>Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 17:21:26 -0500
>To: majordomo(at)triumph.cs.utah.edu
>From: Fred Levit <fle426(at)nwu.edu>
>Subject: Shooting Brake
>
>Everything that has been sent about the origin of the term `Shooting
Brake' is correct, except for the origin of the name `Brake' itself.
>
>The original brake, which should have been spelled 'break' was a four
wheeled horse drawn vehicle which consisted only of a frame and drivers
seat. It was apparently large and heavy and was used for `breaking' horses
to draw carriages.
>
>A couple of seats and a simple body were added so that it could be used
to take a party hunting, the brake being much more rugged than the usual
passenger carriage which would not likely be used to go cross country. The
name was probably transferred to the station wagon-like automobile by some
advertising type.
>
>The main use of the name now is to provide we Americans who own British
cars with one more bit of British vocabulary to use in confounding our
compatriots.
>
>
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