Growing up in 80's it was all about the Coupes nobody even considered 4 doors, but I almost think it was a herd mentality....nothing wrong with more doors, here's a few of mine.
I get it. I’d rather have a 2 door but I can’t afford them. Here’s a couple more-doors I’ve had and really enjoyed. I regret selling the 39 but I had no choice.
Bathtub Nashes and step-down Hudsons are definitely on my list of 4 door sedan designs that I actually like. 49-51 Chevy Fleetlines would also qualify.
Hello, Not necessarily a new thing, but for simplicity of running around with grand kids sparked the turn around to 4 door access as your own family circumstances developed. Our son arrived and we only had two person cars. The 327 powered sedan delivery was not set up for a new baby, let alone a safety car seat positioning anywhere handy and safe. So, that was the end of that era. But in keeping with the two door styling, and little money left over, we bought a nice low mileage, two door station wagon with some cool design characteristic vs what was available at cost on the market at the time. the 4 door station wagons were not so nice and even old 4 doors were clunky to say the least. As time moved forward, we learned lesson after lesson, as young parents. Access to the child safety seat was mandatory. So, turning around or pulling the seat forward to have access to an emergency in the back seat was a hassle. But, time after time, those incidents and actions moved us to buy a 4 door station wagon as our next vehicle. Now, easy access to the safety seat and entering/exiting was easier for everyone concerned. Jnaki Going up to when our granddaughter was now the center of attention provided us with a new outlook on parenting and grand parenting. Our old grandparent lower backs always got a workout with a spry, active toddler with our new granddaughter. Constant pick ups and placing in the far reaching car seat of a two door sporty sedan was cool, but not accessible for us. So, a larger 4 door station wagon was purchased as per her parents request. Actually, a 4 door station wagon was stylish enough and comfortable enough to do everything two door could do or showcase. So, our tired old backs took less of a beating each time an entry or exit was performed. But, during the later years of elementary, to junior high school and high school, we thought of still getting the next step up in 4 doors to make it easier yet for entry and exits. An old 40 Ford 4 door sedan with an SBC motor and A/C. It had the built in front opening doors for easier access to the rear seat areas. Now, it was not going to be open the rear door and walk around the wide opening door for access to the rear seat. Although the thought of front opening door is always looked upon with safety issues, they can be adjusted and safe. Jnaki We were ready to give up our 4 door station wagon for the newly selected 4 door 40 Ford sedan. And we were on our way to the purchase lot. But, by the time we got there, it had just sold and rolled off of the lot. Also, on our way home, we stopped at our granddaughter’s house and also got the notice that her mom and dad would like us to have our bigger 4 door station wagon as the main source of our granddaughter's transportation means. Newish 4 door station wagon versus and old hot rod car service was not for their daughter. Boooo! Perhaps, a custom, 1959 Oldsmobile 4 door station wagon Nomad? YRMV
I have converted 4 4dr cars to 2 doors, including a station wagon, I also like station wagons but 2 dr wagon are a pain to use when you actually use them as wagon, crawling inside to retrieve the stuff that slid forward is just a giant pain. The problem is that most 4dr have a more bulkier roof than a 2dr, usualy 2drs are more streamlined than 4drs, but I feel that when a 4dr roof is designed almost identical to a 2dr roof it's not as disturbing to have a 4dr.
My 4 door. Wasn't looking for a 4 door, but couldn't find a 2 door MoPar I could afford, so I settled for this I found in NJ that need much tender love and care. Lot of my buddies give me a hard time about ",that damed 4 door. Owned for over 20 years, still
I’m 26 and for me it’s mostly about the cost. I wanted a 2 door, or even a 4 door hardtop 57 chevy, but at 19 I found my 4 dr sedan for $1500 and it has bone dry floors. Comparatively, I was looking at a $1500 57 150 2 door at the time for the exact same price, but it needed a frame, and the bottom 6 inches of the body. Oh, and it was a bare shell. My 4 door was complete. Of course I’d rather have a 2 door, or a 4 door sedan (almost bought a survivor 70s drag car ‘57 4drht but the paperwork was fishy) but I would never have been able to afford a buildable 2 door tri five at 19 yrs old unless I bought a 4 door. Guys are asking 5 figures just for a buildable shell. My whole car including all parts is going to be well under that by the time it’s finished…
It's fairly easy to make your car into a 2 door sedan if you decide you want to do that, I've done a bunch of them, including my own '57. If you get the rest of it done and at some point you decide you want to do it, let me know, I have extra donor car B pillars and doors and stuff that would work.
