[DML] Re: New Gullwing

[Ann & Ed Thompson <RappaRivaRat@xxxx>]

> Although a new "DeLorean" may be a myth more than reality, it does appear
> that our friends at Lotus will in fact be coming out with a gullwinged car
> in the next year or so.
> 
> The following is a quote from Autoweek 11/9/99: "The big detail change 
> revealed at London is a pair of scissor doors. Lotus designed a compound
> angle door hinge, placed above the front wheel."
>
> Sounds interesting, no?

The scissor door is quite different from the gullwing door. While opening,
the scissor door rotates about the compound angle door hinge and ends up 
mostly forward of the door opening rather than above it. Unlike the gullwing
door, which is hinged at the top, the scissor door is hinged at the front.
However, like the gullwing door, the scissor door, when opened, remains much
closer to the car body than does a "conventional" door. When the gullwing door
is open it rests somewhat perpendicular to the plane of the roof. When the 
scissor door is open it rests mostly parallel to, mostly forward of, and
slightly elevated above the door opening, with the leading edge of the door
pointing at an angle downward. I believe the Lamborghini Countach, among
others, used the scissor door.

Regards,
Ed Thompson (#6419 since 1982)