Charabanc

A charabanc, from the French char-a-banc, meaning carriage with benches, is an open-topped vehicle with multiple rows of forward-facing bench seats that originated in early 19th century France and was introduced to Britain in the 1830s, becoming especially popular there in the early 20th century for organized outings such as factory day trips, race meetings and seaside excursions. Early charabancs were horse-drawn, typically by teams of four or a pair, with canvas folding hoods and mica side windows for weather protection, and motorized charabancs appeared before the First World War, though their high center of gravity made them prone to serious overturning accidents on steep roads. Motor charabancs proved uncomfortable for longer journeys and were largely displaced by modern motor buses during the 1920s, by which point the type had mostly disappeared from British roads.