A fastback is an automotive styling feature, defined by the rear of the car having a single slope from the roof to the tail.
Some models, such as the Ford Mustang, have been marketed explicitly as fastbacks, often to differentiate them from other body styles (e.g. coupé models) in the same Car model.
Definition
A fastback is often defined as having a single slope from the roof to the rear of the vehicle.
Traditionally a fastback will have a trunk opening that is separate from the rear window which remains in a fixed position.
More specifically, the Road & Track Illustrated Automotive Dictionary defines the fastback as
A closed body style, usually a coupe but sometimes a sedan, with a roof sloped gradually in an unbroken line from the windshield to the rear edge of the car. A fastback naturally lends itself to a hatchback configuration and many have it, but not all hatchbacks are fastbacks and vice versa.
In the case of the Ford Mustang, the term "fastback" is used to differentiate against the coupé notchback body style,
History
Automobile designers in the 1930s began using elements of aircraft aerodynamics to streamline the boxy-looking vehicles of their day.
Such designs, which were ahead of their time when exhibited during the early 1930s, included a droplet-like streamlining of the car's rear, a configuration similar to what would become known as the "fastback" 25 years later.
Merriam-Webster first recognized the term "fastback" in 1954,
many years before the popularization of the term "hatchback", which entered the dictionary in 1970.
Opinions vary as to whether the terms are mutually exclusive.
Early examples of fastback cars include the 1929 Auburn Cabin Speedster, 1933 Cadillac V-16 Aerodynamic Coupe, 1935 Stout Scarab,
Aerodynamic advantages
Fastbacks provide an advantage in developing
aerodynamic vehicles with a low
drag coefficient.
For example, although lacking a
wind tunnel, Hudson designed its post-World War II cars to look aerodynamic, and "tests conducted by Nash later found that the Hudson had almost 20% less drag than contemporary
notchback sedans".
However, the aerodynamic teardrop shape meant lower headroom for rear seat passengers, limited visibility to the rear for the driver, and also meant a less practical, elongated rear end design.
Australia
In Australia, fastbacks (known as "slopers") were introduced in 1935, first designed by General Motors'
Holden as one of the available bodies on
Oldsmobile,
Chevrolet, and Pontiac chassis. The sloper design was added by Richards Body Builders in Australia to
Dodge and Plymouth models in 1937; it was subsequently adopted by Ford Australia in 1939 and 1940, as well as a sloper style made on Nash chassis.
According to automotive historian G.N. Georgano, "the Slopers were advanced cars for their day".
[
Walker, p. 18.
]
Europe
In Europe, there was a sloping rear on streamlined cars as early as 1945, from which the shapes of the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 356 are derived.
Japan
In Japan, the
Toyota AA first adopted the fastback style in 1936. It was strongly influenced by the 1933
DeSoto Airflow. The 1965 Mitsubishi Colt 800 was the first
post-war Japanese fastback,
[ サイドガラスは上ヒンジ！ 日本初のファストバックスタイルは三菱の水島製作所が作ったこの車｜1968年式 三菱 コルト1000F 2ドアDX Vol.1 – Nosweb.jp] and the 1958 Subaru 360 was the first
Kei car fastback. The
Nissan Skyline was developed by Prince Motor Company in 1963, but was never marketed.
[ プリンス自動車のインサイドストーリ―第5回│プリンスが自作した1900スプリント – octane.jp]
Afterwards, all Japanese automakers adopted the fastback style, with the 1967 Honda N360, 1968 Nissan Sunny Coupe,[ 【旧車】初代サニークーペ「名機A型エンジンを搭載した小さな傑作車」 – Webモーターマガジン] 1968 Mazda Familia Wankel engine Coupe,[ 【昭和の名車 18】マツダ ファミリア ロータリークーペ（昭和43年：1968年） – Webモーターマガジン] 1970 Suzuki Fronte "Sting Ray Look", and 1971 Daihatsu Fellow Max.[ 昔はスタイルを優先していた!? 秀逸なデザインの個性派軽自動車5選 – くるまのニュース] From the late 1960s to the 1970s, American coke bottle styling became popular in Japan, as seen on Toyota's 1973 Celica "Liftback".
North America
In North America, the numerous marketing terms for the fastback body style included "aerosedan", "club coupe", "sedanette" and "torpedo back".
Cars included
Cadillac's Series 61 and 62 Club Coupes, as well as various other models from
General Motors, Ford, and
Chrysler.
From the early 1940s until 1950, nearly every domestic manufacturer offered at least one fastback body style within their model lineups. Although the styling was good, the cars had less trunk capacity compared to the notchback designs.
"4-door coupé"
Marketing terminology changed in 2004, with the launch of the first generation Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. It was described as a
4-door coupé, a purely marketing term describing its fastback sedan arrangement, with fastback coupé-profiled bodywork and two doors on each side. The design reinterpreted the concept used in the 1992-1997 Infiniti J30/Nissan Leopard J Férié, which is not a true fastback.
This marketing term was followed by other competing models, such as the Audi A7 and the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé, Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, Volkswagen CC, Volkswagen Arteon, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, Togg T10F, Aston Martin Rapide, and Porsche Panamera.
See also
External links
