Coachbuilt

Coachbuilt cars are custom-bodied vehicles crafted by specialist coachbuilders, typically for luxury chassis from marques like Duesenberg, Packard, and Cadillac. Before the era of unibody construction and mass production, buyers could order a bare chassis and have a coachbuilder design and build a bespoke body to their specifications. These one-off creations often featured elegant lines, handcrafted details, and cutting-edge styling. While rooted in European tradition, American coachbuilt customs reached their peak in the 1920s and 1930s. The craftsmanship and design principles of coachbuilt cars later inspired early customizers, bridging the gap between luxury tradition and grassroots creativity.