Aerodynamics
The management of airflow around and through a car to control drag, lift, cooling and stability.
Learn the Language
The GOAT Cars
automotive glossary.
Engineering, design, racing and collector terminology—explained clearly and without salesroom fog.
Analog
A character usually associated with direct mechanical controls, limited intervention and clear physical feedback.
Boxer engine
An engine whose opposing pistons move horizontally away from and toward one another.
Coachbuilt
A body created by a specialist coachbuilder, often individually or in very small numbers, over another maker's chassis.
Concours
A judged presentation event emphasizing condition, correctness, history and preparation.
Dry sump
A lubrication system storing oil in a separate tank, improving control under sustained cornering and allowing lower engine placement.
Grand tourer
A fast, refined automobile designed for long-distance travel with comfort and luggage capacity.
Homologation
Official approval of a road car or component for competition, often requiring a minimum number to be built.
Matching numbers
A claim that major numbered components correspond with factory records; its exact meaning must always be defined.
Monocoque
A structure in which the body shell itself carries major loads rather than relying on a separate frame.
Naturally aspirated
An engine that draws air without a turbocharger or supercharger.
Oversteer
A cornering condition in which the rear tires lose grip before the fronts and the car rotates more than intended.
Patina
Visible aging that may honestly record time and use; not a universal excuse for deterioration.
Provenance
The documented identity, ownership, use and event history that establishes a car's story.
Restomod
A classic car restored while being modified for greater performance, comfort, reliability or usability.
Spaceframe
A rigid three-dimensional network of structural tubes carrying vehicle loads.
Supercharger
A mechanically driven compressor that forces more air into an engine.
Turbocharger
An exhaust-driven compressor used to increase the air mass entering an engine.
Transaxle
A combined transmission and differential, often placed at the rear to improve weight distribution.
Understeer
A cornering condition in which the front tires lose grip first and the car turns less than intended.
V engine
An engine with cylinder banks arranged at an angle around a common crankshaft.
Works car
A competition car officially entered or supported by the manufacturer rather than an independent team.