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) June - "Poisson Volante", of ten guns, and "Général Washington". On 27 November "Phaeton" and were among the six vessels of a squadron that captured the 28-gun "Blonde" off Ushant. In February 1794 "Phaeton" was paid off, but the next month Captain William Bentinck recommissioned her. During the battle of the Glorious First of June, "Phaeton" came to the aid of the dismasted . While doing so, "Phaeton" exchanged broadsides with the French ship-of-the-line "Impetueux. "Phaeton" suffered three men killed and five wounded. She was the only one of the support vessels there to suffer casualties. In 1847 the Admiralty