What is stretch car body

Car bodies, regardless of the brand / brand, have their own names that determine the main parameters of the vehicle. Some models are so similar that it is quite difficult to immediately find the differences, so many amateurs do not really go into details, replacing the name of one type of case with another, more common and understandable. One of the most common confusions is stretch (stretch - left) / limousine (right). Let's figure out what significantly distinguishes these two, almost identical forms.

The appearance of the car is sometimes very deceiving. The "baby" in appearance may turn out to be much more capacious in terms of usable volume (for example, compact, mini or microbeds) than a lengthy one (limousine), which can fit a whole company, but designed only for 2, maximum 4 x people.

However, having a large family and your own car, you want it to be as roomy and comfortable as possible for going out in full force on the nature or on a trip, when it becomes necessary to take more useful things for the trip. Naturally, every private motorist strives to equip his "swallow" in the best way.

To achieve this goal, craftsmen use the opportunity to "stretch" the car by physically inserting an additional section between the front and rear doors. Here, in fact, the main point is stipulated, which is the whole essence of the stretch body features. And to make it completely clear, we will understand the production of each type of body separately.

Features of the structure of the limousine

The main fundamentally important point is that real three-volume limousines are created at the factory. This is a laborious, complex and lengthy process that can take at least a year. Each model requires individual development and assembly. As an example of a classic version - Lincoln Town Car (left) or a specially designed project of the German company Audi - A8 (right).

The limousine design initially assumes a monolithic elongated wheelbase, specially created for each sample. That is, the one-piece load-bearing hull is designed separately, which requires precise calculations to distribute the load along the entire length of the "land ship". That is why real limousines are endowed with a reasonable length, about 6-8 meters.

The peculiarities of production dictate too high a price for the car. Large cars classified as the upper class are chosen as the basis, therefore, only wealthy people or high-ranking officials of states can afford such an acquisition. The most reliable limousines are created on the basis of famous brands with an impeccable reputation: British Bentley, English Rolls-Royce, German Mercedes-Benz, Americans Cadillac and Lincoln.

The difference in the production of stretch body

"Limousines", obtained by artificially reworking the finished streaming model, received their own name - stretch. They are also mounted individually, often in commercial garages, but such production is much cheaper, and therefore more affordable for the masses.

In principle, a stretch body can be created on the basis of a sedan, station wagon, or other types of passenger transport (even an SUV, like a Hummer), and, as a rule, frame body types are selected so that the car has a rigid load-bearing base. The layout of the body in this case is of no fundamental importance. It doesn't matter how many visual volumes the cars have: one, two or three - they all lend themselves to re-equipment.

The process itself is quite interesting and even a good private trader can do it. The main thing is the availability of appropriate equipment, apparatus and sufficient special space for reconstruction and installation.

The magical transformation process begins with choosing a car. The sedan is easily modified into a "limousine", besides it is very popular and widespread both in Russia and in Europe. Therefore, he most often undergoes alteration into a "big brother".

Before proceeding with the increase in the base, an exceptionally flat platform is selected for the installation of a completely stripped car. Only the frame remains of it, stably mounted on the spacers-rods.

After applying accurate markings, the body is cut, carefully, observing the geometry, moved to the desired distance and the prepared insert is welded in. It turns out an elongated body of the original machine, which is re-sheathed, and, if desired, is supplied with additional doors.

Recently, car consumers have been more inclined towards stretch versions in the back of their favorite SUVs or crossovers. Special correspondents of the portal ru.AvtoTachki.com managed to take an exclusive photo. This mysterious sample is built on the basis of the American Cadillac XT5:

The model was lengthened by inserting an additional section and equipped with an extra-complete pair of doors. The view turned out to be very unusual. Most likely, after a test sample in serial production, the insert will look like a conventional elongated panel.

But Russian masters are also not bastard.

An unusual copy of GAZ-3102 - "Volga" - in the recent past caught the eye of the residents of Omsk:

Definitely, the unknown "homemade master" took the format of the 80s ambulance of the last century, produced by Samotlor-NN LLC, as a model. But the trunk is clearly copied from the classic Cadillac versions.

Another original sample of "Moskvich" two years ago was put up for sale on behalf of a restoration salon from the Leningrad region:

The offered price of the unique brand "Ivan Kalita", made in the body of an extended sedan (stretch) was 8 million rubles. Initially, the car was planned to be put into mass production for the first persons of the capital. But the business turned out to be “unprofitable”.

Converted into a "limousine" Soviet sedans "Zhiguli" are successfully used in some countries of the socialist community, the economy of which makes you think about saving (sorry for the tautology). In Cuba, for example, it is important for taxi drivers to fit as many passengers into the cabin as possible, for this purpose the stretch VAZ-2101 came in handy, it turned out to be such a kind of budget minibus:

And this is, perhaps, the most unexpected decision, brought to life by a master miracle worker, not devoid of a sense of humor:

The first samples of the Soviet "Zaporozhtsev" of the 60s were not very popular, even in spite of the low-consumption minicar engine. Currently, they are considered a rarity and serve as an item for replenishing rare collections. But ZAZ-965 - "limousine" - together with surprise deserves loud applause.

We hope that the article helped to finally dot the "i" and understand what is the essential difference between a limousine and a stretch body.