Disclosed is an upper connecting structure of a side rail and a center pillar. The side rail has a closed cross section constituted by a side rail outer member and a side rail inner member disposed inside of the side rail outer member. A ridge line extending in a lengthwise direction of a vehicle is formed by an upper surface and a side surface of the side rail outer member. Further, a plurality of bead sections are formed over the upper and side surfaces of the side rail outer member across the ridge line. More specifically, a pair of bead sections are formed with a connection portion of the side rail outer member and the center pillar between so as to securely prevent the upper connecting structure from being collapsed.

A vehicle body side structure, which includes: a pillar having a closed cross section formed by jointing a pillar inner panel and an outer panel; a vehicle interior side face, on which an opening is disposed, of the pillar; a seat belt retractor to be arranged inside the pillar by being inserted through the opening; a boxy member, in which the seat belt retractor is housed to be arranged in the opening, having a flange portion and a bottom back face; and a structural foaming member for jointing at least one of the flange portion and the bottom back face to an inner surface of the pillar.

A supporting pillar for a body frame of a passenger motor vehicle comprises a pillar-shaped hollow body with at least one profile shell. In the hollow body, a tubular body is arranged which essentially extends longitudinally through the hollow body and is attached to it. A lower region of the tubular body is held in a bracket attached to the profile shell. The bracket comprises two walls spaced apart from each other longitudinally. Each wall comprises a receiving aperture into which the lower region of the tubular body has been inserted, with the tubular body being attached at the receiving aperture to this bracket. The tubular body rests against, and is attached to the profile shell along a straight line, and is inclined in relation to a vertical line perpendicular to the walls of the bracket. The tubular body has an elbow between its lower region, and the region resting against the profile shell along the line.

A vehicle bodywork component intended in particular for automotive construction is formed in the manner of a sandwich having an outer layer made from a synthetic sheet or an aluminum sheet and an inner synthetic layer, which is applied by foaming to the outer layer. The outer layer may be formed from a plurality of pieces of different colors. These may abut directly against one another. In another example, a trim or cover strip is between the pieces, which are fixedly connected to one another by the foam applied against them. The trim or cover strip may have a web-like projection which is partly enclosed in foam when the synthetic layer is applied by foaming, in order to secure the trim or cover strip in place.

The vehicle body side structure is provided that comprises a front pillar, a center pillar, a rear pillar, a side sill, a roof side rail, and front and rear strengthening members. The center pillar further comprises an inner pillar member or portion coupled to the roof side rail and the side sill and an outer pillar member or portion disposed on the transversely outward side of the inner pillar member. The outer pillar member is coupled to the side sill a vertically approximate center portion of the inner pillar member. A main energy absorbing section is provided at a lower end portion of the outer pillar member. The front and rear strengthening members are coupled only to the outer pillar member of the center pillars. As a result, a load input during a side collision is dispersed and transmitted through the strengthening members and through the inner pillar member.