
(

Grillage(Structures(
As(soon(as(the(weight(of(mechanical(components(increased(for(the(application(of(the(
first(four(cylinder(engines,(the(so(called(grillage*structures(were(developed.((
(
Made(by(two(side(beams(made(by(bent(steel(sheets,(with(a(C(cross(section.((
In(the(front(of(the(vehicle(the(beams(track(is(reduced,(to(allow(space(for(
front(wheel(steering(motion((
In(the(rear(the(chassis(is(enlarged(to(better(cope(with(the(body(width.(In(this(
area(the(width(of(the(chassis(frame(is(determined(by(the(rear(wheels(track(
and(by(the(transmission(bulk.(This(shape(variation(was(obtained(by(bending(
side(beams(or(by(putting(them(according(to(a(trapezoidal(layout.((
(
(

(
(
The(front(and(rear(ends(are(curved,(in(the(side(view,(to(better(match(with(
the(semiCelliptical(shape(of(leaf(springs(and(are(tapered(to(take(into(account(
the(reduction(of(bending(moment.((
The(two(side(beams(are(connected(by(a(number(of(cross(beams,(buildingCup(
a(ladderClike(structure,(called,(again(from(French,(grillage;((
Cross(beams(are(curved(under(the(engine(and(the(gearbox,(to(reduce(vehicle(
height.(They(are(usually(located(near(the(points(of(application(of(
concentrated(loads,(such(as(leaf(springs(end(and(powertrain(mounts.((
The(joints(between(side(and(cross(beams(are(made(with(hot(pressed(rivets.((
Screwed(bolts(were(also(used(and(only(later(welds.((
(
(
(
(

Body(Styles(
The(bodies(adopted(in(connection(with(these(frames(were(similar(to(those(of(horse(
carriages(as(shape(and(technology.((
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
Wooden(Body(Structures(
(
Wooden(body(structure(A(good(similarity(with(the(horse(carriage(structure(can(be(
noticed(on(a(car(body(of(the(same(years.(The(most(complicated(shapes(could(also(be(
obtained.(They(were(made(with(a(number(of(wooden(splints(that(were(subsequently(
smoothed(to(the(final(shape,(after(nailing(them(on(the(skeleton.((
(
The(wooden(skeleton(was(made(with:((
beams,(along(the(body(edges,((
with(ribs(and(formers,(spaced(in(the(areas(of(higher(curvature,(like:(
the(roof(
the(area(below(the(windshield((
the(back(of(the(body(that(was(used(also(as(back(rest(of(the(rear(seat.((
The(roof(cover(was(made(of(waterproof(synthetic(fabric.((
(

Torsional(Stiffness(
(
The*torsional*stiffness*of*a*grillage*type*frame*is*low.**
(
Determined(by(the(sum(of(the(torsional(stiffness(of(the(two(side(beams,(that(is(low(
because(they(usually(have(open(cross(section,(and(of(the(low(bending(stiffness(of(the(
cross(beams.(Also(the(bending(stiffness(is(low,(because(of(the(limited(height(allowed(
to(the(side(beams,(but(torsion(stress(is(more(frequent,(due(to(the(non(symmetric(
nature(of(road(obstacles(and(the(presence(of(lateral(acceleration.((
(
On(the(other(hand(the*body*shell*was*made*by*a*wooden*skeleton*of*notable*
stiffness,(in(consideration(of(the(mortise(and(tenon(or(dovetail(joints(between(the(
different(parts.(Hug(me(:3(
(
Body(shell(and(chassis(are(two(elastic(structures(that(work(in(parallel((they(are(
subject(to(same(displacements(in(their(joining(points),(then(the(stiffer(element(
absorbs(the(higher(torque,(in(proportion(of(the(ratio(between(stiffness(values.((
(
This*high*stiffness*induced*premature*deformations*and*ruptures.**
As(a(matter(of(fact,(deformations(of(the(chassis(imposed(to(the(body(shell(implied(
mutual(displacements(between(parts(concurring(in(the(same(joints.(These(
displacements(caused(squeaks(and(plays(between(parts(caused(rattles.(Sometimes(
the(deformation(of(the(body(shell(when(the(car(was(stopped(made(opening(and(
closing(doors(difficult.((
For(this(purpose,(metallic(joints(were(studied(to(improve(the(behavior(of(structure.((
(
Two(different(philosophies(were(followed:((
increasing(the(body(shell(stiffness((
decreasing(it(to(a(level(of(insensitivity(to(squeaks(and(rattles.(((
(
(
Increasing(the(body(shell(stiffness((
(
The(body(shell(is(mounted(on(a(second(steel(frame(of(L(shape(
cross(section.(This(frame(is(firmly(joined(to(body(sides(and(floor.(
On(the(other(side(the(joints(with(the(chassis(frame(are(made(with(
rubber(elastic(bearing;(in(this(way(the(body(can(be(stiff(and(does(
not(follow(the(deformable(chassis(frame(displacements.((
(
(