Comparing 2drs to 4drs is similar to a fireman talking to a policeman…….2 guys who both wanted to be fireman.
All opinions!! I will take a four door SEDAN over a two door SEDAN any day. A two door HARDTOP is another story. Ben
Opinions will vary on this topic and no one is wrong. Depends on your perspective. Growing up I would not have wanted a 4 door..2 door all the way. But most of the 2 doors are a bit more spendy and are usually are tougher to come by in nice shape. 4 doors also haul more stuff. I want to find a nice clean 4 door to cruise with my family. I want something that I can use to get my son into old cars without having to embark on a big rebuild when I can start off with something more easily obtainable. Basically I can appreciate both types of cars. Basically my train of thought is , whatever floats your boat..... we need to get as many people into the hobby as possible so that parts continue to be produced and the value of our vehicles stay consistent. I also welcome more doors because it is nice to have variety in the old car hobby. Often times we run into the issue of cars looking the same or following a common trend. Nice to see a little variety from time to time.
As someone who has had 11 different 63-64 caddies I always thought the two door coupes were a little weird looking (that doesn't mean I don't like them) because the trunk lid is about as long as the hood and the roof, I really like the vert and the four window four door sedan for its proportions myself followed by the commercial cars (hearse limo exc). Ironically my favorite caddy out of the ones I've owned was the least liked body style which was a 63 six window sedan that I think had every option you could get in 1963 on it, it was by far the nicest driving car and yet ironically worth the least at the time I sold it back in 2005 ish. Regardless all were great cars and the second gen 390 and 429 were a great engine family that gets no Love by the Cadillac people.
It is the usefulness of the wagon that sold me on them. When you go to the car swap meet with a full size wagon it's easy to pile a ton of stuff in the wagon and if it's a vintage station wagon you can bring it into the car show so you don't have to walk all the way out to the parking lot, I just keep loading stuff as the morning goes on as do my friends. Currently I don't have a station wagon but I definitely would not kick a 1959 Ford wagon four-door or two door out of the driveway.
this is why I hunted down a 31 more door... I couldn't get in the back seat of a 2 door... what used to be the kiss of death car, turned in to something cool... most of the new crowd don't know the differance and love them...the GOB's still turn their nose and have to comment, why did you waist you time on a more door....lol... cause I can....
To be PC, 4 doors are OK. (when PC stands for parts car.) In my book, 4 door wagons get a pass. Can't really say why though.
one thing still hasn't changed about 4 doors... when they post them for sale you have to scroll down to the last pic to see the other door.... or they just leave that one out....lol
I guess I am just not old enough yet, As I have always and still say "Four doors and Station Wagons are for your Mom" But I feel the same way about Automatic transmissions. I also say "If it don't have 3 pedals, It ain't a Hot rod" My left knee is about shot. But before I cave into a Sissy ass automatic I will put a hand clutch in like the old Roundy round racers did. I can appreciate a well taken care of old survivor 4 door car, But I wouldn't call it a hot rod. But that is just my opinion and you know what they say about those.
They're cheaper, usually not beat to shit...and now days the general population doesn't know the difference. And you can customize anything how ever you want any way. Historically, no matter what they tell you... there's a 4 door car in almost every mag from the early '50s even if it's just a reader's ride. Finally, my friend Malcolm told me that his buddies all had roadsters in 1950 and he had a '41 Merc 4-door. they'd all go out with their girls...none of them wanted to mess up their hair in the roadsters so he'd drive the ladies around...just him and 5 or 6 girls... It made him feel way smarter than his peers.
I had a 62 coupe DeVille in 2001 with a 390. With the functional lakes pipes man that car sounded great. And it was mild enough custom and in good enough shape with tame wheels most people started looking for a hot rod hooligan and not a vintage caddy when I came roaring by. Sure wish I could have afforded to pay that car off. Seller was a solid dude and even made me take some of the cash I paid on it when I brought it back to him even though one of the lakes pipes had some deep scratches from when I went off the road when I was caught off guard by an Amish dude late one night lol. Was a great car to start with and the old guy did an awesome job redoing it
And surfers have helped myself and others I know accept and even kind of want a wagon to build a surfer style rod from. If I got a wagon it'd HAVE to be a two door unless it was a stupid nice super cheap model I really liked. Oddly while I like nomads I've never been particularly big on them.
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