Suicide doors

Author
Discussion

crapper

Original Poster:

113 posts

218 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
I'm just watching a film called Female Agents (WWII film) and most of the cars have suicide door. Does anyone know when the car industry switch majority to the 'normal' doors we are used to? Also do you know the reason why (possibly easier access).

Steve H

5,224 posts

194 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
There's a clue in the name wink

crapper

Original Poster:

113 posts

218 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
Lol! I was thinking that it sounded like a stupid question but I still have no idea why they got changed.

crapper

Original Poster:

113 posts

218 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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Damn double post!

Edited by crapper on Sunday 2nd January 23:07

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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Because if the door pops open at speed it will be ripped clean off it's hinges I guess. Not sure if that has ever happened in the entire history of man mind you.

deevlash

10,442 posts

236 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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I don't know but they've made a comeback lately in rollers, RX-8's and various customs and specials.

Desiato

959 posts

282 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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A quick Google and Wikipedia came up with this

"For a time, the last true, independently opening suicide doors on a mass produced car were fitted on the Ford Thunderbird four-door sedan from 1967 through 1971. The 1971 model was the last American production automobile to feature rear suicide doors, because after this time, safety concerns prevented their use"

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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Also maybe a frontal crash would deform the door frame more easily and stop you getting out?

slomax

6,646 posts

191 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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also, while you are getting out of your car, if someone driving past catches your door at any kind of speed you die. It is harder to see a door is opening due to shadows and shutlines and what not when driving past too.

crapper

Original Poster:

113 posts

218 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
Good find Desiato.

k-ink said:
Also maybe a frontal crash would deform the door frame more easily and stop you getting out?
Good thought but was car safety so advanced in the late 50's early 60's?

TomJackUK

356 posts

171 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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My old man fell out of a london taxi with suicide doors when he was not such an old man. Left a nice scar he has carried with him for life! Not a fan of them to be honest... only see them making sense if being chauffeured around, but where is the fun in that?!

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
Its from passengers who dont look behind them when opening their doors. If a vehivle goes past when a normal door is opened, the door is taken away from them.

In a rear hinged door, the door is puched back onto the exiting passenger, crushing them.

You also got, on some cars front doors which hinged at the front, and rear doors which hinged at the rear. This made a very wide entry area, and the designers could use very slim B-posts. Which was great, until the car was parked on an uneven surface and the chassis flex prevented the doors from opening. Just ask De Galle and his Facel Vega Excellence...

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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Excellent observation. We got there in the end hehe

Also that slim centre pillar you mention would be terrible on side impacts.

Mattt

16,661 posts

217 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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williamp said:
Its from passengers who dont look behind them when opening their doors. If a vehivle goes past when a normal door is opened, the door is taken away from them.

In a rear hinged door, the door is puched back onto the exiting passenger, crushing them.
You could say vice versa though with 'normal' doors.

philoldsmobile

524 posts

206 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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the new mariva has suicide rear doors.....

dougc

8,240 posts

264 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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philoldsmobile said:
the new mariva has suicide rear doors.....
There's a good reason for that...

philoldsmobile

524 posts

206 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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dougc said:
philoldsmobile said:
the new mariva has suicide rear doors.....
There's a good reason for that...
post natal family planning? wink

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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To be fair you would want to use them if your daily transport was a van.

Doniger

1,971 posts

165 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
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Mattt said:
williamp said:
Its from passengers who dont look behind them when opening their doors. If a vehivle goes past when a normal door is opened, the door is taken away from them.

In a rear hinged door, the door is puched back onto the exiting passenger, crushing them.
You could say vice versa though with 'normal' doors.
Only if someone is on the wrong side of the road, be it the person parking or someone driving by.

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
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Mattt said:
williamp said:
Its from passengers who dont look behind them when opening their doors. If a vehivle goes past when a normal door is opened, the door is taken away from them.

In a rear hinged door, the door is pushed back onto the exiting passenger, crushing them.
You could say vice versa though with 'normal' doors.
Yes, but the only real danger would occur if the car was coming towards you. You'd hope people would look in front of them and notice before exiting. Still, with some of thr driving you see these days...