What was the first hatchback?

Not going to go into the whole fastback/hatchback thing. Just trying to figure out which was the first car with an opening rear that was hinged from the roof (this rules out the E-type)

I seem to think MGBGT.. but I am sure somebody beat the brits to it

You're going to have to include station wagons with that definition and that goes way back to at least the 1930's

alright.. let's exclude stationwagons/estates.

AMC Gremlin in 1970, though the Hornet Sportabout is what all the current 5-door hatches are copying. MGB GT and the Volvo P1800 might pre-date that. Was the Jensen Interceptor a hatch?

1938 Citroen Traction Avant Commerciale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatchback

Kaiser Traveler http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/1949-1953-kaiser-traveler-vagabond-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1949-1953-kaiser-traveler-vagabond.htm&h=261&w=400&sz=39&tbnid=Dy6QJrYsr3mHXM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=138&zoom=1&usg=__b28dwycXbDvc55ChQHzDZscsPSE=&docid=6ryuUBqbl1rILM&sa=X&ei=USa7UaxJksLgA5CVgcAO&ved=0CDQQ9QEwAQ&dur=1892

Honda S600 coupe came out in 1965.

Yeah I was going to go with the Kaiser Traveler.

An Isetta is a hatchfront, does that count? :)

I've not been able to beat the 1938 Citroen Traction Avant Commerciale in my searches.

looks like we have a winner in the French

Brett_Murphy wrote: I've not been able to beat the 1938 Citroen Traction Avant Commerciale in my searches.

But because it has 4 doors would this be a station wagon? I always thought of hatch backs as 2 doors with the hatch. 4 doors with a hatch = wagon?

There were 2 door station wagons too.

There was an article today that mentioned the Aston Martin DB2 as well. I think it was '52 ( much like the wiki page states ).

bravenrace wrote: Honda S600 coupe came out in 1965.

I want one if these so bad but I have never seen the for sale. I have seen the convertibles for the S600 and S800 pop up from time to time.

bravenrace wrote: Honda S600 coupe came out in 1965.

it's like a weird squashed japanimation version of a Triumph GT6 Mk3...

car39 wrote: Kaiser Traveler http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/1949-1953-kaiser-traveler-vagabond-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1949-1953-kaiser-traveler-vagabond.htm&h=261&w=400&sz=39&tbnid=Dy6QJrYsr3mHXM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=138&zoom=1&usg=__b28dwycXbDvc55ChQHzDZscsPSE=&docid=6ryuUBqbl1rILM&sa=X&ei=USa7UaxJksLgA5CVgcAO&ved=0CDQQ9QEwAQ&dur=1892

First time I saw one of these the only thing that crossed my mind was how cool it would be to restomod one of these. Modern chassis under that body would not only be cool but useful too.

I had a Reliant Scimitar GTE that had a hatchback plus separately fold-able rear seats back starting in 1968. One of the earliest modern style hatchbacks.

mad_machine wrote: looks like we have a winner in the French

This statement cannot stand! Please find something else!

Wicki differentiates between a hatch and a lift back.

Hatch back having a D pillar and more square.

Lift back is a sedan type with a huge trunk door.

was ready to mention the Kaiser, but.

seems that car makers have been experimenting with hatchbacks longer than I realized

I'd say the difference is in overhang.

It seems that wagons have a long overhang, and hatchbacks do not.

ArthurDent wrote: I had a Reliant Scimitar GTE that had a hatchback plus separately fold-able rear seats back starting in 1968. One of the earliest modern style hatchbacks.

Jeremy Clarkson wrote: Princess Ann had one of those.