Classic Cars

patman · 07-15-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dewitt

I'm sure someone on this forum can inform me why the doors on the classic Continental where called suicide doors. Thanks in advance.

Most car doors have the hinges on the front, so if the car is moving and the door is unlatched, the wind pushes the door closed. Suicide doors have the hinges on the back, and in the same situation the door would blow completely open, which is convenient if you're contemplating suicide.

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

The 196x Continental (think President Kennedy) had front doors that opened with hinges in the front, and back doors that were hinged at the rear...thus...suicide doors.

Lakesrider · 07-16-2009, 08:22 PM

They acquired the "suicide" nickname due to the fact that if the door was not fully closed and the occupant tried to open and reclose the door while the car was moving (which for some reason was once common practice), the rushing air would catch the door and pull it open violently, often pulling the person still holding the door handle out of the car.

dewitt · 07-17-2009, 07:16 AM

Thanks patman & lakerider for the info. I would love to own that car. Not only do I like the look, but I have people I would like to take for a ride in the back seat. My mother -in-law comes to my mind for some reason. ha ha

gtxrider · 07-17-2009, 10:17 AM

Lots of old cars had suicide doors in the rear. It seems to have gone out of fashion with the last being on the Continentals.

My dad had them on a '48 Plymouth.

angela4design · 07-17-2009, 08:02 PM

I just found out from a friend at the radio station...

Another Cruise Night will be at the Broken Spoke Saloon at Weirs Crossing. Bikes, Muscle Cars, Antiques and Classics - all will be welcomed. 6-8pm with prizes awarded, as well. Hopefully they will post more details.

And... aren't there suicide Steering Wheels, also? Or, is that just an after-market novelty? I think they're even illegal, right? I don't think I've ever seen one in person (maybe in movies or something?)

Lakesrider · 07-18-2009, 03:57 PM

I think there is a car show tonight from 5-8 or something like that. At the Performance place in Center Harbor. Except it is on RT3 heading north about a mile of the big intersection (3 and 25) in Meridith. On the left.

Piston · 07-19-2009, 05:52 AM

My wife and I were married at Castle in the Clouds 2 yrs ago and the General Manager we dealt with was involved with the Laconia Hot Rod Nationals, maybe that's why it was moved???

patman · 07-19-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piston

maybe that's why it was moved???

Yes, I had heard that connection also. I think it outgrew the Meadowbrook location, then it moved to Gunstock last year. Apparently the show area there had dirt roads, and the car owners weren't too keen on all the dust that got kicked up.

Rumor has it that they're trying to arrange flashlight drags at the Moultonboro airport. That'd be fun, but...I'm not sure they'll pull it off.

ACutAbove · 07-19-2009, 05:12 PM

Nice pics from the Castle show, even have some in there of my sisters cars, and a few other that I know.... ps... the yellow dz 302 camaro I got to drive it there... so I guess you could say that one was mine for the day...

trfour · 07-20-2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACutAbove

Nice pics from the Castle show, even have some in there of my sisters cars, and a few other that I know.... ps... the yellow dz 302 camaro I got to drive it there... so I guess you could say that one was mine for the day...

SOO cute, well now that we are being honest, one of the loves of my life was a 1958 Corvett. C/gas and she turned consistantly on the National record, at the time, 10.2 seconds.... "What A Sweetheart, she was"!!

.
T

mcdude · 07-22-2009, 09:59 AM

Laconia Main Street

1st Annual Classic Car Show

50 Years of Collectible Cars
1920’s ~ 1970’s

When: Saturday, August 1st ,

10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Main Street Parking Lot

To show your classic car at this event, or if interested in
Vendor space please call Tom Smith @ 603-707-1157

07-17-2009, 10:17 AM	#4
gtxrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Piscataway, NJ Posts: 1,030 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 24 Posts	suicide doors Lots of old cars had suicide doors in the rear. It seems to have gone out of fashion with the last being on the Continentals. My dad had them on a '48 Plymouth.

07-17-2009, 08:02 PM	#5
angela4design Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 353 Thanks: 45 Thanked 54 Times in 38 Posts	Another Cruise Night I just found out from a friend at the radio station... Another Cruise Night will be at the Broken Spoke Saloon at Weirs Crossing. Bikes, Muscle Cars, Antiques and Classics - all will be welcomed. 6-8pm with prizes awarded, as well. Hopefully they will post more details. And... aren't there suicide Steering Wheels, also? Or, is that just an after-market novelty? I think they're even illegal, right? I don't think I've ever seen one in person (maybe in movies or something?)

07-22-2009, 09:59 AM	#11
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,344 Thanks: 370 Thanked 1,033 Times in 480 Posts	Laconia Main Street 1st Annual Classic Car Show 50 Years of Collectible Cars 1920’s ~ 1970’s When: Saturday, August 1st , 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Main Street Parking Lot To show your classic car at this event, or if interested in Vendor space please call Tom Smith @ 603-707-1157 __________________

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07-16-2009, 08:22 PM	#2
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	They acquired the "suicide" nickname due to the fact that if the door was not fully closed and the occupant tried to open and reclose the door while the car was moving (which for some reason was once common practice), the rushing air would catch the door and pull it open violently, often pulling the person still holding the door handle out of the car.

07-17-2009, 07:16 AM	#3
dewitt Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks patman & lakerider for the info. I would love to own that car. Not only do I like the look, but I have people I would like to take for a ride in the back seat. My mother -in-law comes to my mind for some reason. ha ha

07-18-2009, 03:57 PM	#6
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	I think there is a car show tonight from 5-8 or something like that. At the Performance place in Center Harbor. Except it is on RT3 heading north about a mile of the big intersection (3 and 25) in Meridith. On the left.

07-19-2009, 05:52 AM	#7
Piston Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Upton, MA/Alton Bay Posts: 81 Thanks: 20 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	My wife and I were married at Castle in the Clouds 2 yrs ago and the General Manager we dealt with was involved with the Laconia Hot Rod Nationals, maybe that's why it was moved???

07-19-2009, 05:12 PM	#9
ACutAbove Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Holderness Posts: 219 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Nice pics from the Castle show, even have some in there of my sisters cars, and a few other that I know.... ps... the yellow dz 302 camaro I got to drive it there... so I guess you could say that one was mine for the day...