Disappearing car door

[xbeakerx]

http://www.snotr.com/video/1309

[RC45]

I wonder what happened to the prototype Lincoln that was for sale on eBay some years ago - it was sold with both doors no longer functional.

I recall they wanted $25,000 for the car.

[husyk]

Shame never came to market, would hate to see how much that option would cost initially and to maintain.

[r2r]

Seems like one of those things that should have come to the market, but nobody wanted to invest time/money to develop it.

I find it interesting that after 100 years of automotive technology advances, car companies still use prehistoric door mechanisms.

[nthfinity]

that is VERY cool Pitty it remained a concept rather then production.

[RC45]

I can think of 100 reasons why the door, like the wheel works so well - the most important being simplicity

Those sliding doors have a slew of issues that if addressed would requirevthe complete redesign of cars as we know them.

Think of exhaust heat issues, added weight of complex sliding mechanisms, implication of mecanical/eletrical failure and system maintenance and repair costs - cool as he'll looking though.

[HeilSvenska]

Meh. I'll keep my swan doors, scissor doors, gullwings, and dihedral synchro-helix actuating apertures, thanks.

I always thought the doors were an integral part to the "character" of a car. To hide it like that is just unthinkable in my book.

[marcefer]

It's a revolutionary idea.
Which was the last big shocking idea developed by the big names in the auto industry? The folding metal roof?

[r2r]

Originally Posted by RC45 I can think of 100 reasons why the door, like the wheel works so well - the most important being simplicity Those sliding doors have a slew of issues that if addressed would requirevthe complete redesign of cars as we know them. Think of exhaust heat issues, added weight of complex sliding mechanisms, implication of mecanical/eletrical failure and system maintenance and repair costs - cool as he'll looking though.

You are completely correct about the simplicity, but is the modern car with electrical windows/lights/speaker/switches integrated doors the simplest solution!?

I look at the car as a solid form/ sculpture/ object, and to me the doors always seemed detached from that package.

This might not be it, but surely there must be a simpler and better solution to what we have now!

[e46drew]

still waaayyy better then after market "lambo doors"

[gobs3z]

Actually the only problem i see is how to prevent it from destroying an idiot trying to grab something while its closing and getting their hand chopped off. It would have to move a lot slower than it was in the video, like when you see minivan doors close electronically

[nthfinity]

koenigsegg Dihedral Helix whatever doors!

[HeilSvenska]

^Dihedral synchro-helix actuating doors.

[silentm]

yeah and once the electrical motor fails you're trapped in the car? man what a load of BS it even looks stupid imo ... just stick with the normal doors i think they are an important factor of how a car looks overall.

[79TA]

I like how they chose Lincoln Mk VIII's as demonstration vehicles. They're quite nice but still pretty cheap. I was considering one before I got my Trans Am.

I see no reason why one of the "over the top" automakers like Bentley wouldn't try such a set of doors.


Lastly, just because modern doors have hinges and a latch, does not mean that they haven't made some significant advances in design. The issues with water sealing and making functional windows fit are classic design studies.

For instance, the 2nd gen F-body was on the the first cars that didn't need a frame around the window glass. This was achieved by angling the glass inward so it would be forced up and in to the seal that was designed just for that.

Anyway, wonderfully simple (Jeep Wrangler doors) or flashy and complex, yay for doors.

I must say though, a Jeep with no doors at all is really a hoot.