Decreasing(the(body(shell(stiffness((
The(joining(elements(between(them(are(flexible(steel(brackets,(screwed(in(wood.(
Attention(is(paid(to(keep(wooden(parts(at(a(distance(to(avoid(any(contact(following(
deformations(and(the(consequent(noise;(the(flexibility(of(steel(brackets(prevent(to(
transfer(chassis(deformation(to(the(body(with(significant(stress(on(wood(parts.((
(

((((((((((((((
(
(

Partially*Unitized*Chassis*Frames*
Some(chassis(frame(of(the(30s(received(a(different,(more(elaborate(shape;(in(
particular(X(cross(beams(were(developed.(The(X(cross(beam(nailed(with(the(side(
beams(reacts(to(their(torsion(with(shear(forces(applied(to(the(joints.(The(cross(beam(
works(therefore(by(bending,(a(load(can(be(very(well(absorbed(even(by(its(open(
section.(The(overall(torsion(stiffness(of(the(frame(is(then(significantly(improved.((

(
(
(

FIAT(1500(
A(new(step(forward(is(the(chassis(of(the(1935(FIAT(1500.(This(car(is(an(example(of(
the(most(modern(technologies(available(in(those(years,(not(only(as(the(structure(is(
concerned(by(also(as(the(aerodynamic(performance((discussed(later).((
(

(
(
At(first,(part(of(the(chassis(is(made(with(beams(with(closed(section.(They(are(
produced(with(stamped(and(welded(parts,(while(in(the(previous(examples,(beams(
were(made(by(open(stamp(bent(profiles,(cut(to(their(final(length.((
The(advantage(of(this(innovation(is(in(an(improved(control(of(the(structure(weight,(
because(each(cross(section(can(be(now(designed(to(its(local(stress.(Disadvantages(are(
to(be(found(in(most(significant(capital(investments(for(the(production(process.((
(

(
(

The(chassis(frame(structure(reuses(the(X(shape(of(the(previous(example(but(goes(over(
the(grillage(layCout.(The(two(side(beams,(in(their(central(area(between(the(cross(
beams,(join(to(shape(up(a(tubular(beam,(which(is(very(stiff(to(torsion;(it(contains(also(
the(propeller(shaft.(The(cross(beams(became(cantilevers(and(have(also(closed(section.((
(

(
A(further(advantage(of(this(structure(architecture(is(that(the(side(part(of(the(chassis(
frame(is(free(from(the(bulk(of(beams.(The(floor(can(be(made(by(two(lowered(sinks(
and(the(height(of(passenger(compartment(and(center(of(gravity(is(reduced.((
(
This(kind(of(chassis(frame(was(bolted(to(the(steel(body(shell(and(not(welded;(this(is(
the(reason(why(we(defined(this(arrangement(as(partially(unitized.((
(
Body(structure(made(with(stamped(steel(panels,(still(reinforced(with(a(wooden(
skeleton(with(joining(screws.(Wooden(elements(offer(easy(fixation(to(the(interior(
trimming(and(avoid(local(instability(of(relatively(thin(sheets.((

(
(

1937(FIAT(1100((
A(more(modern(and(functional(solution(that(of(the(1937(FIAT(1100,(an(almost(
contemporary(car(with(similar(style.(The(wood(has(disappeared(and(the(skeleton(
itself(is(made(by(welded(steel(elements,(shaping(up(tubular(beams.(Also(this(allCsteel(
body(shell(is(bolted(to(the(chassis(frame(in(the(floor(area.((
(
(
(
(
It(looks(difficult(today(to(understand(the(
reasons(why(two(so(different(architectures(
existed(by(the(same(manufacturer(in(the(
same(period(of(time(and(why(the(most(
advanced(was(applied(to(the(cheaper(model.((
(
(

