Back door

The name reflects the increased risk that the door will break the headwind if you unlock the lock while driving. The problem arises while driving at high speed: even if the door is slightly open, it will start pumping air like a sail and, accordingly, may receive damage from the applied air resistance force.

In an ordinary car, when the door is opened, the pressure of the outside air flow will be significantly greater than the pressure in the cabin. The differential pressure will keep the door in the closed position, even if the front air ventilation is open and all windows are closed. With rear doors, differential pressure, on the contrary, will keep the door open. The danger becomes even more serious if the passenger is not wearing a seat belt and is absolutely critical when the car enters the turn. Centrifugal force along with low external air pressure will open and unlock the door and the passenger can be thrown out of the car. In reality, all this is unlikely, since the locks and latches of the rear curtain doors are made to withstand loads that are much larger than those of ordinary samples.

Most modern cars with rear doors have front doors that overlap the rear doors so that the latter cannot open until the front door is opened (double doors). Illustrative examples include the sports coupe Mazda RX-8 and Honda Element . Another safe mechanism is a lock that prevents the rear doors from opening until the car is in a fixed position. Such a lock is used in Rolls-Royce Phantom and London taxis. Using this electronic mechanism, doors can open independently of each other (do not overlap).

Some believe that the name comes from the fact that if in an unforeseen situation a passenger leaves the car while driving, the door will knock them out. Others believe that the name comes from the fragility inherent in body structure. The fact is that during a heavy rear collision, the lead car tends to fold (like an accordion) at its weak point. It is believed that the “suicide doors” have a weak point on their front edge right in front of the passengers, and not behind them, as in ordinary doors. This assumption is based on a small number of supporting structures in front of the door, so it is necessary only for closing the door and is not intended to keep the weight of the doors on hinges.

Due to negative connotations, the term “suicide door” is not used in the promotional literature of the major automakers. Preference is given to the names: “back door”, “carriage door” ( Rolls-Royce ) and “free style door” ( Mazda ). Nevertheless, the expression “suicide door” is familiar to many native speakers of English and is often openly used in the custom-made car trade.

The rear doors of the rear doors were not unusual on automobiles produced in the first half of the 20th century. They were especially popular in the gangster era of the 1930s — presumably because “It is much easier to push someone out with the door held by the wind,” as stated by Hemmings Motor News Editor Dave Brownell.

Examples after the Second World War are almost everywhere the rear doors of 4-door cars. The most famous use of rear doors on post-war cars was the Lincoln Continental sedan of 1961-1969. and a 4-door convertible of the same model 1961-1967. (the last 4-door convertible , made in the United States before the 4-door Jeep Wrangler in 2007) Many people are familiar with the 1961 Lincoln 74A convertible as the SS-100-X , as it was driven by President Kennedy . when he was killed. An example of this model can often be seen in episodes of the TV show “ Green spaces ”, since the car was purchased by the main character Oliver Douglas . Since the 4-door Lincoln convertible did not have a center pillar, the glass of the rear doors was overlapped with front glass with an emphasis on the hermetic trim. Before the back door opened, its window was moved by the electric drive a few inches, neutralizing the ceiling. This meant that when the battery was low, the only way to get out of the rear seats was to climb over the front.

For some time, independently openable rear doors (double doors) were installed on a Ford Thunderbird 4-door sedan from 1967 to 1971. The 1971 model was the last American production car with rear doors behind it. After the security requirements began to prevent their use. Recently, the rear rear doors, which cannot be opened before the front doors are opened, have appeared on a variety of cars, including cars with an extended (double) cabin: the 4-door Saturn Ion coupe, Honda Element , Toyota FJ Cruiser and Mazda RX- 8 In 2003, independent double doors reappeared on the new Rolls-Royce Phantom . Officially introduced in 2006, the Spyker D12 also has hinged doors. The four - seater soft-top Rolls-Royce Phantom coupe-cabriolet at the base of the 100EX exhibition vehicle has front rear doors.

Rear rear welded passenger doors have become a permanent feature of hired vehicles and carts in London. Nevertheless, with the replacement of the Austin FX4 with the new TX models, the usual ones were used instead of the stern doors.

Rear doors are used in the concept car Carbon Motors E7 , Made specifically for the police. It has rear hinged doors to make it easier for employees to board and drop off detainees in handcuffs from the backseat.

Rear doors of doors also become quite popular among people with limited mobility, as they have a positive effect on their independence. Companies like Scissor Doors Inc. create specific kits for cars, including those with remote control, thereby facilitating the lives of people with disabilities.

Opel / Vauxhall Meriva 2010 has rear doors, despite their special design and security problems.

• Rear doors make entry and exit of the machine much easier. The passenger can enter in a natural way by entering the car and turning to sit down; and get out, stepping away from the car.
• Rear curtain doors (especially with front doors hinged at the front) allow a person in the front seat, such as a chauffeur, to step out and reach the rear door handle to open it for the passenger with less effort. Austin FX4 taxi drivers had the opportunity to reach the rear door handle through the driver's window without leaving the car.

• Due to the rather limited opening between the front edge of the rear door and the rear edge of the front in the scheme with double doors, quite difficult conditions are created for passengers to disembark from the front and rear seats at the same time.
• If the passenger gets out of the car while driving, the door will hit him at the exit.
• Despite the fact that the latch lock is usually guaranteed to keep the door securely closed, the human factor can work. Consumer Reports in 1969 said that the door in the Subaru 360 they were testing opened up against the wind when the car was traveling with a door that was not completely closed.

Here is a list of some cars with rear doors:

• Bentley state limousine
• Citroën 2CV - (Early Models)
• Fiat 500 (1957-69)
• Ford Thunderbird (1967-1971) - 4-door models
• Honda Element - Rear welded rear door
• Lincoln Continental (1961–1969) - 4-door sedans, (1961–1967) - 4-door convertibles
• Mazda RX-8 (2004 - present) - Rear curtain rear door
• MINI Clubman - One tailgate half door on the back
• Opel Meriva (2010 - present) - Rear curtain rear doors
• Rolls-Royce Phantom (all generations)
• Spyker d12
• Toyota FJ Cruiser - Rear End Doors
• ZAZ-965
• BMW i3

• Lambo doors
• Butterfly Wing Doors
• Doors like "Gullwing"
• Overhead doors
• Sliding doors
• Car door