Which classic car has suicide doors?

The 1961–1969 Lincoln Continental is the classic car most famously associated with “suicide doors,” the rear-hinged doors that open from the center. Many earlier and mid-century models also featured them, including prewar Rolls-Royce limousines, the Citroën Traction Avant, the 1967–1971 Ford Thunderbird four-door, the BMW 501/502, and the Fiat 500 “Topolino.” Below, we explain what suicide doors are, why they became iconic, and which classic models wore them best.

What are “suicide doors,” and why the name?

“Suicide doors” is a colloquial term for rear-hinged doors. On most modern cars, doors are front-hinged and swing backward; suicide doors do the opposite, swinging forward from a hinge at the rear. The nickname dates to the early automobile era, reflecting concerns that rear-hinged doors could catch wind and swing open while moving, potentially causing passengers to fall out if not properly latched—a risk largely mitigated today by improved latches and interlocks. Luxury brands often prefer the gentler term “coach doors.”

The emblematic example: 1961–1969 Lincoln Continental

The fourth-generation Lincoln Continental (1961–1969) cemented the suicide-door look in American automotive culture. Both the sedans and convertibles used center-opening rear doors, creating a dramatic, formal profile with excellent rear-seat access. Designed under Elwood Engel, the car’s slab-sided modernist styling and unique door configuration made it a pop-culture staple and a coveted collector’s item. Well-preserved examples and convertibles, in particular, are highly prized at auctions and among marque specialists.

Other classic cars known for suicide doors

While the Lincoln Continental is the go-to answer, a number of notable classics featured rear-hinged doors—either at the rear (on four-doors) or up front (on two-doors and many prewar designs). The following list highlights widely recognized examples enthusiasts often cite.

• Rolls-Royce Phantom I/II and coachbuilt limousines (1920s–1930s): Many bodies were fitted with rear-hinged rear “coach doors,” a hallmark of formal luxury cars of the era.
• Citroën Traction Avant (1934–1957): Front doors were rear-hinged, combining forward-thinking unibody/FWD engineering with period door architecture.
• Ford Thunderbird four-door (1967–1971): The “suicide-door” T-Bird brought center-opening rear doors to a personal-luxury nameplate for a brief but memorable run.
• BMW 501/502 “Baroque Angel” (1952–1963): Front doors were rear-hinged on these elegant postwar German sedans.
• Fiat 500 “Topolino” (1936–1955): Early city cars often used rear-hinged front doors for packaging and ease of entry; the Topolino is a classic example.

These models illustrate how rear-hinged doors spanned luxury limousines, mainstream family sedans, and compact runabouts, reflecting style trends and engineering choices across decades and continents.

Why did suicide doors fade away?

By the late 1960s and 1970s, stricter safety expectations, evolving latch standards, and changing structural requirements (including stronger B-pillars for crash performance) pushed most automakers toward conventional front-hinged doors. While rear-hinged doors can meet safety regulations, consumer perception and manufacturing simplicity also favored the conventional approach. In later years, a few specialty and luxury cars revived the configuration—often with modern interlocks and marketing terms like “coach doors”—but these are generally not considered “classic” in the historical sense.

How to tell if a classic has suicide doors

If you’re evaluating a specific classic, a quick visual check and a glance at model-year details will usually confirm whether it has suicide doors. Here’s a simple approach enthusiasts use when inspecting cars in person or reviewing listings.

1. Look at the hinge line: If the hinge is at the rear edge of the door and the latch is toward the front, it’s a suicide door.
2. Check body style and year: Many prewar sedans and early postwar compacts used rear-hinged front doors; 1960s American luxury sedans (like the ’61–’69 Continental) often used rear-hinged rear doors.
3. Verify originality: Coachbuilt cars and long production runs can have variations; consult marque guides, period brochures, or trusted registries to confirm factory specification.

Applying these steps helps distinguish factory-correct configurations from later modifications and ensures you identify the exact door setup a given classic carried from new.

Bottom line

If you’re asked which classic car has suicide doors, the clearest single answer is the 1961–1969 Lincoln Continental. Beyond that icon, the feature appears across numerous notable classics—from prewar Rolls-Royce limousines to the Citroën Traction Avant, the 1967–1971 four-door Ford Thunderbird, the BMW 501/502, and the Fiat 500 Topolino—each illustrating how a distinctive door design became a lasting part of automotive lore.