Unitized*Bodies*
Integration(of(body(and(chassis(improved(the(structural(performance(and(reduced(
weight(and(costs.((
(
In(closed(bodies((sedans(or(limousines)(the(distance(of(the(roof(from(the(longitudinal(
beams(allowed(building(of(a(very(stiff(structure.(
(
In(addition,(panels(covering(the(body,(if(suitably(shaped,(can(further(increase(
structure(stiffness,(by(limiting(angular(displacements(between(longitudinal(beams(
and(pillars.((
(
Lancia(Lambda(
(
The(first(car(applying(this(concept,(even(if(not(completely,(was(the(1922((
Lancia(Lambda.((
(
(
The(body(shell(is(made(by(a(number(of(
welded(or(riveted(steel(panels(that(shape(
up(a(reticular(space(frame;(lower(body(
elements(are(higher(than(conventional(
side(beams(and(increase(the(torsional(
stiffness.((

A(further(increase(comes(from(the(limited(size(of(the(doors,(that(makes(sills(height(
more(important,(and(from(some(stiff(cross(panels,(as(dash(board,(seat(back(rests(and(
tail(closure.(Similar(purpose(has(the(portal(frame,(surrounding(the(radiator(and(
integrating(the(independent(suspension(sliding(elements.((
(
The(steel(panels(of(the(Lambda(are(flat(pieces(of(steel(sheet(with(very(simple(bending.(
They(could(be(produced(with(very(basic(tools.((
(
(
Citren(11(CV(
(
A(further(step(was(made,(years(later,(when(spot(welds(became(practical(and(deeply(
stamped(steel(sheets(available.(One(of(the(first(example(of(fully(unitized(body(is(
offered(in(Europe(by(the(1934(Citren(11(CV.((
(
(
Two(robust(
longitudinal(beams(
integrating(sills(at(the(
floor(level;(they(
provide(also(engine,(
gearbox(and(front(
suspension(mounts(
and(are(rigidly(
integrated(with(the(
three(door(pillars.((
(
(
1950(FIAT(1400(
(
A(more(conventional(example(
of(unitized(body(is(the(1950(
FIAT(1400.(All(steel(panels(are(
shaped(in(such(a(way(as(to(
build(a(rigid(beam(at(all(
junctions,(surrounding(doors,(
floor(and(trunk.(All(these(
beams,(darkened(in(the(picture,(
buildCup(a(space(frame.((
(

Aerodynamics(
The(body(style(evolution(has(had(a(strong(impact(on(aerodynamic(performance,(and(
therefore(maximum(speed.(Aerodynamic(performance(was(not(neglected(on(the(first(
cars,(as(the(squared(shapes(of(older(vehicles(seam(to(suggest.((
(
Many(old(cars(witness(attention(to(aerodynamic(drag;(among(them(the(Jamais(
Contente((speed(record(of(106(km/h(in(1899((Electric(engine)((
(
(
(
(
The(1934(508(Sport(represents(a(break(
point.(This(body(is(the(result(of(the(first(
aerodynamic(experiments,(partly(performed(
in(a(airplanes(wind(tunnel,((
1935,(1500(partly(on(the(road(directly.((
(
(
It(was(determined,(for(example,(that(a(slight(inclination(of(the(windshield(could(
increase(vehicle(top(speed(by(5%,(around(a(value(of(100(km/h.((
(
Drag(coefficient(
(

Fd =

1
p V 2 Cx A
2
(

Fd:(aerodynamic(drag:(force(component(
in(the(direction(of(the(flow(velocity((
(
:(mass(density(of(the(air((
(
V:(flow(speed((of(the(object(relative(to(
the(fluid)((
(
A:(reference(area((
(
The(reference(area(depends(on(what(type(of(drag(coefficient(is(being(measured.(For(
automobiles(and(many(other(objects,(the(reference(area(is(the(projected(frontal(area(
of(the(vehicle.(
(

