suicide doors

 

Midway Mike called this wreck a "gangster car" -- maybe because of the suicide doors.  The term "suicide doors" refers to the rear-hinged door configuration on vehicles, the theory being that anyone inside was on a suicide mission because of the design. The accidental opening of such doors meant that there was a greater risk of falling out of the vehicle compared to front-hinged doors, where airflow pushed the doors closed rather than opening them further. Suicide doors were especially popular with mobsters in the 1930s, supposedly due to the ease of pushing passengers out of moving vehicles. This heap might be a 1938 Buick which puts it somewhat out of the gangster era.  Maybe Mike confused gangsters with bootleggers -- might have been more appropriate for the county.

 

Midway, Texas

1.25.2014