So why were "Suicide" doors used by the auto manufactures?

[unclescott58]

I don't think that's at all fair to Art.

He has a wealth of knowledge, both about the history of the hobby AND automotive history in general, and he's willing to take the time to share it. Some people like to have more detail available, and Art often fills in the blanks and explains things in more depth.

It doesn't have anything to do with "proving how much you know".

He's just generously trying to help foster understanding of the whys and hows, for modelers interested in going a little beyond the simple what.

I would think an educator would grasp this.

The little smiley face with the tongue sticking out didn't tell you I was joking around a bit? I respect Art. He is a great source of knowledge. Though I thought that his last posting was on the little too much information side for the level of decision we were having here. And a little boring. But, don't ever get the idea I have low respect for Art. But he's a big boy, and I'm sure he can take a little playful criticism. And like myself and others, he is not perfect. Or even correct 100% of the time. (In his case maybe 99%.)

[Greg Myers]

R.Scott I think you need to slow down and smell the roses. 

[Art Anderson]

The little smiley face with the tongue sticking out didn't tell you I was joking around a bit? I respect Art. He is a great source of knowledge. Though I thought that his last posting was on the little too much information side for the level of decision we were having here. And a little boring. But, don't ever get the idea I have low respect for Art. But he's a big boy, and I'm sure he can take a little playful criticism. And like myself and others, he is not perfect. Or even correct 100% of the time. (In his case maybe 99%.)

I plead guilty then, but sometimes, it's just not something that can be told in a 21st Century sound-bite phrase.  Sorry!

[unclescott58]

I plead guilty then, but sometimes, it's just not something that can be told in a 21st Century sound-bite phrase.  Sorry!

What are sorry about. You've done nothing to be sorry for.

Edited February 28, 2016 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

R.Scott I think you need to slow down and smell the roses. 

Despite the warm day we had today, no roses bloomed. Any other suggestions on what I should smell instead? On second thought, maybe shouldn't be that!  (I hope this lightens things up a bit.)

[Greg Myers]

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning.  

[Greg Myers]

What does this have to do with the topic?

FARM. State Farm.  

[Harry P.]

Huh?

[unclescott58]

Huh?

Harry, the State Farm reference goes back to one of my misspelling. A few posts back I misspelled the word neither as neighther. Which reminded several here of the word neighbor. Which then led to relating it to State Farm's slogan, "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there."

Just goes to prove how perfect I am. And that's why I sometimes cringe when kids ask how to spell something at work. I sometimes joke with the kids at work that I spell cat, K-A-T-T. With the exception of names, I'm really not a bad speller. Ten again....

[Brian Austin]

Hi guys, I just signed up to this forum and thought I could help this discussion a little.

There's a wealth of automotive texts available online dating back to the early days of motoring.  This book, scanned as part of Google's book search program, discusses the design of automobile and truck bodies as of the early 1920s.

There is a section on the design of door hinges (there's more to them than you might think), and some comment on their placement:

"...The most used method used is to hang all four doors at the front.  The next method, and really the best one, is to hinge the front doors at the front and the rear doors at the rear.  Hinging the rear door at the rear gives a much better opening to get through and offers some protection from the rear fenders." (P.63).

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015002942632;view=1up;seq=67

The principles of automobile body design, covering the fundamentals of open and closed passenger body design, (1922). 

As a side note, this volume also discusses various body types.  Some such as the coupe are familiar, while others have passed into obscurity.  

[Art Anderson]

Brian, also, doors hinged to the rear were a carryover from closed body horse drawn carriages--and many traditions that existed in horse & buggy days lasted for years with the automobile.

Art

[unclescott58]

Brian, also, doors hinged to the rear were a carryover from closed body horse drawn carriages--and many traditions that existed in horse & buggy days lasted for years with the automobile.

Art

Art, doors on horse drawn carriages also had doors the other way. I still say it was done in what ever way the builder or designer felt like doing.

[Howard Cohen]

Simple...so you could get in and out of the car  

[Greg Myers]

Ever hear of "the angle of the dangle" ? What I've always heard was the hing on the angled side wouldn't allow the door to open properly. 

Cool,but not too practical. 

Edited March 8, 2016 by Greg Myers

[MGL]

I have nothing of value to contribute to this discussion and it will in no way help me to build better models but this has become one of my favorite threads to read. The information here has been informative and enlightening and now I want to build something with functioning suicide doors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Greg Myers]

The beauty of this board. 

[Edsel-Dan]

Thunderbird also used the Suicide Hinged rear doors

on the 4dr sedans they did from 67 through at least 70

So they carried over at least one year After Lincoln stopped.

Or did Lincoln still offer them in 70?

 

I KNOW the 70 T-Bird did, I built a replica of one for a Car Club member

a few years ago

LONG Before Model King had the 71 re-issued!!!

[lordairgtar]

 

Speaking of teaching. What was the point the above entry Art? Ask a person the time. And they tell you how to build a watch. Despite the one or two mistakes you may have made in other posts in in this thread. We don't doubt your intelligence in automotive matters. So you don't need to put me to sleep proving how much you know.

 

I'm the opposite. I want to read everything on the subject, especially that of anything relating to the automobile. Art does not have to prove anything about his auto history knowledge. Read the words...or not. You can pass over the posts from anyone if you think they may use too many words. I myself love the discussions that happen here, and I know that when I see a response from Art, I might learn something. At 61 years of age, I ain't stopped learnin'.

[unclescott58]

I'm the opposite. I want to read everything on the subject, especially that of anything relating to the automobile. Art does not have to prove anything about his auto history knowledge. Read the words...or not. You can pass over the posts from anyone if you think they may use too many words. I myself love the discussions that happen here, and I know that when I see a response from Art, I might learn something. At 61 years of age, I ain't stopped learnin'.

Man I got to be careful about joking around on here! Come on guys, I thought the emoji gave way the idea I was trying to get at.

And being in the field of education, I hope people always continue learning new things. And your right about Art. I've stated that many times in my comments in different threads here. In fact, recently in the review section of truck kits here, I specifically asked Art for information on the history of AMT's '23 T delivery van. I figured if anybody would know the answer, it would be Art. Sad to say, Art did not know what I was looking for. But, the odds were good, if anybody would know the answer, it would be Art.

So, lighten up guys! Give me a brake on this one. Okay?

[unclescott58]

Thunderbird also used the Suicide Hinged rear doors

on the 4dr sedans they did from 67 through at least 70

So they carried over at least one year After Lincoln stopped.

Or did Lincoln still offer them in 70?

 

I KNOW the 70 T-Bird did, I built a replica of one for a Car Club member

a few years ago

LONG Before Model King had the 71 re-issued!!!

Lincoln had them in the post-war era from 1946 - 1951. And again from 1961 - 1969. All four-door Thunderbirds had them. And they were offered from 1967 - 1971. Two years passed Lincoln's last use of them.