Shooting brake

Posted by David FG June 09, 2009 at 19:17In reply to Shooting brake posted by Stu Albion on June 09, 2009 at 18:53:

Do you know the origin of the term shooting brake, as refers to automobiles?

I can't improve on this, really:

'In the early 19th century, a brake was a large carriage-frame with no body, used for breaking in young horses. By the late 19th century the meaning had been extended to a large wagonette designed for country use. A "shooting brake" carried a driver and gamekeeper facing forward and up to six sportsmen on longitudinal benches with their dogs, guns and game carried alongside in slat-sided racks'.

DFG