Landaulet (car)

thumb|right|1966 [[Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulet]]

thumb|right|1934 Austin 12/4 taxicab

A landaulet, also known as a landaulette, is a car body style where the rear passengers are covered by a convertible top. Often the driver is separated from the rear passengers by a division, as with a limousine.

During the first half of the 20th century, taxicabs were often landaulets, with models such as the Austin 12/4 and the Checker Model G and early Checker Model A being a common sight in larger cities.

Around the middle of the 20th century landaulets were built for public figures such as heads of state to use for formal processions or parades when they wished to be more visible to large crowds. Open cars are now less frequently used, due to security concerns.

History

thumb|right|A landaulet carriage with its roof closed

The car body style is derived from the horse-drawn carriage of similar style that was a cut-down (coupé) version of a landau.

In British English, the term landaulet is used specifically for horse-drawn carriages, and landaulette is used when referring to motor vehicles.

Like many other car body styles landaulets continued from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles. The condition of the driver's section may range from having no weather protection at all, as was often the case with early landaulets, to being fully enclosed.

20th century

File:Panhard & Levassor, A 659, London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2008, 8 CV built 1904 (2997591950).jpg|1904 Panhard et Levassor 8 hp

File:Croxton-Keeton taxi cab for Walden W Shaw Auto Livery Co (1910).jpg|1910 Croxton-Keeton taxi cab

File:1915 Brewster Town Landaulet (30912836214).jpg|1915 Brewster & Co. town landaulet

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File:Steyr 19 Type XX Landaulet 1929.jpg|1929 Steyr 19 Type XX

File:Paris - Bonhams 2013 - Circa cadillac V16 landaulette - 1930 - 007.jpg|1930 Cadillac V16

File:Duesenberg 1937 Model J, Bohman & Schwartz Landaulet, (formal sedan) (3829451890).jpg|1937 Duesenberg Model J by Bohmann & Schwartz

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New landaulet cars became rare in the 1930s

After WWII landaulets were unfashionable and built only as parade cars for heads of state. Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, and Pope Benedict XVI used landaulets based on Mercedes-Benz automobiles but after 1970 seemed to generally prefer modified military or commercial vehicles for the same job. Landaulet cars give occupants no protection from assassins.

File:2022 Italian Republic Day parade (1).jpg|1960 Lancia Flaminia Presidenziale, a State car for the president of the Italian Republic

File:Queen Elizabeth II - 1965.jpg|Queen Elizabeth II in a Mercedes 600 landaulet in Duisburg, Germany, 1965

File:Mercedes-Benz S 500 lang Landaulet.jpg|1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 landaulet used by the Pope

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21st century 'concept cars'

In 2011, a Lexus LS 600h L landaulet was created for use at the wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock. The car was used to transport the couple on the day of their wedding, and afterwards put on display at the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco.

File:Peugeot 607 Paladine Nicolas Sarkozy.JPG|Peugeot 607 Paladine

File:Landaulet1.jpg|Maybach 62 landaulet

File:Mercedes G 650 Landaulet Back IMG 0567.jpg|Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet

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Landaulet (car)

History

20th century

21st century 'concept cars'

See also

Notes

References