AUTOMOBILE BODY CONSTRUCTION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct an automobile body construction in such a way that an increase in its weight can be minimized without formation of a step or gap at a portion where a joint member intervenes. SOLUTION: In an automobile body construction of the space frame type which comprises tubular members welded together, a joint member 10 for joining the ends of the plurality of tubular members together has, at its end faces connected to the tubular members, at least a pair of projections 11, 12 formed to project inside the tubular members, one 11 of the projections having a tapered outer surface and provided on the side where higher surface accuracy is required, the other projection 12 provided in a position in which it is almost in axial symmetry to the projection 11 and having a straight outer surface. Therefore, the side where surface continuity is important is guided by the tapered surface when the projections are fitted into a cavity, so that the connection between the joint member and each tubular member is naturally formed into a continuous surface, whereas the other side can provide error absorbing tolerance since it is straight.