Vis-à-vis (carriage) explained

A vis-à-vis is a carriage in which the passengers sit face to face with the front passengers facing rearward and the rear passengers facing forward.[1] The term comes from the French vis-à-vis, meaning face to face.[1] [2]

These carriages are still commonly made by Amish carriage makers in the midwestern United States. Also in the Western world, the vis-a-vis is the most common type of carriage style used to cart tourists and leisure seekers in downtown urban settings.

Passengers sit back-to-back on dos-à-dos carriages.

Examples

The following types of carriage had vis-à-vis seating:

Automobiles

There were vis-à-vis automobiles in the early history of motoring.[2] These were driven from the forward-facing rear seat, with front passengers sitting ahead of the steering controls and facing the driver.[1] [2] [3] Passengers in the front seat would obstruct the vision of the driver in the rear seat, and the style fell out of favour before 1905.[1] [2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Haajanen, Lennart W.. Illustrations by Bertil Nydén; foreword by Karl Ludvigsen. 2003. Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles. Jefferson, NC USA. McFarland. 0-7864-1276-3. 2002014546. 155.
  2. Book: Beattie, Ian. The Complete Book of Automobile Body Design. 1977. The Haynes Publishing Group. Yeovil, UK. 0854292179.
  3. Book: Culshaw. David. Horrobin. Peter. 2013. 1974. Appendix 5: Coachwork Styles. The Complete Catalogue of British Cars 1895 - 1975 . e-book. Poundbury, Dorchester, UK. Veloce Publishing. 480–484. 978-1-845845-83-4. |page=484