Abstract: A rear body structure for an automotive vehicle has a rear pillar with a rear pillar inner panel and a rear pillar reinforcement. The rear pillar reinforcement forms a closed cross section with the pillar inner panel. The rear body structure also has a rear window lower frame which has a closed cross section and which extends transversely to support a lower end portion of a rear window and a rear shelf member which has an open cross section and which has a horizontal plate portion forming a shelf. The rear pillar reinforcement is connected to the rear window lower frame at the rear end thereof and is connected to the rear shelf member at the front end thereof.

Abstract: A cowl box extends in the transverse direction of a vehicle body in front of the passenger room between left and right hinge pillars and is defined by a windshield support member on which the windshield of the vehicle is supported and a dashboard upper member which is joined to the lower surface of the windshield support member. The dashboard upper member has a vertical wall portion facing the passenger room. The cowl box having an open cross-section. A reinforcement is provided along the joining line of the dashboard upper member to the windshield support member. The reinforcement is formed of end portions which extend along respective end portions of the joining line of the dashboard upper member to the windshield support member and a main portion which extends along the rest of the joining line of the dashboard upper member to the windshield support member. The end portions are on the passenger room side over the entire length thereof and are fixed to the corresponding hinge pillars.

Abstract: Vehicle body structure having a cowl panel assembly extending transversely between a pair of transversely spaced front pillars, said cowl panel assembly having a windshield glass support portion to which a windshield glass is adhesively attached. The glass support portion is formed with a planar rearward extension, and a dashboard having a planar rearwardly extending upper flange is welded at the flange to the rearward extension of the cowl panel assembly. An instrument panel is connected at its front end with the rearward extension of the cowl panel or the upper flange of the dashboard panel.