This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
serpentin en tube à ailettes
objet-refuge
May 15, 2007 13:09
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term

capot à pans coupés

French to English Tech/Engineering Automotive / Cars & Trucks
Context: The first horseless carriage race Paris-Bordeaux-Paris 1895.

A description of the features of the competitors.

En fait, il (Levassor) part du modèle que la firme produit depuis 1891 et l’améliore. Le châssis est un peu plus long (empattement 1,50 m) pour un comportement moins hasardeux à « grande » vitesse. Le **capot à pans coupés** est plus bas et plus long.

I can see it but I just can't put a word on it.

Cheers
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 slab-sided bonnet
3 bonnet (GB) or hood (US) with cut sides
3 bonnet with sloping sides
3 ogee-sided, flared

Discussion

jonno (asker) May 15, 2007:
Thanks for these thoughts. It's made me think. I reckon it's worth asking the author about this one. I've found one or two problems of detail in the text already. "Le **capot à pans coupés** est plus bas et plus long." Longer and lower than what I thought. As I work back through, I can only think that the Levassor No.5 with the Phoenix engine of 1895 had a bonnet that was longer and lower than that which won the 1894 competition. It stands to reason. However, if we take a look at the 1894 model: http://perso.orange.fr/did.legrand/htm/histoire.htm
It's not really "à pans coupés". The earlier bonnet was a box. I'm beginning to wonder if the guy hasn't got his years muddled. And he's not thinking of the archetypal "slab-sided bonnet" of later models, such as pictured below:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/data_e/a03_02_3.html
Looking at this shape, we can well understand the comparison with the number 5 as in the link above.
Bourth (X) May 15, 2007:
Followed by an interesting discussion of the ethno-religious origins of the actual race winner, at the time of Dreyfus ...
Charles Hawtrey (X) May 15, 2007:
Have a look at the photo in http://www.automag.be/article.php3?id_article=263 - the bonnet (capot) seems to have two bevels cut at the front

Proposed translations

7 mins

bonnet (GB) or hood (US) with cut sides

Hope this is what you need.
Something went wrong...
+1
28 mins

slab-sided bonnet

look for slab in this (US) web page.
Reference:

http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0505sr_1934_ford_roadster/

Peer comment(s):
agree Robert Frankling : "slab-sided" is a very frequently used automotive description
41 mins
thanks, Robert
Something went wrong...
44 mins

bonnet with sloping sides

There's a good picture of a Levassor car on the link and you can see the sloping sides of the bonnet .
Reference:

http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/data_e/a03_02_3.html

Note from asker:
Thanks for this link. I think I've cracked it. I don't believe the term would be "sloping" but this is the "capot à pans coupé" that we're talking of here. And effectively Levassor's car takes this shape and makes it longer and higher (with bevels)
Something went wrong...
1 hr

ogee-sided, flared

It might be more than just "sloping", but include the extra curve towards the bottom.

I don't think Levassor was the only one to adopt that particular shape, where side and front of the bonnet sloped down from the top, then "flared" out, or that he was the first. In my mind's eye I see some early Renaults with the same shape ...

http://www.ritzsite.net/Cent/Panhard_Levassor_4_HP_1897_side...
http://www.ritzsite.net/Cent/Panhard_Levassor_4_HP_1897_f3q....




--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-05-15 14:31:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Note that this is the 1897 model, not necessarily the one that ran the 1895 race.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-05-15 14:32:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"pan coupé" might even refer to the "fluted" bit at the intersection of the side panels with the top and front. This area appears to be gilt in the picture ... Those were the days!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2007-05-15 15:26:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, Charles' "bevelled" could do it, if it's this "fluted" bit.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search