The term "phaeton" meant a 4-door car with a canvas top that could be lowered or removed Many different car makes offered phaetons before World War II In 1956, Mercury gave the name "Phaeton" to its 4-door hardtop models in the Monterey, Custom, and Montclair series Starting in 1957 and continuing through 1958, Mercury gave the name "Phaeton" to all of its 2- and 4-door hardtops and convertibles in the Monterey, Montclair, and Park Lane series
Any of the various high, four-wheeled, graceful open carriages; also a type of touring car The more fragile appearing spider phaeton often featured a rumble seat for coachman
The son of Phoebus, who undertook to drive the chariot of the sun, was upset, and caused great mischief; Libya was parched into barren sands, and all Africa was more or less injured, the inhabitants blackened, and vegetation nearly destroyed Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus' mansion; such a waggoner As Phaeton would whip you to the west, And bring in cloudy night immediately Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, iii 2 Phaeton A sort of carriage; so called from the sun-car driven by Phaeton See above Phaeton's bird The swan Cyenus was the friend of Phaeton, and lamented his fate so grievously that Apollo changed her into a swan, and placed her among the constellations
A light, usually low, four-wheeled open carriage, drawn by a pair of horses Phaethõn, the son of the Greek sun-god Helios, was famous for his bad driving of the sun chariot See pictures of Mrs Kinross in her elegant Show Phaeton or her Cut-Under Phaeton