Iconic Car Doors: From Seagull Wings to Suicide Doors

Most of us hop in our cars the same boring way: normal doors, front hinges, whatever. But some designers got...creative back in the day:

• The Seagull: Think old Mercedes sports cars – doors opening UP, not out. Useful? Meh. Iconic? Definitely.

• The Lambo Special: Scissors doors, basically made to let drivers reverse those beasts. Because those cars were basically blind backwards!

But the REAL weirdos? "Suicide Doors". Rear hinges, so they open backwards. Got popular before WWII, especially on fancy Lincolns. Why "suicide"? No clue, honestly:

• Theory 1: Accidental Death. The idea was that the wind could rip them open, and bye-bye backseat passenger. Sounds unlikely...

• Theory 2: Gangster Dumpster. Easier to kick your enemies out? Again, not really "suicide," is it?

• Theory 3: Curbside Crush. The most realistic one, but still kinda dumb. Like, watch where you're parking, people!

Where'd They Go?

Mostly died out, though Lincolns brought 'em back briefly in the '60s, and again just a few years ago. Only die-hard fans are Rolls-Royce, who still put them on sedans so rich folks can make a fancy exit. Kinda pointless on their convertibles though, right?

The Future is... Also Weird

Concept cars at shows LOVE suicide doors, especially those fancy electric ones. But some normal cars had mini versions, like the Honda Element. Made it easier to get in the back of those tiny things.

So, the mystery lives on! Just goes to show car designers will try ANYTHING to stand out!