Vehicle*Architecture*
Vehicle(architecture(may(be(defined(as(the(layCout(of(the(main(components((engine,(
gearbox,(transmission,(axles,(etc.)((
The(number(of(wheels;(((
The(position(of(the(driving(axle;(((
The(position(of(the(engine;(((
The(kind(of(mechanical(linkage(between(engine(and(wheels;(((
The(position(of(the(passengers.(((
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
The(first(motor(car((meaning(the(first(car(manufactured(for(sale(and(not(for(scientific(
experiments),(the(Benz(Patent(wagon,(was(a(tricycle(indeed,(as(it(was(the(first(Italian(
car((Bernardi)(and(the(first(best(seller(on(the(French(market((De(DionCBouton).((
(
It(introduces(some(simplification(in(the(steering(mechanism,(if(the(single(wheel(is(
placed(at(the(front(axle((Benz(Patent(Motorwagen).(In(this(way(the(steering(motion(of(
the(wheel(was(kinetically(correct(by(definition(and(the(related(control(is(simple.((
(
If(the(single(wheel(is(placed(as(a(rear(driving(axle,(the(transmission(could(be(
simplified(avoiding(the(differential((Bernardis(tricycle).((
(
A(tricycle(is(a(statically(determined(system(in(its(interface(with(the(ground.(Forces(
acting(between(wheels(and(ground(are(univocally(determined(by(the(position(of(the(
center(of(mass:(they(can(be(determined(with(equation(of(equilibrium.((
(
The(effect(of(the(centrifugal(force(in(a(curve(or(of(the(lateral(slope(of(the(ground(could(
diminish(the(rollCover(stability(of(the(vehicle.(

Four(Wheels(
(
The(application(of(four(wheels(made(the(vehicle(statically(undetermined:(the(forces(
on(the(ground(are(computed(taking(into(account(local(deformations(Moreover,(a(rigid(
link(between(wheels(and(vehicle(could(produce(loss(of(contact(between(one(wheel(
and(the(ground,(if(the(latter(is(not(perfectly(flat.((
(
Daimler,(with(his(1889(Stahlradwagen((Steel(
Wheel(Car),(tried(to(bypass(this(obstacle(by(
mounting(the(front(axle(on(a(tilting(beam,(like(
a(balance,(able(to(compensate(for(the(effect(of(
uneven(ground.(However,(in(this(way(the(
lateral(stability(was(equivalent(to(that(of(a(
tricycle,(having(a(front(single(wheel(in(the(
position(of(the(hinge(of(such(a(balance.((
(
The(application(of(four(wheels(made(the(vehicle(statically(undetermined:(the(forces(
on(the(ground(are(computed(taking(into(account(local(deformations(Moreover,(a(rigid(
link(between(wheels(and(vehicle(could(produce(loss(of(contact(between(one(wheel(
and(the(ground,(if(the(latter(is(not(perfectly(flat.((
(
Elastic(suspensions(were(introduced(to(keep(all(wheels(in(contact(with(the(ground(
and(not(only(for(reason(of(comfort.((
(
Restricting(to(two(axles(vehicles,(with(a(single(driving(axle,(it(is(possible(to(identify(
the(following(architectures,(which(are(listed(roughly(in(chronological(order:((
Early(frontCwheel(drive(vehicles(with(front(engine;(((
Early(rearCwheel(drive(vehicles(with(rear(engine;(((
Early(rearCwheel(drive(vehicles(with(front(engine;(((
Evolved(rearCwheel(drive(vehicles(with(front(engine;(((
Evolved(rearCwheel(drive(vehicles(with(rear(engine;(((
Evolved(frontCwheel(drive(vehicles(with(front(engine.(((
(
Coach(converted(into(electric(vehicle((
Some(motorCaxle(assemblies(were(developed,(to(replace(directly(the(front(axle(of(a(
coach;(some(of(these(motorCaxles((with(electric,(steam(or(internal(combustion(
engines)(were(still(available(at(the(end(of(the(19th(century,(to(convert(existing(horse(
driven(vehicles(to(the(new(technology.((

