What Are Pants on a Car?

[DaveC426913]

Executive Summary: What are "pants" on a car?

A long time ago I read story set in the 1930s (full disclosure: it was a Doc Savage novel) wherein the vehicle he was driving was described in detail. One term that was used was that the car had "pants" - as if that's a self-explanatory term.

I've always assumed that "pants" were covers for the rear wheels but I have not been able to verify this - even in this age of The Intertoobs.(This came up today when I spotted this fancy-schmancy-lookin' new Honda.)

So. "Pants" are ...?

 

[sysprog]

You're right -- they're also called skirts or spats.

First described as "pants", they were used for the streamlining effect by Frank Lockhart on a 1928 Stutz land speed record attempt car.[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_skirts

 

[DaveC426913]

Thank you.
Purged. Freed up some valuable processing space.

 

[dlgoff]

You're right -- they're also called skirts or spats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_skirts

Sure brings up memories of my first call while in high school; a four door 1952 Chevy Deluxe with wheel pants.

image compliments of https://www.oldcars.site/chevrolet/1952-styleline-deluxe/

 

[sysprog]

This streamlined hybrid VW is asserted to get up to 240 MPG:

2015 Volkswagen XL1

 

[DaveC426913]

This streamlined hybrid VW is asserted to get up to 240 MPG:

2015 Volkswagen XL1

That's a figure from Volkswagen, right? 'cuz we know they'd never misreport numbers ...