A forward longitudinal bearer of a motor vehicle constructed as closed, hollow bearer with an impact-near energy-absorbing part which is so composed section-wise that three series-connected zones result, of which the center zone is located within the area of aggregate support points and exceeds the two adjoining zones as regards their rigidity by the use of materials of increased strength and/or greater wall thickness.

A body structure for a passenger motor vehicle includes an end unit provided with a support system formed by transverse and longitudinal supports; the support system is retained at a boundary wall of a passenger cell by a mounting arrangement including detachable elements. In order to achieve a good force translation from the end unit to the passenger cell and in order to be able to carry out a rapid and cost-favorable repair of the end unit in case of an accidental impact, several mounting devices for an upper longitudinal support and a lower longitudinal support of the support system are provided at the boundary wall, whereby the longitudinal supports of the support system are received by further supports so as to generally form a continuation of the support structure of the passenger cell.

A stopper 1 is fixedly mounted on and projects from an outer surface of that portion of a side frame 7 disposed in the vicinity of a front wheel 14. A reinforcement 2 is mounted on an inner surface of that portion of the side frame 7, on which the stopper 1 is mounted, thereby reinforcing the stopper 1. At the time of a collision of a vehicle, a rear side 17 of an outer periphery of the front wheel 14 strikes against the stopper 1, and also the movement of the stopper 1 is prevented by the reinforcement 2, thereby limiting the movement of the front wheel 14. Therefore, the deformation of the side frame 7 and so on toward the vehicle frame is reduced.

A vehicle body structure for a passenger car having a forward member and an exterior side member, where the forward member and the side member are formed by extruded profiles. A light metal junction connects the forward member and the side member, this junction being formed by a cast part and having first and second junction elements. The first junction element has an open end and a closed end and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle for receiving an end of the forward member in the open end. A second junction element is aligned essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and abuts and side member. This second junction element has a receiving channel that receives the first junction element. The body structure includes a floor and a transmission tunnel, with the second junction element abutting the floor and the transmission tunnel of the body structure. The first and second junction elements are additionally connected.

A method of converting a sedan hardtop automobile body to a convertible includes severing the hardtop roof panel of the automobile body by forming cuts along the front of the continuous roof panel at the windshield and along the bottom of the rear roof pillars. A pair of structural reinforcement beams are positioned on the bottom of the vehicle connecting the vehicle's engine cradle and the rear transverse support which normally carries the two independent wheels suspension systems. A truss develop loads from the longitudinal beams to the surface of the wheel well lining and to the front shock towers. Transverse structural reinforcement is provided to the vehicle unibody at a position between the engine cradle and the rear transverse member and on the upper surface of the automobile floor pan. The transverse structural member fastens through the floor pan of the vehicle to the longitudinal reinforcements under the vehicle. The continuous roof panel is replaced with a fabric-like folding top.