Climbing into your car through the driver’s side window may look cool if you’re a Duke boy or a NASCAR driver, but most of us really need opening doors. (Yes, I see you Jeep guys, “Or no doors!” we get it, it’s fun to take the doors off). And for most cars, this taken-for-granted feature is largely taken for granted engineering-wise. You put hinges at the front of the door, install a latch at the back, presto: a car door.
But there are other ways, as we all know. Specifically, billionaire doors (see below). You know, your gullwings, your scissors, your butterflies. They’re all pretty cool, and if I’m choosing, I think gullwings just slightly edge out scissors, because they really impart a “closing the hatch on a spaceship” vibe.
So, gullwings are the coolest for me, of those three. But are any of them THEE coolest? I say no!
My jam is sliding doors, like the BMW-Z1 getting DeMuro’d below. Doors that snick up and down like on Star Trek, but turned 90 degrees? Yes please. But the Z1 doesn’t have my favorite sliders. For them, we must go farther back in auto history, into an era and vehicle category one likely does not associate with cool doors.
I give you the GM clamshell tailgate and glass of 1971-1976, a truly fantastic bit of engineering that combines needless complexity with dubious utility, which is always a great combo.
How about you? What are your favorite doors? Maybe Dutch? See you in the comments!
Top graphic image: DepositPhotos.com
No votes for the GT40 horizontal guillotine doors?
The Sebring Sterling/Nova kit car.
My dad had the ’72 Olds wagon with the clamshell tailgate. That thing was a tank.
I’ve always been keen on mid-60s Lincolns for the suicide doors in back.
For looks gull wing for practicality sliding. I also admire the quad coupe / ext cabs. With the half suicide doors. Nice blend of looks and practical.
I was watching “F is for Family”, which is a cartoon series set in the 70s. They were shopping a GM wagon with the clamshell tail gate. One of the children proclaims, “This must be what the astronauts drive!” Gullwings are the best looking but normal doors are normal for a reason.
Gullwing doors are the best. Wildly unpractical and cool,doesn’t get much better than that.
Renault Avantime
I prefer doors that double as code brown handles. Nice and strong to hold onto when you’re a passenger for spirited drives.
What about the pocket doors on a Kaiser Darrin?
Copper Howard’s roadster in the Fallout series has forward sliding pocket doors that disappear into the front fender. Awesome design.
beat me by seconds!