motor car

motor car (plural motor cars)

1. Alternative spelling of motorcar.
   • 2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, pages 273–274:

     Today the motor car is not taken seriously as a solution to the problems of mass transport, and the transport planners of south-east England - and the mayor of London himself, judging by his Transport Plan - think in terms of trains and underground trains in particular [...]

2. (rail transport, US) Synonym of railcar (“self-propelled railway vehicle”).

   Synonyms: motor coach, power car

   Antonym: trailer car

   • 1951 January, “The Inner Circle and its Rolling Stock”, in Railway Magazine, page 59:

     The 20 sets of B.W. [British Westinghouse] equipment, including motor bogies and traction motors, were refitted to 20 new motor cars, similar in design to the 1913 stock, again at the railway company's Neasden Works.

   • 1960 February, “The first of London's new Piccadilly Line trains is delivered”, in Trains Illustrated, page 94:

     A motor car is provided with two self-ventilated series-wound G.E.C. traction motors, each having a continuous rating of 80 h.p. at 575 V. 116 A. at a field strength of 66 per cent.