Origin of suicide doors nickname.

[Pewter'01SS]

What it the origin of the nickname for suicide doors. I've asked alot of older gearheads and nobody seems to have ever heard an explaination. Just curious.

['67'cuda]

i heard that they where really easy to open at when you where driving down the road so i guess it got the name because only people who wanted to commit suicide bought them

[xyfalconsrock]

its the simple reason that they open backwards

[Pewter'01SS]

Originally Posted by '67'cuda

i heard that they where really easy to open at when you where driving down the road so i guess it got the name because only people who wanted to commit suicide bought them

So if the door isn't closed all the way, it could get ripped open by the wind while you are going down the road and you could fall out, OK... I could see that.

[American Thunder]

Here is a good explanation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_doors

[BleedDodge]

I read somewhere that it was because in crashes the doors would open easily and you would fly out like nothing, and you'd probably die. To drive in a car with these kind of doors was like being a suicide case, so to speak.

[Musclecarclub]

Good explaination. Definitely viewed as "higher risk" which is why modern cars call them anything (demi-doors, rear access doors, etc.) other than suicide doors. Also, the modern ones can't open without the front doors being open.

[slothboy]

I Think The Term Suicide Doors Was Just One Of Those Names That Was Caught On By Some Tom Dick Or Hairy Because They Opened Backwards.