Coupé (carriage)

A coupé was a four-wheeled carriage with outside front seat for the driver and enclosed passenger seats for two persons. The name coupé comes from the French past participle of couper, "cut".

The coupé carriage body style originated from the berline horse-drawn carriage. The coupé version of the berline was introduced in the 18th century as a shortened ("cut") version with no rear-facing seat. Normally, a coupe had a fixed glass window in the front of the passenger compartment. The coupe was considered an ideal vehicle for women to use to go shopping or to make social visits.