Lincoln Continental brings back 'suicide doors'

CNN Business ^ | December 17, 2018 | Peter Valdes-Dapena

[snoringbear]

“Why were they called suicide doors? I haven’t found a reason yet.”

On early versions the door could be opened while the car was moving. Hence the door was not only ar risk of being torn off its hinges, the person who inadvertently opened the door could be pulled out of the car. However, modern cars are designed so that the doors lock when the car is shifted into drive. So, the risk no longer exists.

[equaviator]

Mary “too cute to fail” Barra has suicide doors for entering and exiting her corner office at General Motors Company.

[snoringbear]

“I think I know why you say the media hates Ford, but would like to hear your reason.” I think it’s spelled F-1-5-0. And the demographic it represents 😏

[equaviator]

“modern cars are designed so that the doors lock when the car is shifted into drive. So, the risk no longer exists.”

You can always open any door on any car, even after it has been put into motion (unless it’s underwater), and I believe it is a MVSS for all American automakers and cars sold to buyers and/or drivers in the U.S.

[Dixie Yooper]

$100,000 for a uaw product or $100,000 for a euro/isis product... How about a Volvo made in China?

[P.O.E.]

Packard with suicide doors killed my great-grandfather. The rear door was the suicide door, but the front door had a forward facing protruding handle. He was trying to cross the street and was side-swiped, the handle gouging his stomach.

[BBB333]

“If the driver is hanging onto the handle he gets pulled out of the car.”

Not the driver (impossible) but the back seat occupant.

We had a ‘64 growing up and I was never intimated by the doors at all, loved the electric wind-wings!

As mentioned here many pickups have these doors as well as the 2003-2011 Honda Element. In these vehicles the rear door could not open unless the front door was open. Very difficult to get a rear passenger out of a Honda Element in a parking lot...Had a 2003 model.

Happy new year!

[4everontheRight]

Bookmark

[Blogatron]

Here's a Lincoln with suicide doors.

A guy could get hurt real bad riding in a car like that.

[dangus]

Because they’re not Government Motors? Because they didn’t embrace electric cats? Because they actually MAKE stuff?

I’m not positive what the primary disease is, but the symptom is calling them “suicide doors” as if that’s by what people would understand what they mean.

[snoringbear]

I think it’s a good promotional strategy. And, as others have said, entry/exit is easier. Btw, I agree with those who say it was one of the most beautiful cars of its time, along with the T-Bird of that era.

[John Milner]

Just for the sake of future knowledge. And maybe you know this already.

That post between the front and rear doors is called the “B-Pillar” in the automotive world. Cars without that are defined as Hardtops.

The piece between the front of the front door and the windshield is called the A-Pillar. The piece between the back of the rear door and the back glass is the C-Pillar.

[Phillyred]

Will the car actually look like a big Lincoln or just another boring small foreign look-alike?

[x]

[nodumbblonde]

I don’t know if it’s true but I was always told they were called “suicide doors” because they made it easier to commit suicide by throwing yourself from a moving car. Opening the normal big, heavy doors at speed into the wind could prove somewhat difficult but with suicide doors, the airflow would actually grab the door and hold it open for you.

[CollegeRepublican]

The FJ Cruiser 2006-2014 has this door setup. I have driven an FJ since 2010. I still haven’t committed suicide, must be doing something wrong.

[rockrr]

My older brother was given one just like that. It needed attention and so I started prowling the abandoned car auctions looking for parts cars. I found two - one so nice that I kept it and drove it for a couple of years. I paid $200 for it.

What a highway cruiser that beast was!

[Roccus]

I still haven’t committed suicide, must be doing something wrong.

Prolly 'cause ya ain't got a "suicide knob" on yer wheel.

[alexander_busek]

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.

You are correct, of course.

Regards,

[sparklite2]

The hardtops were also called hardtop convertibles, which made no sense other than the openness they provided. The real hardtop convertible was the Ford Skyliner with its retractable storable steel top.