Phaeton body almost any vehicle with two axles and a row or rows of seats across the body could be called a phaeton. Convertibles and pillarless hardtops were marketed as "phaetons" after actual phaetons were phased out. The term "phaeton" had historically described a light, open four-wheeled carriage. When automobiles arrived it was applied to a light two-seater with minimal coachwork. The term was interchangeable with "spyder", derived from a light form of phaeton carriage known as a "spider". Originally meant to denote a faster and lighter vehicle than a touring car, the two terms eventually became interchangeable. A detachable folding or
HMS Phaeton (1782) 26 March 1828. "Phaeton" was commissioned in March 1782. Within a year she had been paid off. In December 1792 "Phaeton" was commissioned under Sir Andrew Snape Douglas. In March 1793 "Phaeton" captured the 4-gun privateer lugger "Aimable Liberté". Then on 14 April "Phaeton" sighted the French privateer "Général Dumourier" (or" Général Du Mourier"), of twenty-two 6-pounder guns and 196 men, and her Spanish prize, the "St Jago", 140 leagues to the west of Cape Finisterre. "Phaeton" was part of Admiral John Gell's squadron and the entire squadron set off in pursuit, but it was "Phaeton" that made the actual