Why are chrysler doors called "Suiside Doors"?

Question

Why are chrysler doors called "Suiside Doors"?

Answer 1

Suicide doors are automobile doors that are hinged on the edges closer to the back of the vehicle. The name refers to the danger of such a door being hit by another vehicle while parked at the curb, which would be catastrophic if a passenger happened to be entering or exiting the car at the time (although some erroneously claim it refers to an increased danger of the door falling open while at speed).



Such doors were commonly seen on cars manufactured in the first half of the 20th century. Post-World War II examples are almost universally the rear doors of four-door cars.

Answer 2

These are doors hinged at the rear. In automotive parlance the cars are said to have 'rear-rear' and 'front-front' - rear hinged rear doors and front hinged front doors. They got the 'suicide' name from the fact that in the teens and the '20s the car doors were latched with a simple hook and eye type system. If the car hit a good bump the body would flex and the latch might pop and the door swing open. That problem didn't last all that long and later rear-hinged rear door cars didn't experience any problems. Our '51 Lincoln Cosmopolitan has rear-hinged rear doors with a modern style rotary lock (first used on that year Lincoln). It's so much easier to enter and exit the car with these doors.

Answer 3

Suicide doors used to come on several models of older cars. They are called that because they opened behind the individual getting out of the vehicle. They caught the suicide nickname because if the occupant got out on the street side, another car could come up behind and hit the door, causing it to swing shut and chop the exiting occupant into pieces. Todays doors open forward so if another car hits the door from behind, it swings away from the occupant.

Answer 4

Because they open up the other way, so when opened up on the traffic-side, the risk of them getting hit by a passing vehicle and smooshing you as you stand in the doorway, is increased.

Answer 5

they werer called that because they opend backwards making it easier to jump from the car