I was just wondering if any here knows why they are called suicide doors? I have heard a few reasons and was just wondering what you all thought.

The reason I ask is because I was talking to my nephew about a car we say and told him it had Suicide Doors and he asked me why they called them that.

not sure why they are called that. all i know is that the latches are on the same pillar.

They are called suicide doors because if you were to jump out of the moving car, the door would hit you and you would die.

Originally posted by 360Modena1117
They are called suicide doors because if you were to jump out of the moving car, the door would hit you and you would die.

Are you sure about that? No offense, but that just sounds stupid.

Thats what i heard. I agree it does sound pretty stupid.

because they're backwards... and if they start to open while you are driving at speed and you grab it to close it... it'll pull you right out of the car

:confused: that dosnt sound too fun... and what about a seat belt?! :p

Suicide doors blowing open - it happened to Consumer Reports when they test drove the Subaru 360 in 1969, of course anybody with half a brain is smart enough to know not to open a rear hinged door at 40mph!
My own 360 bares a scar on the passenger side where the door blew open and banged up against the body, it's never happened while I've owned the car though.

I was just wondering if any here knows why they are called suicide doors? I have heard a few reasons and was just wondering what you all thought.

The reason I ask is because I was talking to my nephew about a car we say and told him it had Suicide Doors and he asked me why they called them that.

if the door would open when one id driving, the door sometimes would tear off the hinges amd go flying. If someone was holding on to the door or leaning up against the door, bye bye. this was a time before seat belts and if one has hold of the handle, with their seat belt on, something has to give when it flys open.

if the door would open when one id driving, the door sometimes would tear off the hinges amd go flying. If someone was holding on to the door or leaning up against the door, bye bye. this was a time before seat belts and if one has hold of the handle, with their seat belt on, something has to give when it flys open.
That was the main reason, but they also got their grim name b/c they were often used by gangsters as something to hold onto or protection when firing out the back of the car, which was often considered suicide.