The answer is just... because it was something they could think of to do... right?
(DeLorean.)
ADDED: I'm told that there are some advantages to doors that open up. I'm not inclined to believe any of this, given that there are so very few cars built this way. If it's a good idea, why isn't it used more? I've got to conclude that it's just to be different. Anyway, what I'm told is that the doors take up less space and that they are less likely to open accidentally because gravity holds them down. And the DeLorean may have been designed to feed on the reputation of the the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, which is so much nicer than the DeLorean:
I like these curves so much better than the sharp angles on the DeLorean.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_300SL
Coke heads are plagiarists.
No, because it was the iconic feature of the Merceded Benz 300SL Gullwing Coup.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-1954-1957-Mercedes-Benz-300SL-Gullwing-Coupe.htm
It made fitting the flux capacitor that much easier.
Only a limited number of options when deciding on how to hinge a car door, after all. Only way I can think of that hasn't yet been tried is hinged at the bottom, like a pickup truck tailgate, and I'm not even certain about that, not being a car fanatic. Hinging on the bottom would be a stupid idea, anyway, unless the car was 10' high and you used the door as a stepladder; hmmm, maybe a future SUV design?
Because my 80's hairdo needed the extra head clearance!
Am I the only one who gets the urge to break out a Brillo pad and Ajax every time I see a Delorean? :-)
Cuz it's coool. Do you need any more reason that that?
Enough already.
the Mercedes-Benz 300SL is truly a work of art.I think these cars (gull wings)were made more for the appreciation of art/design rather than practicality/function...or is it that Italian design thing?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gull-wing_doors
Why isn't it used more? I can think of three reasons:
- Cost of making them work well - DeLoreans were not economy or family cars. Neither are the cars with scissor, butterfly, dihedral synchro-helix, or lifting canopy doors (see the Wikipedia article for what those are).
- Leaks and other water-related problems
- Tall people hitting their heads
For short rich people in dry climates, they're probably great.
I asked my son (10 yrs old) and he said, "Momie you don't understand, it's a guy thing, you don't have to have A reason to do anthing".... Okie dokie I said :-)
My only brush with fame happened when I was working as a cashier at a home improvement store in Raritan, N.J. Summer of 1988. John DeLorean bought a box of screws. He was driving a Mercedes jeep.
Wondering about funny-looking car doors is just about your speed, lady. Maybe you could thrown in some comments on Big Daddy Ed Roth - oh wait, that's a little too advanced for you.
You can crawl back into your box of wine any fucking time now...
"Why did they make the doors open like that?"
So the DeLorean could be animated by Terry Gilliam flapping its doors and flying away.
CR, there's nothing better than a DeLorean to get the smell of garlic off your hands!
Welcome back, dave™©! I was worried about you.
I owned a 1935 Studebaker once, and that had "suicide doors". The door hinges were in the back. It made sense then, because it was easier, and cooler, when you jumped out of it with your tommygun to mow down gangsters, or dave.
Who is it?
Its Dave man! Will you open up, I got the stuff with me!
Who?
Dave man, open up!
Dave?
Yeah Dave, come on man open up I think the cops saw me!
dave™©'s not here!
I have had a few patients in the past 20 years who complained and complained about me and our way of taking care of them, every step of the way.
At some point I would note, You know, if I go somewhere and feel that I'm getting bad service, and that the people are incompetent, I never go back. I'm curious, why do you continue to come when you've hated every visit?
Invariably, they will still demand to make future appointments. Never have figured that one out.
The mercedes 300sl--Wow what a car; one of the most beautiful machines ever made, imo. Thanks for posting it. I think one of the Lamborghini models (Kontach?) also had gull wing doors.
Its little davie! you're right--havent seen him for a while--and on a thread about cars--when do you get your learner's permit davie?
I had the pleasure of visiting the Mercedes-Benz museum outside of Stuttgart recently. I highly recommend it. Plan for at least one full day of touring.
They had a display of the 300SL that included its innovative tubular frame that was extremely light for racing. Since a tube is located where the lower half of a regular door would be located they designed the gull wing doors to give the occupants a decent chance of entering and exiting the car.
http://www.museum-mercedes-benz.com
Well, you know what they say about DeLoreans, it's the only car that will follow a white line. . . .
Though to be fair, DeLorean was, in fact, acquitted of all those charges.
And you will all be happy to note that you can buy a NEW DeLorean here. Some guy bought the entire stock of unused parts after the company went under and will assemble one from scratch. They also have a special power option to bump up the horsepower from the original.
There's one (or used to be, I haven't seen it in a while) a block away from my house. I think, as design goes, it's a classic. Like the Avanti, it's look will never be old.
The second thing I noticed about cars with "Gull-Wing Doors" was the machinations women went through while attempting to enter/exit these cars in a short skirt!
One day in Hollywood, the boy became a man!
No wonder there are so many papparazi!
Re the doors - if someone tries to carjack you, just pop the catch and the door will sock them in the jaw as it flies open. ;)
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