VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Suicide Doors

While I have been a frequent visitor to this site, this is my first post. Attached is a photo of Louis Chevrolet that was taken in either late 1934 or early 1935. Louis was working as a salesman at the Eastern Chevrolet dealership in Detroit. The dealership was owned by Ray M. Whyte (one of the original stockholders of the Detroit Lions football team).

I believe the car in the photo is a '35 coupe. Was this the only Chevrolet model to feature front opening doors?

Louie showing coupe to client

Thanks,
Billy
Jefferson, Luziana

Yes, it is a 1935 Master Deluxe....what a great picture.
Thank You

I am glad you liked the photo. More can be seen on my website.

So was the '35 the only model with suicide doors?

36 sedans had all 4 doors suicide style, and 37/38 had rears which were suicide.

1936 front doors were not of the suicide type....was used on 1935 Masters only as well was 1935 Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles, LaSalles and small Cadillacs.

Thank you 47Aero & Chevgene!

Gene,

Please define "small Caddilac."

Thanks,
Charlie

Small Cadillac means smaller than the big Cadillac.
In 1935 there were several series of Cadillacs al the way from 8 cylinder models with three diffeent wheel bases, a V 12 and V 16 with prices ranging from $2345 to $9050.

My Cadillac reply was/is not 100% corrrect.
The small 1935 Cadiallac still used the 1934 bodies just like Buick did. The "small" 1934 Caddy had a Fisher body and rear opening front doors EXCEPT for open models. The mid sized Caddy with the Standard Fleetwood body had front opening doors as did the Fleetwood special body.
The 1934 LaSalle had an odd Fleetwood body with front opeing doors and in 1935 used the Fisher Body with front opening doors.

In 1933 and 1934 Ford and Chrysler products as well as most independent makes had front opening front doors. GM Fisher was late in coming to the party and used this feature on the new 1935 rounded bodies that had the steel tops. Made a hurry-up change for 1936 and converted the body to rear opening doors.

My first car was a 1932 Plymouth with suicide doors. I learned, never open the door while going down the road!

That is why they called them suicide doors, it was suicide to open them going down the road at speed. I had a class mate in grade school who had scars all over his forehead because he opened the door and it jerked him right out of the car!

I have seen an add for an earlier Chevrolet coupe and its doors were of the "suicide" style. I do not remember the year. Mid to early 20s I think.

Must have been only the Australian 36 Chevy that had suicide front doors- I tried posting a picture of one, but I couldn't work out how to do it! My kids were riding in the back of my "37, when one decided to open the door while I was doing about 15 MPH. Luckily I had my arm out the window, and managed to close the door before it swung out too far (the driver's side rear door). And yes, they had seat belts on!!

1935 and 1936 Holden bodies had front opening front doors.

Back in the late 70s a neighbor gave me a 67 Lincoln while I had my daily driver 58 GMC torn down. There was a rope tying the back suicide doors shut. I pulled the rope off and checked the doors. Seemed to hold so just figured that it was to keep their 4 young kids from pulling the handle. I tuned up the car and took it out onto the dike road near my home town Coquille OR. That was one of the local spots the racers used to go because it was straight, flat, and fairly deserted. I got the car up to the speed it was just purring (70) and heard a big WHOOSH. The car immediately slowed down SIGNIFICANTLY as a 4' square air brake was deployed. As a testament to the strength of those hinges it did not bend them a bit. Turned out the latch springs were weak and would sometimes just let loose. After that I tied the doors down to the seat belt mounts on the floor so the back seat could be used somewhat.