Why are classic 4 door sedans "disliked"?
There was a thing even as a kid in the 70s where a 4 door just wasnt desireable.
As a 54 year old kid in 2024, it's still true. Both my "old" Mopars are models that were pure, clean-slate 2 door designs - '71 Duster and '72 Challenger. Thankfully neither were ever offered in a 4 door.
I can roll with some Mopar wagons and 2 door post type cars are among my favorites (including Ford Fairmonts!) but come on, straight 4 door sedans are for grandmas or cops. Don't care how much they can be modified into some kind of killer machine, I'll never get past the extra door.
From my viewpoint, 4 doors have become more popular now because of the JDM/tuner influence. The majority of Subaru WRXs and Mitsu Evos are 4 doors. Then you get the imitators in Honda Civics or what have you. Naturally that's going to pollenate across to older American cars.
And yes, as we get further and further away from the apex of the muscle car era there are fewer affordable, clean 2 doors out there that 'kids' can turn into something cool for a reasonable investment. There a lot of high-level 4 door "sleeper" builds out there now but those projects are usually beyond the typical high school kid doing stuff in his driveway.
I will admit to driving a 4 door Ram though mostly because I had younger kids when I bought it but it will always look weird to me. It's essentially a station wagon with a small bed. Was never a fan of the modern Chargers either as associating "4 door" with the vaunted "Charger" nameplate seemed like sacrilege to me. Modern Challengers were based off the 4 door LX platform and as such will never look right to me either. Not enough front or rear overhang, rear quarters are too bulbous, doors are too tall, etc.
Turning a '73 Coronet into a 2 door