"Different" Doors.. Who had them first?

  • Thread starter Jedi2016
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J

Jedi2016

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Gullwing - I think I'm correct in saying the Mercedes-Benz 300SL was the first to have these. And we all know the DeLorean DMC-12 had them. Anything else ever use them?

Scissor doors - Most Lamborghinis have these (starting with the Countach, I believe), but were they the first?

There's also the "in-between" variety, somewhere in between a gullwing and scissor.. Like on the McLaren F1, McMerc SLR, and Ferrari Enzo. Was the F1 the first?

Just a matter of curiosity more than anything else.. hehe.
 
The really old Lincolns had suicide doors, but I'm sure there were cars before that that had em.
 
I think Lamborghini is pretty much only known as the first. There's a chance there were more before them, Lamborghini just gaining more fame than the rest.
 
McLaren F1GTR
I think Lamborghini is pretty much only known as the first. There's a chance there were more before them, Lamborghini just gaining more fame than the rest.
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No, the Lincoln Continental was the first. It had the suicide rear doors in 1962.

Lamborghini didn't post a gullwing until the '80's. Not to mention Mercedes was the first to the Gullwing.
 
But Lambo may have had the first "scissor" doors, on the Countach. What Lambo had gullwings?

I didn't mention suicide doors because they're not really "different", they're just backwards. :)
 
Jedi2016
I didn't mention suicide doors because they're not really "different", they're just backwards. :)
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Yeah, and weren't most early cars equipped with suicide doors?
 
While we're on this subject, does anyone else think its kind of odd that the Gallardo doesn't have the "scissor" doors???? I know its only been 3 cars from them to have it, and quite a few that didn't, but its kind of a trademark thing for them lately. Just looks odd seeing the doors open on a Gallardo like a normal car.

Hilg
 
Well, the design's a bit different.. I don't think the Gallardo lends itself to the scissor-doors the way the Murcielago does. Body shape and all. Plus, the Gallardo was supposed to be Lamborghini's "sensible" car, with a lot of (some say too much) input from Audi. The Top Gear review of the car was pretty thorough.. it's much more of a "normal" car than previous Lambos (but still a supercar in every sense of the word), and the doors are just one part of it.
 
Jedi2016
Well, the design's a bit different.. I don't think the Gallardo lends itself to the scissor-doors the way the Murcielago does. Body shape and all.
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It looks just like every Lambo has from the Countach on. They have that raked back front end, same rake on the windscreen, low slim side windows, and so on and so on. Yes, I know its the "budget" Lambo. But, like I said, it just seems silly to me to get rid of a design feature like that. It would be like Ferrari getting rid of the "gated shifter" on manual trans cars. Thats a feature that just fits a Ferrari, and everyone knows that. Everyone knows the look of the "Lambo" door. I mean, hell, the term "Lambo doors" is like Xerox and Kleenex now. If you tell someone your Civic has Lambo doors, they will know what you mean. So, even if its the "budget" car, I think its silly to get rid of it.

Hilg
 
The Gallardo and all of its predecessor prototypes (like the P140 "baby-Diablo") were never designed with scissor doors, in order to make the top-of-the-line-model more unique.
 
toyomatt84
No, the Lincoln Continental was the first. It had the suicide rear doors in 1962.

Lamborghini didn't post a gullwing until the '80's. Not to mention Mercedes was the first to the Gullwing.
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I was responding to the first post.

And I think there was a Lamborghini with Gullwings before the 1980's.
EDIT:
Yes, there was. It never made it into production but the 1967 Lamborghini TP200 Marzal featured gull wings.
marzal.jpg
 
Jedi2016
Looks like the bastard child of a DeLorean and a Pantera.. hehe. (both of which didn't show up until years later.. :))
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Not completly true on the Pantera not showing up until years later.
The Pantera was from 1971. But it was based on the Mangusta.
That was from 1967, just like the Marzal.
 
Freddie
The Gallardo and all of its predecessor prototypes (like the P140 "baby-Diablo") were never designed with scissor doors, in order to make the top-of-the-line-model more unique.
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Yes, I understand that. I still think its a silly thing to do though. Like I said, its a feature that many people associate with the name "Lamborghini" and now you don't have it. So, like I said before, I know some models didn't have it before, and the Gallardo isn't the first to not have them. I just think it should, thats all.

Hilg
 
Lots of cars in the '20s and '30s had suicide doors. The first gullwing I recollect is the Mercedes 300SL from the '50s.
 
Yes, there was. It never made it into production but the 1967 Lamborghini TP200 Marzal featured gull wings
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Well, the Marzal wasn't made, The Espada followed the Marzal Concept, but it didn't have gullwing doors. ( but it did have 4 seats and the same body style)
 
Isn't there something like the Koeniseg that has pop-out and roll-back doors? I can't think of a better way to describe them.
 
YUP!!

Koenigsegg-CC-005.jpg


These make the most sense to me. They get completely out of the passenger's / driver's way and also don't swing into the adjacent car or ceiling.
 
menglan
Well, the Marzal wasn't made, The Espada followed the Marzal Concept, but it didn't have gullwing doors. ( but it did have 4 seats and the same body style)
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Too bad the chrome seats didn't make the cut. 👎
 
The Lancia Stratos Prototype.
lanciastatosproto2ax.jpg

That black patch on the nose hinges forwards and the windshield opens upward. So you step in the nose, swing around and drop into the cockpit. I'd say that's pretty 'different'
 

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