Posted on 12/26/2018 12:17:29 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Lincoln is bringing back its iconic "suicide doors." A special limited-edition version of the big Lincoln Continental will have back doors that are hinged at the rear rather than the front.
The feature presented some engineering challenges, but backward-opening doors are something Lincoln designers have long wanted to include on a car, design director David Woodhouse said. The doors are closely associated with one of the brand's best-remembered models, the 1960s Lincoln Continental.
The 1961 Continental was a turning point in American automotive design. Many automakers were experimenting with new styles as trends shifted. After years of ever-increasing chrome trim and tailfins reaching jetliner heights, the Continental was striking in its purely horizontal simplicity.
"The 1961 Lincoln was truly a landmark car in an era of a lot of really significant styling changes," said John Kraman, a classic car market analyst with Mecum Auctions. "It really reset the bar."....
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Why were they called suicide doors? I haven’t found a reason yet.
The 1961 Lincoln Continental was designed by Ford-then Chrysler designer Elwood Engel, who suceeded famed mid-’50’s designer Virgil Exner, then went on to design my 1964 Plymouth Fury.
I liked those, they made it easier to get in and out of the back seat. Thanks 2ndDivisionVet.
They must have some type of interlock feature on the door now to fix this problem.
Thank you for the explanation.
Plus if you open door into traffic while getting out and a car hits it, the door can crush you. Baffles me why they made it like this. I use drive a taxi in New york city and passengers use to open doors into traffic all the time and cars would hit the doors ripping them off. If it was hinged like this it would have slammed on the passenger killing them.
That assumes that the other vehicle is driving in the same direction, and comes up from behind.
But, with a conventional door, the same problem exists assuming that the other vehicle is driving in the opposite direction.
Regards,
When purchasing get a truck, I referred to them as suicide doors, and got weird looks.
I need the truck cab to have them so I can climb in front and pull my wheelchair in behind the drivers seat.
It’s the only body style that allows me the independence of driving a truck.
Shouldn't they call them "Darwin Doors?"
Additionally, there was no structural integrity on the side since the latching post only extended half way up the door.......
I noticed that the picture provided has a full post between doors.
That’s different than the older models I believe
Yea, that's why I question the term "suicide doors" for this new model...
If you’re publishing a week-old article, check if it wasn’t published a week ago.
>> But, with a conventional door, the same problem exists assuming that the other vehicle is driving in the opposite direction. <<
I think the media’s publicizing of the slang term, “suicide doors” stems from pure hatred of Ford-Lincoln-Mercury. They were never called “suicide doors,” except as a rare slang, and naming anything “suicide...” because of a safety problem long since solved is just stupid.
But, How would you get hit by a car coming THE OTHER WAY, unless the car was so totally out of control, you were probably going to get nailed by the car directly anyhow? To get hit from behind, the car that hits you needs only be a few feet to its left. To be hit from oncoming traffic, it needs to cross the entire street!
Or YOU have to be parking on the opposite side of the street, which I know gets done occasionally on some residential streets where cars can largely drive up the middle of the street because there’s rarely a car coming the other way.
>> They must have some type of interlock feature on the door now to fix this problem. <<
They do.
Lincoln is getting killed by Lexus and the Germans.
I think I know why you say the media hates Ford, but would like to hear your reason.
Not a good idea then not a good idea now, “period.”
Opens the door to a new horizon of bend the car up opportunities to be unavoidably explored by those with the propensity to damage an anvil in a sand pile.
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