watching the star of Foyle's War get into his police Wolsey reminds me how easy entry and exit were in that era, of course, because the front doors were hinged on the centre pillar in those days and opened forwards. So much more comfortable, particularly for people with back problems.
I suppose that design would probably be a safety issue today. The only other later opening methods that have enhanced accessibility are, I reckon, gull wing flip-up and sliding doors.
Forgive my Sat night ramble!
Edited by Pugugly on 27/07/2008 at 00:13
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Just watching it as I type (slightly time lapsed) so much more sensible and stops your door becoming a sail in the wind. Guess they were stopped as the latches would be in the line of fire in a frontal collision.
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I used to know these as "suicide doors" (don't know where I got that from). I always thought it came from the fact that if one came open while travelling there is no way you would be able to close it again against the airflow.
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I have owned three cars with rear-hinged front doors, and been in many more.
I have never known such a door to come open on the move. But if one ever did, at any real speed, quite bad damage to the car would be very likely and physical risk to anyone sitting next to the door a possibility.
The front door keeps on such cars were often broken. Occasionally one saw bent bodywork that had resulted from such incidents.
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Picking up the suicide door comment - I see the Queen's new Roller has rear-hinged rear doors (just like the old FX3 & FX4 taxis). Strange when you think what could happen IF the door catches failed (which is the reason Edinburgh actually banned the old FX3/4 taxis and now insists that all taxis and mini cabs have other than rear hinged doors). HM rarely uses seatbelts too, so surely that increases the risk too.....
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I used to know these as "suicide doors" (don't know where I got that from).
From our friends at Wiki:
Disadvantages
Other than the disadvantage that gave this type of door its name, the door arrangement also has other disadvantages, and instils other negative perceptions.
While the vehicle is parked, such a door could hide an entering or exiting passenger from the view of passing cars. The result of the door being hit by another vehicle would be catastrophic since the door would be slammed shut onto the passenger,[11] although, it could otherwise spread the force of the colliding vehicle.
If, in an emergency, the user exits the vehicle whilst it is moving, the door will hit them upon exit.[6]
Another problem presented by conventionally hinged doors in front and suicide doors in the back is a passenger traffic conflict. It is almost impossible for passengers to exit from the front and rear seats simultaneously due to the limited space between the front edge of the rear door and the rear edge of the front door.
Cheers
Lee
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So much more comfortable particularly for people with back problems.
Having owned a 1936 Wolselely with that type of door I disagree. To close the door from inside you have to stretch further to reach the door pull, and the action of closing the door is awkward to say the least. Front hinged doors are much easier to use.
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I've owned a car with rear-hinged front doors and they are much easier to get in and out of. Also much more dignified for a lady wearing a dess.
I don't agree about the difficulty of shutting the door. Obviously a decent door has a leather strap, and the hinges are cambered so that the door is balanced and swings to at the lightest touch.
I've never understood the "suicide" aspect. Can anyone point to a single recorded incident of a suicide by this kind of door? Who would fancy jumping out and then being mangled in the gap between the bottom of the door and the road - much cleaner to roll out of a forward hinged door.
(Trains were different, because the doors swung right round, giving a clear exit)
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I've never understood the "suicide" aspect. Can anyone point to a single recorded incident of a suicide by this kind of door?
Suppose a light person, not belted in, were for any reason to operate the doorhandle on such a door when the car was doing, say, 70 or 80 mph. The slipstream would wrench the door wide open breaking any door keep and plucking the passenger out of the car, unless they sensibly let go of the handle. With a front hinged door the slipstream tends to keep it closed.
Probably means accidental suicide for the foolish or careless....
Edited by Lud on 28/07/2008 at 16:34
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Yes, I see the horrible potential for an accident, I just can't picture anyone actually choosing it.
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I said above that I had owned three cars with rear-hinged front doors. That was a mistake, because one of them was a late-thirties six-cylinder 1.5 litre Fiat, with a 'pillarless' semi-monocoque body. The rear doors were rear hinged and the front ones front hinged, with the latch plates on the floor and roof of the car. It was a good-looking arrangement but flexing or settling of the body had made the doors slightly rattly and creaky. Not that it mattered.
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