Lincoln Continental brings back 'suicide doors'

CNN Business ^ | December 17, 2018 | Peter Valdes-Dapena

[2ndDivisionVet]

Lincoln is bringing back its iconic "suicide doors." A special limited-edition version of the big Lincoln Continental will have back doors that are hinged at the rear rather than the front.

The feature presented some engineering challenges, but backward-opening doors are something Lincoln designers have long wanted to include on a car, design director David Woodhouse said. The doors are closely associated with one of the brand's best-remembered models, the 1960s Lincoln Continental.

The 1961 Continental was a turning point in American automotive design. Many automakers were experimenting with new styles as trends shifted. After years of ever-increasing chrome trim and tailfins reaching jetliner heights, the Continental was striking in its purely horizontal simplicity.

"The 1961 Lincoln was truly a landmark car in an era of a lot of really significant styling changes," said John Kraman, a classic car market analyst with Mecum Auctions. "It really reset the bar."....

[2ndDivisionVet]

I search, you can ask the mods.

[jjotto]

True, but making a few dozen instant collector cars isn’t going to change that. This is a one-time build of less than 100 units.

[Colorado Doug]

Not the driver (impossible) but the back seat occupant.

Actually, back in the day, back when they picked up the name, the driver could easily go out because a number of cars had suicide doors in the front. I have driven many miles in a '41 Hupmobile with suicide doors in the front. I never felt that I was more likely to fall out but, if you did, you would be far more likely to get scooped into the running gear of the car. You would most likely get pulled under the rear tires rather than get thrown free. They did have a certain elegance getting in an out. It was quite unencumbered access. Very nice

[skr]

Perhaps there is more than one reason for the name. Either way, a painful way to go!