A side wall structure such as a door for an automotive body includes an inner panel such and an outer panel which are spaced laterally from each other, the outer panel having an opening defined in a substantially lower portion thereof by an edge thereof and having a horizontal length larger than a vertical length thereof, and a reinforcing panel complementary in shape to the opening and having a peripheral edge joined to the edge of the outer panel in covering relation to the opening.

A construction of a lower part of a door of a motor vehicle has a broad moulding-shaped cover plate attached to an outer surface of a lower portion of a door outer panel, and a seal member attached along a lower edge of the cover plate for sealing a space between a lower edge of the cover plate and a rocker panel. The seal member is formed of an elastic material and has a base portion retained by the lower edge of the cover plate, a projecting portion integrally formed with and projecting like a lip from the base portion so that an end thereof is in pressure contact with the outer surface of the door outer panel, and a sealing portion extending downward from the base portion like a lip so that a lower end thereof is brought into contact with the rocker panel when the door is closed.

The invention relates to a motor vehicle of which the shell is entirely constructed of resilient impact-resistant material configured into a structure of integrated volumes which is fitted on to a load-bearing base comprising all the mechanical members. In this respect, the term "shell" signifies that which in conventional motor vehicles is represented by the body together with the compartments for housing the mechanical members and passengers. The proposed vehicle is therefore composed of a lower body portion or frame to which the wheels and transmission and control members are connected, on which there is a structure formed from one or more blocks or sheets of resilient material, configured as volumes which harmonically blend the outer shape and the passenger compartments into a unified combination.

A vehicle body is formed of a plurality of straight structural tubular members welded together to form the vehicle frame and a plurality of plastic panels secured to the structural members to provide the exterior surface of the body. Selected plastic panels have channel-forming projections molded on the inner face thereof which straddle the adjacent structural member. These panels are attached to the structural members by securing plastic adaptors to the inner edges of the channels so that the metal structural frame members are completely enclosed in plastic. The adaptors are secured to the panels by means of self-plugging, blind rivets from the inner side of the body. The interior lining of the vehicle is applied to the inner surfaces of the plastic panels.

A door for a motor vehicle which is provided with an upper outer part having a window cutout and a lower outer part connected with the upper outer part. At least one safety reinforcement constructed as hollow bearer and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction is arranged in the door. The hollow bearer is connected at each end with the frame structure of the door. The lower door outer part is constructed shell-shaped and formed in one piece with the hollow bearer. At its outer surface, the door outer part is provided with a covering of synthetic resinous material. The hollow bearer has preferably a circularly shaped cross section projecting beyond the lower door outer part and is arranged approximately at the height of the belt line of the vehicle whereby the shell-shaped door outer element extends at least up to this belt line.