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Not all doors are created equal. While many of us know only the standard car door (supercar owners aside), there have been some innovative (some might call them crazy) attempts over the years to switch things up – with varying degrees of success, we might add.

Manufacturers have often used non-standard doors to make their cars stand out from the crowd – and in many cases, it can be argued that the inventive designs are more ergonomic and practical.

So, why haven’t more non-standard doors caught on commercially? There’s no definitive answer to that question, but it’s likely to be down to manufacturing costs and safety reasons.

If that’s piqued your interest, look at some of the best classic cars with crazy doors. But before we get started, have you insured your classic car? Whether you have just purchased a new motor with regular or crazy doors, or your current policy is due for renewal, look no further than Lancaster.

We are specialists in arranging insurance for classic motors, as well as cover for vintage and other classic vehicles. Combining our wealth of experience and industry knowledge, we are able to quote for virtually every classic car available and offer discounts to classic car club members.

1. BMW Z1

We’ll kick things off with a car with doors so swish you’ll be left wondering why they aren’t the norm.

Like magic, the BMW Z1 doors slide down, disappearing into the car’s body, all at the press of a button. Just imagine, you don’t need to worry about dinging another car as you attempt to get out the Z1 having parked in a tight space. Plus, the doors can even be open and closed on the fly, if you wanted a more open-air feel as you’re driving.

Produced in limited numbers from 1989 to 1991, the Z1 was known for more than its magic sliding doors. It was one of the first BMWs to use a multi-link rear suspension. Plus, it has removable plastic body panels so that you can change the colour of the entire car by swapping them out.

2. Fiat 600

The 1955 Fiat 600 was noteworthy for two reasons: it formed the blueprint for the second generation "Nuova" (New) 500, launched two years later, and it had so-called suicide doors.

Hinged at the rear and opening outwards (the opposite direction compared to conventional doors), suicide doors were designed to allow easier access when getting in and out of the car. So, how did they get their unwelcome nickname?

Unfortunately, the doors were shown to have some serious safety issues, meaning passengers were put in greater danger compared to standard doors. 

That said, some manufacturers still deploy suicide doors in cars today, such as the Rolls-Royce Ghost which has a coach door (a nicer name for suicide doors) at the rear.

3. Mercedes 300SL

The 1954 Mercedes 300SL has become synonymous with its door design – so much so that it is commonly known as the ‘Gullwing’. It was given the nickname because it perfectly describes the Mercedes’ lift-up doors, a design element which allowed for the massive sill structures that give the car its strength.

The 300SL Roadster – which came after the Gullwing – had a more rigid body which meant that the fancy doors were no longer required, so Mercedes reverted to normal, easier-to-use doors.

However, the Gullwing, despite only being produced in limited numbers, was a big hit among the rich and famous at the time, from Clark Gable to Zsa Zsa Gabor.

4. Lamborghini Countach

The origins of ‘Lambo doors’ or scissor doors always make us chuckle. Legendary Italian designer Marcello Gandini created a beautiful car in the 1974 Lamborghini Countach but it came with a major design flaw: it allowed for zero rear visibility, so reversing the thing safely was going to be almost impossible. Not ideal for a car that expensive…

The solution was a door that lifted so the driver could lean out and see behind. The scissor door, hinging at the bottom of the windscreen pillar, might have only been an afterthought, but it was a thing of beauty – even if it’s quite amusing to see drivers having to lean out to park their precious cargo.

If you see a Countach owner at your next classic car meet, you might want to give him a helping hand when reversing!

5. Isetta

You could argue that a crazy door saved BMW from going into extinction. In the mid-1950s, BMW was on the brink of bankruptcy. Motorcycle production was on the decline, and luxury vehicles like the 503 and the 507 were so expensive to manufacture that BMW ended up making losses on them. So, to try and turn its fortunes around, BMW just set its sights on making a car that would sell in good numbers and make them money.

You could say BMW got lucky, having found the car that would help turn their fortunes back around at the 1954 Turin Car Show. At the show, an Italian maker of refrigerators and mini cars, Iso, was there with a three-wheeled beauty with a huge door (which looked a bit like a refrigerator door) in the front.

The BMW delegation saw something in the Iso Isetta and acquired the licensing rights and the production equipment immediately. It became the best-selling single-cylinder car in the world, selling 161,728.

Protect your investment with classic car insurance

If you’re lucky enough to get behind the wheel of a car with crazy doors – or any classic for that matter – you’re going to need specialist classic car insurance to protect your classic for the future.

Whatever model you end up buying, we can offer cover to match. Lancaster Insurance is the classic car insurance broker of choice for owners of 96,000 vehicles.

Like you, the team at Lancaster is passionate about classic motors and we want to help preserve them for the future.

Benefits of classic car insurance through us include:

• Up to 25% classic car club member discounts
• Cover for static shows
• Cover for historic rallies
• Salvage retention
• 90 days free EU cover
• Limited mileage discounts

You’ll also have 24-hour access to our claims line and UK call centre, so your case will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Get a quote today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.