coachbuilder

A coachbuilder is a company that designs and builds the body of a motor vehicle, usually on a chassis provided by another manufacturer. The term originates from the era of horse-drawn carriages, when craft shops specialized in constructing the exterior shell and interior fittings of coaches. With the advent of the automobile, coachbuilders adapted by supplying custom bodies for rolling chassis, enabling customers to choose styling, seating layouts, and trim without altering the underlying mechanicals.

In the early to mid-20th century, European automakers frequently collaborated with independent coachbuilders who provided bespoke bodies for luxury and performance cars. Customers could select profiles ranging from closed sedans to open touring bodies, with varied materials and artisanship. As mass production and unibody construction became standard, the practice declined, and many firms disappeared or pivoted to design work or limited-run projects.

Today, coachbuilding survives mainly in limited-run or ultra-luxury contexts. Notable names associated with the craft include Pininfarina, Zagato, Carrozzeria Touring, Scaglietti, Ghia, Karmann, and Vanden Plas, among others. Some of these houses continue as design studios or collaborate with automakers to produce bespoke bodies on limited chassis, while most volume manufacturers produce bodies in-house. The term remains a historical marker for artistry and customization in car design.