When many of us think of car parts, we consider all the intricate devices that lurk under the hood and come together to make our vehicle drive smoothly and safely. While a large proportion of these parts are usually out of plain sight, many of the essential parts of a working car are part of the body of the vehicle. Just because you can see it, doesn't mean it's not essential in making your driving experience as enjoyable and safe as possible.

Safety is one of the most important tasks performed by the highly visible car parts that combine to create the outer shell of your automobile. While the various components of the engine are designed to get you where you want to go, the body of a car is designed to store the people that travel within, and their safety is paramount. Millions of dollars are spent each year on testing the strength and durability of these casings - this is where crash test dummies came about. And with car ratings increasingly including this safety aspect in their final judgment on a particular vehicle, this seems like money well spent. And while collisions and crashes might not be something any driver or passenger wants to dwell too long upon, it is the body of your vehicle that can make all the difference in your health's prognosis in the event of such an awful occurrence.

The parts that combine to make your car's outer hull also carry the responsibility of another requirement. This is the comfort of the vehicle's passengers, an important factor in these days of frequent driving. While comfort might seem a concern of luxury or exotic car makers - we've all seen those advertisements that portray the inside of a high priced vehicle as though it were an expensive suite of lounge furniture - it is something to be considered in the construction of all cars. In the early days of motoring, automobiles were so far from user-friendly that motorists were physically only able to drive for limited periods. The car parts that make up the body of your vehicle need to be designed with this in mind also.

It is clear that the external parts of your car have an important role to play in the overall running of your vehicle. Combined with the suspension system, these parts are designed to make your trip as comfortable. Add to this the burden of your physical safety, and it is easy to see that external car parts need to do a lot more than just look good.