Surrey (carriage)

A surrey is a horse-drawn, four-wheeled, two-seated pleasure carriage with an open spindle seat.

Overview

The name comes from Surrey, the county in southern England where it was first built. It resembles a cabriolet but has a straight or nearly straight bottom, sometimes cut under. Originally English, it was introduced into the United States in 1872.

The term is also used for various types of quadracycle, and an early motor vehicle resembling a surrey in design.

In popular culture

It was famously celebrated in the song "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" from the musical Oklahoma!.

In the UK, a pedal-Surrey may be better known when referenced as a "Chuckle mobile" after TV's "Chuckle Brothers", children's comedians who famously used such a vehicle as their mode of transport for most episodes of their TV show.