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Originally Posted by Fredo
Can someone please tell me why a sunroof is called a moonroof in the US. I find it hard to believe that anyone really buys one of these so they can look at the moon.........
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courtesy of Wikipedia
A
sunroof is an opening in an
automobile roof. Sunroofs may be either fixed or operable.
Historically, sunroofs have been opaque and open to the air to allow the sun to shine directly into the vehicle, while
moonroofs have generally been transparent or semi-transparent and designed to remain closed while allowing muted light to penetrate the vehicle. The term
moonroof has also been applied to sunroofs that can only tilt to provide additional ventilation. Those models that allow for complete retraction of the glass, either on tracks or into the automobile body itself, are now generally accepted as the true sunroof.
Variations have become the norm and often combine the features of the Sun and Moon types into a single device. It is not uncommon to see tinted glass that can retract fully like a traditional sun roof, remain closed like a traditional moon roof, or tilt to allow for airflow.
Modern implementations often include a sliding shade that usually matches the internal roof upholstery and provides a way of essentially hiding the sun/moon roof behind it. The
American Sunroof Company is often credited for creating the modern moonroof.
Sunroofs can be manual or electric. Manual sunroofs are usually flipped up to create a small opening around the edges, or are removed completely. Electric sunroofs either flip up and slide back on top of the roof, or down and into the roof. An electric sunroof will have the facility to be closed manually if the motor or control circuitry fails."