Why are classic 4 door sedans "disliked"?

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SlantedMark4

SlantedMark4

'74 Valiant 225 /6
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I've heard many people prefer a 2-door over a 4-door when it comes to classic sedans, especially from the 50s/60s period like the Bel Airs, Cadillacs or the Furys. Why is that? Were they more "exclusive" because the 4-doors got built more often? I think it can't be because of "style" because a 4-door '57 Bel Air looks as nice as a 2-door imo. Are there other reasons?


This question comes from a 26 years old so I have no idea if this "trend" might have come up in the 80s/90s or so. I mean, my father for example hates some cars for reasons that were a thing back when he was in my age, thinking of an Opel Manta which mostly was owned by "rowdies" which liked this new "music" called "techno".
 
I drove an Omni for 30+ years. GLH turbo model but not very desirable... It's all in one's preference.
 
I think 2drs have cleaner lines. Now 4dr hard tops look great. Two dr cars are getting harder to find but the 4dr cars have a strong following
 
A lot of it is a cultural stigma thing from the time. Back then the idea was 4-door cars (and station wagons) were boring transportation for families and 2-door cars were sporty for single people, kinda like SUVs/crossovers vs sport sedans today. I'm only 33 so to me it's silly though because they were the same dang car just with more doors and a slightly different roofline. I think 2-doors look a little better but with the price difference these days I wouldn't pass up a clean 4-door model or even a wagon.
 
"4 door seducer".
How about, "4 doors....................no waiting".
May be, "all Door"
 
4 door was your parents car 2 door was always the sport performance model. 4 doors were never cool they are popular now cause they are cheaper that will change if they get hyped up. Its the same old thing cars are drying up now wagons and 4 doors will be the rage...my commuter car is a 4 door with a 5 speed manual I like it but Im older dont care I like opening the back door throwing my crap in then jumping in the front and go. Gator Mcklusky had a cool 4 door...:)
 
What is considered COOL in 2024 by some of the mostly younger generation today was not cool in 1968. Dads 4 door was NOT cool.

I like many four doors and of different brands. But,, IF you do a four door, be sure to keep it,,,,, unlikely to ever recoup your $ you have in it. Just life. But that might change one day.

I takes just as many $$ to do a four door as a tow door.... as in, body/paint, glass, interior, mechanicals, tires, wheels exhaust..... the initial cost of a project car can be the least cost of the entire build. Just always be sure to buy a car YOU will live and enjoy and not hate the $ and work put in it.
 
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There are some exceptions :eek: :thumbsup:
 
I think it's an American thing. Look at our Aussie friends. They LOVE their four door cars. Not everybody here hates them though. I like um.
 
I am seriously considering buying one( Four door) for a strip car. Trying to find a Duster roller isn't a cheap these days...
 
As mentioned above by many. As an older fart now, two doors were for us young guys, four doors were old people cars. They also were great parts cars as they were cheap in the 80s, and often pampered by their "older" owners.
 
I think it has to do with the same reason the 318 is dismissed and the 340 revered, the factory never really offered a 4 door performance car until the late model Charger. Unless maybe there is a 4 door letter car from Chrysler in the 50's I am unaware of. Either way, at least in America, the 2 door became viewed as a sportier/performance model while the 4 door was more mundane and boring. Doesn't mean that a 4 door with a 426 wasn't a performance car, only that the image wasn't of one.

There generally seems to be some potential drawbacks to a 4 door in a performance model like usually a longer wheel base, heavier overall, sometimes not as well proportioned. Nothing that is all that big of a deal, bur I wonder if it didn't factor into why the factory never offered a 4 door GTX or Roadrunner.

I will add that I hate how the B pillar on a 4 door always seems to be right at my head, so when the window is down the wind seems to be directed right at my ear. Rolling the rear window down helps but not as much as the longer door in a 2 door does since the B pillar is further back. And it's not exactly easy to roll the rear window down when on the road without power windows.

That said, when you are sitting in the seat I don't think you can tell the difference between a 2 door and a 4 door beyond my above complaint. And I have seen plenty of cool 4 doors, and have owned a couple of 4 doors even. I think it's cool when people do a sporty 4 door build, much like using the 318 that is in the car rather than spending stupid money for a 340.
 
Dartswinger70 said:
4 doors suck but theyll get hyped up now cause thats all thats left...
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Go to Australia, that's almost all they have. But they offered performance models with 4 doors, so to them they are all the same. Just another style of car.

Personally I prefer a 2 door, but I don't mind a mordoor. I think it's cool to work with what you have. And again, blind folded in the passenger seat you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Just a bias you have to work through.
 
Like many have said. Back "in the day" when we were young and rebelling or wanting to be different than the old folks like your parents we wanted cars that were loud, they wanted quiet, we wanted high impact colors, they wanted greens and browns. The Malibu they drove had that single exhaust pipe under the bumper, we had dual chrome tips. They had hubcaps, we had Cragar mags etc. Four doors was a no no and and it was kind of ok to hot rod a Malibu or 350 Chevelle but we all longed for the Super Sport. Ironically other than my 71 Duster 340, I also have a 2006 Charger Daytona 4 door that I absolutely love. The ironic part is that I too didn't believe a Dodge Charger should be a four door!

Screenshot 2024-06-10 9.56.45 PM.png
 
MopaR&D said:
A lot of it is a cultural stigma thing from the time. Back then the idea was 4-door cars (and station wagons) were boring transportation for families and 2-door cars were sporty for single people, kinda like SUVs/crossovers vs sport sedans today. I'm only 33 so to me it's silly though because they were the same dang car just with more doors and a slightly different roofline. I think 2-doors look a little better but with the price difference these days I wouldn't pass up a clean 4-door model or even a wagon.
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I totally agree with you. 4 door models mostly look brilliant aswell but 2 doors look a little bit better but I wouldn't mind owning a 4 door version aswell. I mean, I actually do (but because I couldn't afford a Scamp). I think 4 door sedans and wagons need to get more attention. Edsel wagons for example look absolutely fantastic, and most other wagons aswell, such as the Belvedere wagons or even the Valiants.
The reason I created this thread is last week I've seen a '57 Chevy 4 door in absolute perfect condition, in a white/yellow exterior combination and it was a 10/10. Then I started realizing most classic sedans I see aren't 4 doors.
 
DionR said:
Go to Australia, that's almost all they have. But they offered performance models with 4 doors, so to them they are all the same. Just another style of car.

Personally I prefer a 2 door, but I don't mind a mordoor. I think it's cool to work with what you have. And again, blind folded in the passenger seat you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Just a bias you have to work through.
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I feel like the U.S. was the only country where 2-door "sedans" were popular and offered in almost every model. Kind of a weird phenomenon if you think about it.
 
MopaR&D said:
I feel like the U.S. was the only country where 2-door "sedans" were popular and offered in almost every model. Kind of a weird phenomenon if you think about it.
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These were popular in europe aswell, thinking of the Volvo Amazon, Ford Cortina, Daimler Double-Six, Borgward Isabella, Opel Commodore and many many more. Japan had the same thing in the 90's with the Silvia, Chaser, Skyline and so on.
 
Porsche 4 door is the only one I can think I that I greatly dislike. Just looks wrong, and completely out of character for a Porsche.
 
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