oilteq Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Our cars are inspired by a British car, and in some cases are British or direct descendants of one. With history, parts, and information coming from England, and our new member from England (welcome West7se), I thought it may be useful (or amusing) to start an English American Dictionary of Automotive Terms. I recall in reading Ron Champion’s Build Your Own Sports Car where he was talking about the near side and off side, which of course is on the opposite side in the States, having to stop and think of just what part of the car he was talking about. Here are my contributions to help keep everyone on the same page. English / American Bonnet / Hood Hood / Top Gaiter / Boot (CV, steering rack, gear shift, etc.) Boot / Trunk Damper / Shock absorber Near side / Driver side Off side / Passenger side Upright / Knuckle Hill climb / Autocross I do not know the English word for the vertical motorcycle event that Americans call a “hill climb.” I am sure there are other words where Americans do not speak English, and I hope you will contribute them. Blaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim F. Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 silencer/UK = muffler/US ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) Jubilee Clip/UK - Hose Clamp/US Wing/UK - Fender/US Windscreen/UK - Windshield/US Petrol/UK - Gas(oline)/US Tyre/UK - Tire/US Gallon/UK - 1.2 Gallons/US Left/UK - Right/US Edited May 16, 2009 by slomove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 I had a big laugh when my British assembly manual instructed me to "offer up the differential into the chassis". I don't know just what the American equivalent would be but it certainly won't have the cachet of offering it up. I'd like to hear how what we call a hose clamp came to be known as a jubilee clip. Scuttle = cowl K-trum = Ka-ter-ham or Kat-er-ham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 grub screw = set screw Halfords = Pep Boys straight away = in a month or so, if you're lucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 ......I'd like to hear how what we call a hose clamp came to be known as a jubilee clip. More than you ever wanted to know.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 More than you ever wanted to know.... That told me more than I needed to know about the man who invented them but nothing about why he named them Jubilee Clips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) Hill climb / Autocross I do not know the English word for the vertical motorcycle event that Americans call a “hill climb.” I think an autocross equates to a "time trial" in the UK - racing around cones in a car park (english equivalent of parking lot in the US). A hill climb is a road race for either cars or bikes up a hill on a public road closed for the event. I have yet to see/hear of a hill climb in the US (and probably will not due to public liability laws and litigation). Being an Aussie I can soooo relate to these language differences - I trip myself up every day! Edited to add: There are hill climbs in the US. Discovered yesterday at Carlisle http://www.pahillclimb.org/ Edited May 17, 2009 by Croc Add link for hill climb in PA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West7se Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) Hi all, another cool thread. I am sure I can help out with this one. oilteq - I do not know the English word for the vertical motorcycle event that Americans call a “hill climb.” This depends on the surface on which the event is held. Hillclimb - Run on an uphill sealed surface (ie: tarmac) , the competitors run one at a time and timed to the nearest 100th second. Sprint - exactly the same as Hillclimb but run on the flat ( or as flat as most venues get anyway) Autotest - An event run around cones in a disused or closed carpark, again timed to the 100th second. Trials - run generally on grass/ mud competitors must traverse the route without incurring any penalties, bikes ofen have to climb over large rocks and other akward obsticles. Circuit racing - thats what it says really. Group of cars together, first past the flag wins. If I think of anymoe I will post them. The jubilee question was good and something I have wondered about as well. I coundn`t find much except this link. After reading this we are still no nearer to the answer http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Phrases-and-Sayings/Question644721.html Edited May 16, 2009 by West7se typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West7se Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 I have a question. Whilst reading about the westy for sale on ebay ( the dodgy seller one) there are several mentions of "lowball offer ", what is this. Is it the lowest amount you are willing to pay whilst giving yourself a top line budget? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi7ot Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) US.......................UK Gymkhana...........Autotest Test fit.............Offer up Pass................Overtake Tire..................Tyre Rear Muffler.........Tailbox/silencer Domestic car........Yank tank Box wrench..........Spanner Idiot....................Spanner Vise Grips............Mole Grips m Edited May 16, 2009 by pi7ot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 USA / British ------------ Chassis Dyno / Rolling Road Sway Bar / Anti-Roll Bar (ARB) Aluminum / Aluminium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) I have yet to see/hear of a hill climb in the US (and probably will not due to public liability laws and litigation). We have what is probably the longest running hill climb in the world which started in 1916. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb occurs in July and part is on pavement and part on dirt. The finish line is above 14,000'. There aren't any guard rails and an error can result in an off that ends several thousand feet down a very steep rocky slope. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb History There are others in the USA but Pikes Peak is the most famous. Edited May 16, 2009 by scannon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsimon Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 And the most important tool in the shed... Birmingham screwdriver = hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 And the most important tool in the shed... Birmingham screwdriver = hammer A former room mate of mine was a diesel mechanic, a very good mechanic by the way. One day he wandered into the garage while I was working on my Elan. After watching for a bit he said "You don't even know which end of a screwdriver to pound on." To which I replied "I certainly do". He retorted "Which one?" I came back with "It depends." He went back into the house to watch TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilteq Posted May 16, 2009 Author Share Posted May 16, 2009 Although gaiters and dampers make more sense than their American equivalents, wings only make sense to me when referring to clam shells at speed (smile). Do wings only refer to exterior fenders, or are fenders on saloon cars also called wings? Saloon car = Sedan Blaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West7se Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Estate car - Station wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West7se Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) Although gaiters and dampers make more sense than their American equivalents, wings only make sense to me when referring to clam shells at speed (smile). Do wings only refer to exterior fenders, or are fenders on saloon cars also called wings? Saloon car = Sedan Blaine correct, the material that surrounds the wheels are called wings, on the 7 I would call my front ones cycle wings Rich Edited May 16, 2009 by West7se removed driven, had rear wheel drive on my mind....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilteq Posted May 16, 2009 Author Share Posted May 16, 2009 the material that surrounds the driven wheels are called wings Rich Rich What do you call the side of the car around the wheels on your family sedan? Blaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West7se Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Same, wings ie just took my volvo as an example. http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/870/9374233.gif Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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