motor court

[GUEST2008]

Hi

A certain guy came to a big house. It was huge.

In a cobblestone-paved motor court was parked a muddy pickup truck along with a Mini Cooper in racing green with a white top.

I found that "motor court" means a "motel". But I'm not sure it makes sense here. He came to a privately owned house. So what does "motor court" mean?

The color was "racing" or the "car"?
I understand that "white top" means it had a white roof, right?

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi

A certain guy came to a big house. It was huge.

In a cobblestone-paved motor court was parked a muddy pickup truck along with a Mini Cooper in racing green with a white top.

I found that "motor court" means a "motel". But I'm not sure it makes sense here. He came to a privately owned house. So what does "motor court" mean?

The color was "racing" or the "car"?
I understand that "white top" means it had a white roof, right?

I have never met with the term "motor court" but I would assume that it means a type of courtyard. "British racing green" is a shade of the colour green. Yes, a "white top" means a white roof. Have a look at this image:
Résultats Google Recherche d'images correspondant à http://www.coopersports.co.uk/USERIMAGES/2000cooperse.jpg

 

[Ouisch]

In AmE, a "motor court" is a motel (as you mentioned). It would never be parsed to be a driveway or parking lot.

 

[GUEST2008]

Hi

But I think that "motel" in the given context doesn't make sense.
How about "courtyard" as suggested above?

 

[bhaisahab]

At some large country houses that I have visited in Britain and Ireland, what had been the stables and (cobbled) stable yard was used for parking cars. As I said before, I haven't met with the term "motor court" but I think it likely that the author was referring to something like that.