Summary

The 1961–1969 Lincoln Continental is the most famous classic with suicide doors, complemented by a rich roster of others including coachbuilt Rolls-Royces, Citroën’s Traction Avant, the four-door 1967–1971 Ford Thunderbird, BMW’s 501/502, and Fiat’s Topolino. Rear-hinged doors were once common for style and access but waned with shifting safety norms, leaving a small but iconic field of classics that proudly wear the look.

What year did Thunderbird have suicide doors?

The Ford Thunderbird had suicide doors on its four-door Landau models from 1967 through 1971, as these were the only years the model featured this body style. The four-door, suicide-door configuration was a unique feature of the Thunderbird’s fifth generation, which ran for those five years.
 
Key facts: 

• Years: 1967-1971
• Body Style: Four-door Landau models
• Reason: To provide rear-seat access in a luxury sedan that blended personal luxury with a bold design.

What car has the suicide doors?

Cars with suicide doors are vehicles that have rear doors hinged at the back instead of the front, a design feature found on models like the Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mazda RX-8, and BMW i3. While the term “suicide door” reflects historical safety concerns, modern versions often include safety features, such as electronic locks, to prevent them from opening while the vehicle is in motion.
 
Here are some examples of cars that have featured suicide doors:
Luxury & Classic Models

• Rolls-Royce: Many Rolls-Royce models, including the Phantom, Dawn, and Wraith, use suicide doors. 
• Lincoln Continental: Known for its classic suicide doors, notably the 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition. 
• Cadillac Eldorado Brougham: A historical example of a luxury car with this door style. 
• Lancia Appia: Another classic model from the 1950s. 

Modern & Unique Designs

• BMW i3: . Opens in new tabThis electric vehicle features unique “coach doors” that are hinged at the rear. 
• Mazda RX-8: . Opens in new tabA well-known example from the early 2000s. 
• Saturn Ion Quad Coupe: . Opens in new tabAn earlier modern car that offered this design. 
• Honda Element: . Opens in new tabThis compact SUV also used this door style for easier access. 

Why “Suicide Doors”?
The term “suicide door” comes from an era when safety features were less advanced. There was a risk that if a rear-hinged door opened while the car was moving, it could act like a “beartrap,” and a passenger could be ejected. 
Modern Safety & Advantages

• Safety Features: Modern manufacturers have addressed these safety concerns by incorporating electronic locks that activate when the car is moving. 
• Spacious Access: The primary advantage is the improved entry and exit for rear passengers, as the doors open to create a wide-open space. 
• Aesthetics: The doors offer a classic and stylish appearance, often associated with high-end or classic vehicles. 

Which 1961 car has a unique suicide door design?

1961 Lincoln Continental 4 door convertible with suicide doors. In the late ’50’s and early ’60’s cars were all the rage and manufacturers were producing some of the most unique automobiles ever.

What classic cars came with suicide doors?

Classic cars with “suicide doors,” which open from the center of the car backwards, include the Lincoln Continental (1961–1969) and Ford Thunderbird (1967–1971), along with the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham (1956–1959). Other notable examples are the Rover P4 and the Sunbeam-Talbot 90. These doors were phased out from mass production in the mid-20th century due to safety concerns, as they posed a higher risk of passengers falling out, especially before the widespread adoption of seat belts.
 
Examples of Classic Cars with Suicide Doors

• Lincoln Continental (1961–1969): The four-door sedan and convertible versions are perhaps the most iconic American cars with this feature, famously used by President John F. Kennedy. 
• Ford Thunderbird (1967–1971): The fourth generation of the Thunderbird featured an optional four-door hardtop with center-hinged doors. 
• Cadillac Eldorado Brougham (1956–1959): This luxury sedan from the 1950s was another notable example of a four-door car equipped with suicide doors. 
• Rover P4: This British car model from the mid-20th century used rear-hinged doors for its rear passenger doors. 
• Sunbeam-Talbot 90 (1948–1957): Another British car that featured this design. 

Why They Are Called “Suicide Doors”

• The name comes from the danger of opening the doors while the car was in motion. 
• In earlier cars, which often lacked seat belts, an accidentally opened rear-hinged door could easily cause passengers to roll out of the vehicle. 

Decline in Popularity 

• Safety standards, particularly the introduction of seat belts and improved car frames, made front-hinged doors the safer and more practical standard.
• Manufacturers shifted their focus to passenger safety, and the risks associated with suicide doors led to their discontinuation in most mass-produced vehicles.