British term

American term

accumulator

battery

actuator

switch or servo

Artic

'artic'ulated lorry=semi tractor-trailer

baulk ring

synchro ring (transmission synchromesh)

bonnet

hood

boot

trunk

bulkhead

firewall

choke tube

venturi (carb)

core plug

freeze plug

crocodile clip

alligator clip

crosshead screw

Phillips head screw

crown wheel

ring gear(gear in differential)

cubby box

glove box or glove compartment

damper

shock absorber

drive shaft

half shaft or axle shaft to wheel

drop-head coupe

convertible (version of 2 door coupe, see roadster)

dumpy screwdriver

short screwdriver

dynamo

generator

earth

ground

estate

station wagon

fascia

dashboard

fixed-head coupe

2 door coupe

frogeye

bugeye

Gallon (Imperial)

4.5 US Quarts

gearbox

transmission

gudgeon pin

wrist pin

hood

convertible top

jointing compound

gasket sealant

lorry

truck

mole wrench

Vice grips

monocoque

unibody

nave plate

hubcap

near side

left side.

nose

front of car

off side

right side

paraffin

kerosene

pinking

knocking or pinging

prop shaft

drive shaft

petrol

gasoline

prise

Pry (apply force with a lever, pry-bar, crow-bar, screwdriver)

proud

raised, stands above surrounding surface

quarterlight

vent window - small, usually 'triangular' side window

rev counter

tachometer

reversing lights

back-up lights

ring gear

flywheel gear, or starter gear (shrink fit onto the flywheel)

roadster

convertible (car that comes only with a soft-top, usually a minimalist, manual, Erector-Set top*

roundabout

rotary, traffic circle

RoStyle

type of steel wheel (as opposed to wire)

saloon

'sedan',2 or 4 door

scuttle

cowl

side curtains

removable side windows, usually flexible plastic.

silencer

muffler

sill

rocker panel

shooting brake

station wagon

spanner

wrench

split pin

cotter pin

spring washer

split lock washer (as opposed to star washer)

squab

part of seat

suction advance

vacuum advance

sump

oil pan

thrust bearing

throwout bearing

tick over

idle

top gear

high gear

torch

flashlight

trunnion

sliding or rotating joint (suspension) (pin in bore)

tyre

tire

wheel nut

lug nut

Whitworth

British thread standard (size denotes hex head size)

windscreen

windshield

wing

fender