Patent ID: 6918169

Claim:
A method of assembling a vehicle ( 10 ) comprising the steps of: fabricating a vehicle body ( 12 ) having a floor ( 14 ) and door ( 16 ) openings and roof pillars ( 18 ) defining window openings ( 20 ) and a roof ( 17 ) supported on the pillars ( 18 ) and defining a roof opening ( 22 ); placing the body ( 12 ) on a vehicle chassis ( 24 ); inserting interior components ( 26 ) through the opening ( 22 ) in the roof ( 17 ) and securing the components ( 26 ) to the interior of the vehicle body ( 12 ); placing a roof panel ( 38 ) on the roof ( 17 ) to close the opening ( 22 ) therein after the interior components ( 26 ) are inserted through the opening ( 22 ).