Suicide Doors?

[53champion]

I was reading an article about the 49 Landcrusier and the picutres in the magazine showed the car with suicide doors on the back.

In a local auto sales magazine there was a 49 LandCrusier for sale without suicide doors it appears.

Were the cars available with the option for Suicide doors?

[Mark57]

All '47 - '52 Studebaker 4 door cars had "suicide doors" for the rear doors. I do not think there was an option to have it different for those cars.

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island </h5>

[doug]

no, suicide doors were installed.

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by 53champion

I was reading an article about the 49 Landcrusier and the picutres in the magazine showed the car with suicide doors on the back.

In a local auto sales magazine there was a 49 LandCrusier for sale without suicide doors it appears.

Were the cars available with the option for Suicide doors?

The only time the buyer had a choice of which way the rear doors opened on a Studebaker was in 1941 and 1942, and only on the Presidents and Commanders. (Confusingly), the model with the rear doors hinged on the B-pillar was called the Land Cruiser and used a 'B' designation for the body style. The suicide door counter part was called the Cruising Sedan, and had a 'W' body designation.



Craig

[53champion]

Thank you for your response's. This answered a question i had.

Is $2800 a good price for a 49 LandCrusier?

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by 53champion

Thank you for your response's. This answered a question i had.

Is $2800 a good price for a 49 LandCrusier?

IMHO, it would have to be quite a nice car for that much. On the other hand, that is not much to pay for a car that you like. Is the car complete, drivable, presentable?

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[53champion]

The car is about 110 Miles away so were going to call the owner and find out what state the car is in before we go have a look at the car, if the car is not running/driveable then we do not think that the car is worth it.

The ad states it was previously a 1 owner car and has western origins.

[Chris Pile]

FYI -
It is my understanding that when a 4 door car has doors opening normally in front and suicide style in the rear, that is referred to as "kissing doors".

Chris Pile
Midway Chapter SDC
The Studebaker Special

[buddymander]

I think when you have two together it's called a "suicide pact".

[monomaniac]

Suicide doors is an old term, likely known all over North America.
"Kissing doors" -- never heard that one before. Certainly not common.

Lovely photo Craig.

[4961Studebaker]

Never heard the kissing door term, And I alway's thought they were suicide cause if you parked on the street and stepped out the door as another car clipped the door you were going to get smashed/killed.

Chop Stu

[studegary]

The way that I remember it is that the front opening doors are called suicide doors is because if they opened when the car was moving at a good clip, you would be pulled out of the car if you instinctively grabbed for the door to close it. A door that opens from the rear is held shut by the air flow when you drive along.
I can remember being in the back seat of a 1948 Dodge when the rear door came open at speed. Not a fun experience.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[raprice]

Gary is absolutely correct. Only the front doors (if they're hinged at the B pillar) are suicide doors.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

[Jerry Forrester]

You are all wrong. The reason they are called suicide doors is the same reason people say "Studebaker? You can't tell wheather them thangs are a coming or a going". No reason for it what-so-ever.

Jerry Forrester
Douglasville, Georgia
Be sure to check out my eBay store
http://stores.ebay.com/CHROME-CHROME-CHROME_ and my EZ33 store http://tinyurl.com/2g2j88
for your shiny Stude stuff


More pix of Leo the '55 Pres HT here...http://tinyurl.com/2gj6cu

[bams50]

quote:Originally posted by Chris Pile

FYI -
It is my understanding that when a 4 door car has doors opening normally in front and suicide style in the rear, that is referred to as "kissing doors".

Kissing doors?!? That's a new one that made me laugh out loud I'll have to share that one[^]

I've also heard them called "butterfly doors"... as Jerry said, no reason I can see.



Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

"Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions"- 311

"With your Lark you're on your own, free as a bird, alive as a Lark. You've suddenly discovered that happiness is a thing called Larking!"