Suicide doors...

[Mark McDonald <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think Mr. Essinger pretty much covers the topic of suicide doors . . .

Of course, there's always my 2 cents!  I have heard that the person most
responsible for today's American and European cars having doors hinged
at the front was Henry Ford, who put the hinges at the front on the
model T and was later copied by numerous manufacturers.  But I believe
his reasons had less to do with safety than with practicality and cost.

In fact, if I recall, there was a debate about this years ago, in the
pre-seatbelt days, some people arguing that your best chance of survival
in an wreck was to be "thrown free" or "thrown clear" of the accident.
So, for those people, the term "suicide doors" is probably not
appreciated.

If I missed this I'm sorry, but did Imperials ever have suicide doors?

Mark M



Essinger wrote:

>  Gentlemen:     In the true sense of the word, the term "suicide
> doors" refers to the fact that ALL doors were hinged at the back (they
> latch at the front).  Most cars were rid of the true four suicide
> doors in the early 1930s.  However, most manufacturers CHANGED the
> front doors to hinge at the front (latch at the rear) while keeping
> the rear doors hinged at the rear (latching at the front, or on the
> "B" pillar).  This is the case of all 1937 Chryslers, be they model C
> 14,15,16 or 17.  Try looking in the standard catalogue of Chrysler;
> they even have pictures with the doors open.   Thank you,   ne