They were so popular for many years then rear doors started to be front-hinged. Anyone know why?
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"suicide" doors
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Actually, the original use of the term, "suicide doors" applied to 2 door coupes and convertibles with rear hinged doors. Over the years, folks have applied the term to any rear hinged doors as well.
Rog'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop
Smithtown,NY
Recording Secretary, Long Island Studebaker Club
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Standardization to front hinged doors was done for conformity. Companies stopped daring to be different.American iron, real old school
With two tone paint, it sure is cool
Its got 8 cylinders and uses them all
With an overdrive that just won't stall
With a 4 barrel carb and dual exhausts
With 4.23 gears it can really get lost
Its got safety belts and I ain't scared
The brakes are good and the tires are fair.
Tried to sell her, but got no taker
I"ll just keep driving my Studebaker
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Originally posted by Commander Eddie View PostSo, is there any record of anyone being injured or killed due to a rear-hinged door coming open while the vehicle was in motion?John Clary
Greer, SC
SDC member since 1975
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A friend of mine, while he was a child, fell out of the rear door of a relative's 1947 Studebaker while it was moving. He was very lucky not to be hit by the rear tire.
When our 4 children were travelling with us, I installed Studebaker's child-proof rear door locks on our 1947 Champion. Technically that's not original, as Studebaker did not introduce them until 1948. (A lot of people think the first child-proof rear door locks were on the 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit --- once again, Stude was ahead of its time.)Bill Jarvis
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Originally posted by Noxnabaker View PostIf you're a gangster & wanna throw someone out of the car I reckon 'tis quite a better idea to have front-hanged doors so the throwedout one don't get caught in the door... just my opinion...Kerry. SDC Member #A012596W. ENCSDC member.
'51 Champion Business Coupe - (Tom's Car). Purchased 11/2012.
'40 Champion. sold 10/11. '63 Avanti R-1384. sold 12/10.
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Why does a '34 Ford get mentioned on a Studebaker forum as having front-opening front doors while '34 and '35 Studebakers (all body styles) which also have front-opening front doors are not mentioned?
'35 is the last year for Studebaker to utilize this style and is one of the reasons I targeted a '35 Commander as my latest Studebaker buy. The other two reasons are that I really like the '35 grille and '35 is the first year for hydraulic brakes.
I've had a couple of other front-opening front door cars (Cords) and I can testify that, while they look really cool, if they have rigid front seat frames, they are not all that comfortable to get into or out of for someone my size
Tom
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Story I heard was a cousin of mine (now age 68), as a tyke, opened the rear "suicide" door of the '49-'51 era Lincoln the family had and went rolling out down the hi-way. Got some road rash from what I understand. I don't know if Lincoln had rear door safety locks like Studebaker had as an accessory but seems like it would have been a good thing for that style of door for sure. Of course, nowadays some pickups and vans have rear hinged doors but they are designed so they cannot open separately from the front door being opened first.
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I believe the early 60's Lincoln's again had rear hinged rear doors and also those late 60s Tbirds also. I've never had a chance to look at one of those so don't know if there is a interlock on the rear doors or not, preventing them opening when the car is moving.
Jeff in ND
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In the mid-1950s, I was riding at speed in the back of a 1948 Dodge/Desoto when the door opened. It was a scary experience but I managed to stay within the car.
You can buy a brand new Rolls Royce with rear hinged doors.Gary L.
Wappinger, NY
SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer
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My childhood best friend's sister can testify a 1960s Lincoln suicide rear door will open while moving. Except for some road rash, she was uninjured. The door was never quite right afterwards.
Another friend's father said watching a woman in a skirt exit a car with rear hinged doors could be a rewarding experience.
JT
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