Now that you mention it, center opening rear doors are a charactistic of all
'40s Chrysler Corporation Sedans until the '49 models were introduced.
Paul
In a message dated 3/23/2004 9:00:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,
pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx writes:
>
>
> Some early Crown Imperials had suicide rear doors. My 50 crown does and
> I expect the same is true through through 54.
>
>
> RandalPark@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
> >That is correct. Doors that open in such a way that if they were ajar and
>the car was moving, that the wind could catch and open them, are in fact
>called suicide doors. I don't think anyone actually committed suicide in this
>way, but it could be said that opening the door while the car was in motion
>would be "like committing suicide". This was since the wind would pull the
>door off the car, and possibly the passenger along with it, if they hung onto
>the door handle. Lincolns and four door Thunderbirds in the '60s had a door
>ajar warning light for this reason.
> >
> >In the '30s, some cars had the front doors opening in this way while the
>rear ones were conventional. Were any '30s Chryslers or Imperials set up this
>way? I'll have to take a look in my old "70 Years of Chrysler" book.
> >
> >Paul
> >
> > In a message dated 3/22/2004 8:04:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, DavisADM
>writes:
> >
> >
> >
> >>Who says that suicide dorrs applies only to the front doors. So, yes,
>Lincolns and T-birds had suicide doors!
> >>
> >>
> >>In a message dated 03/22/2004 11:45:53 AM,
> >>imperial1971@xxxxxxxxx writes:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>The Engel-designed '64-'66 Imperials were never
> >>offered with suicide doors. And neither were the
> >>'61-'69 Lincolns. Lincoln (and Thunderbird for a few
> >>years) used a center-opening design, which is rather
> >>different than the "suicide" design, in which the
> >>front door opens from the FRONT.
> >>
> >>But, much like the misuse of "Kelsey Hayes" for the
> >>Motor Wheel wire wheels, the misuse of "suicide doors"
> >>has stuck.
> >>
> >>Elijah
> >>
> >>
> >
> >