(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
Locating(a(heavy(mass,(like(an(electric(motor(and(its(batteries,(without(any(kind(of(
suspension(obviously(caused(problems(of(discomfort(and(severe(limitations(to(the(
maximum(attainable(speed.(When(installing(the(engine(on(the(suspended(body(and(
considering(the(problems(linked(with(the(transmission(of(the(power(to(the(driving(
wheels,(it(was(more(expedient(to(have(the(rear(non(steering(axle(as(the(driving(
axle.(At(any(rate,(it(was(necessary(to(develop(some(mechanical(transmission(device(
allowing(to(connect(two(elements((engine(and(axle)(that(could(move(with(respect(to(
each(other.((
(
1890(Benz(Victoria(
(
An(architecture(of(this(first(kind(was(developed(for(the(1890(Benz(Victoria,(whose(
engine(is(installed(in(the(back(of(the(car(and(transfers(its(motion(to(an(auxiliary(shaft,(
in(the(middle(of(the(vehicle,(through(a(couple(of(leather(belts.(These(belts(acted(as(a(
two(speed(gearbox(and(also(as(a(clutch.(
(

The(transmission(between(the(auxiliary(shaft(and(the(wheels(was(made(by(two(
chains.(As(the(chain(could(not(change(in(length,(the(center(of(the(auxiliary(shaft(was(
coincident(with(the(center(of(rotation(of(the(leaf(spring.(

(
Panhard(&(Levassor(1894(
(
A(more(rational(solution(was(developed(by(Panhard(&(Levassor(1894.(A(frontC
mounted(engine(drives,(through(a(clutch(and(a(gearbox,(an(auxiliary(shaft(with(the(
differential,(followed(by(a(chain(transmission(to(the(rear(wheels.((

(
(
Renault(Model(A(
(
A(further(improvement(to(this(architecture(was(introduced(by(Renault(in(1899(with(
his(Model(A.(The(chain(transmissions(were(replaced(by(a(single(shaft(transmission(
with(two(universal(joints,(while(the(differential(was(installed(in(the(axle.(This(kind(of(
transmission(was(less(vulnerable(and(easier(to(lubricate.((
(
(
(
The(drawback(with(Cardan(joints((Universal(
joint)(is(that(the(output(angular(velocity(of(the(
driven(shaft(is(not(constant(when(the(angle(
between(the(shafts(is(not(small.((
(
The(transmission(shaft(has(always(been(an(obstacle(for(a(comfortable(passenger(
arrangement(because(of(the(presence(of(the(differential(in(the(rear(axle.(A(good(
improvement(to(this(situation(is(to(concentrate(the(powertrain(on(the(driving(axle,(
avoiding(the(transmission(shaft.((
(
The(first(option(was(to(develop(rear(wheel(driven(car(with(rear(engine,(because(joints(
suitable(for(steering(wheels(were(not(economically(available(for(small(cars((1930(
Mercedes(and(KdF,(now(Volkswagen).(

1953(FIAT(600(
Many(small(cars(with(this(kind(of(architecture(were(developed(after(World(War(Two.(
A(well(known(example(is(the(1953(FIAT(600.(In(a(length(of(about(3.2(m(there(was(
space(for(four(passengers(and(their(luggage.(This(architecture(lasted(about(40(years(
but(at(present(it(is(an(exception.((
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
The(solution(that(proved(more(expedient(where(the(internal(space(is(concerned(is(
obviously(front(wheel(drive(with(front(engine;(this(architecture(was(attempted(
several(times(without(success,(and(found(its(conditions(of(economical(feasibility(only(
when(some(specific(components(were(developed,(namely((
(
1.(Constant(Velocity((CV)(joint(
CV(joint(transmits(torque(evenly(when(the(wheel(
moves(in(steering(or(suspension.((
(
(
2.Mc(Phearson(front(suspensions((Ford(1948),(((
This(car(suspension(system(uses(the(top(of(a(telescopic(
damper(as(the(upper(steering(pivot.(It(is(widely(used(in(
the(front(suspension(of(modern(vehicles((
It(is(simple(and(with(low(manufacturing(cost.((
It(has(few(disadvantages(in(the(quality(of(ride(and(the(handling(of(the(car.((
(
(
3.Powertrain(with(engine(and(gearbox(aligned(
(Autobianchi(1964).(((