Backbone chassis

Instead of a two-dimensional ladder-type structure, it consists of a strong tubular backbone (usually rectangular in cross section) that connects the front and rear suspension attachment areas.

[1] The backbone chassis was extensively developed by Hans Ledwinka who used it in greater numbers on the Tatra 11 and subsequent vehicles.

Ledwinka later used backbone frames with central tube and axles with swinging driveshafts on Tatra trucks, becoming known as Tatra-concept.

[2] He then developed the design on trucks with 6x4 model Tatra 26, which had excellent off-road abilities.

The Triumph Herald and Triumph Vitesse used a twin flanged box section[4] backbone carrying the main torsional[citation needed] and bending loads, with light channel section side rails to stiffen the body, while the Triumph Spitfire and Triumph GT6 sports cars used only the twin-box section backbone, with separate side members in the body, and rear suspension fore and aft loads were also taken by the floor, not the backbone chassis directly.